The pithoi are oval or tapered shaped containers, with a large opening, usually used for storing foodstuffs (e.g. oil, wine).

In the megaron temples, the lack of direct water was solved by having large pithoi inside the temple, that contained water for the cleansing rituals (fig. 1).

Fig. 1 - Greek Pithos coming from Crete (from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Pithos_Louvre_CA4523.jpg/800px-Pithos_Louvre_CA4523.jpg).

In building 3 of insula 1 at the religious complex of S’Arcu ’e Is Forros (fig. 2) pithoi with cylindrical necks, decorated with reproductions of stylised ram protomes were found (fig. 3).

Fig. 2 - Photo of area of insula 1 of S’Arcu ’e Is Forros-Villagrande Strisaili site (photo by Unicity S.p.A.).

Fig. 3 - Pithos (from Fadda 2014, fig 338, p. 212).

The large pithoi discovered inside the rooms of insula 2 are interesting (fig. 4).

Fig. 4 - Photo of area of insula 2 of S’Arcu ’e Is Forros-Villagrande Strisaili site (photo by Unicity S.p.A.).

Of these one, from room 3, has an ear-shaped handle, decorated by a herringbone pattern and a plant motif engraved vertically. Below the floor of hut 2, a pithos used as a store for bronze, lead, iron and copper items was found. It contained more than 400 kilos of metal, hypothesised as the result of a gradual accumulation of items from the 12th-9th to the 6th century B.C.

A fragment of a pithos used to transport oil comes from the Antigori nuraghe in Sarroch in Sardinia.