Lacrymatory

A lacrymatory or lachrymatory (from the latin, "lacrima", a tear) is a small vessel of terracotta or, more frequently, of glass, found in Roman and late Greek tombs, and supposed to have been bottles into which mourners dropped their tears. They contained unguents, and the finding of so many of these vessels in tombs is due to the use of unguents at funeral ceremonies. They are shaped like a spindle, or a flask with a long small neck and a body in the form of a bulb.[1]

This article is about the ancient vessel. For the secretion of tears, see lachrymation. For tear gas, see lachrymatory agent.
A Lacrymatory, at the Beja museum in Portugal.

The term lacrimarium is deceptive; there is no evidence from the ancient world to suggest the use of these glass or ceramic vessels as 'tear-catchers'.[2]

See also

References
  1.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lacrymatory". Encyclopædia Britannica. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 55.
  2. Anderson-Stojanovic, V.R. 1987. "The Chronology and Function of Ceramic Ungugentaria", American Journal of Archaeology Vol. 91. 105–122.



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