Lacrymatory

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Lacrymatory (from the Lat. lacrima, a tear) is a class of small vessels of terra-cotta 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 to the use of unguents at funeral ceremonies the finding of so many of these vessels in tombs is due. They are shaped like a spindle, or a flask with a long small neck and a body in the form of a bulb.

The name of these small tear bottles is derived from the lacrymatory glands that secret tears. Also commonly spelled Lachrymatory.

The Unguents referred to in the Encyclopædia Britannica reference were likely fragrant ointments or pastes similar to solid perfume or perfumed cream today. There is evidence that people have collected their tears in mourning and as a symbol of deep love throughout history, but not as the common practice once attributed to the Romans.

The legend of Roman times is that mourners filled small glass bottles or cups with tears and placed them in burial tombs as symbols of respect. Sometimes women were even paid to cry into these vessels, as they walked along the mourning procession. Those crying the loudest and producing the most tears received the most compensation, or so the legend goes. The more anguish and tears produced, the more important and valued the deceased person was perceived to be. It is unknown if this happened just once (like bra burnings in the 1960's) or frequently.

Lacrymatory tear bottles reappeared during the Victorian period of the 19th century, when those mourning the loss of loved ones would collect their tears in bottles with special stoppers that allowed the tears to evaporate. When the tears had evaporated, the mourning period would end.

American Civil War stories refer to women who cried into lacrymatory bottles for their husbands returning from battle. The collected tears showed how much they were adored and missed their husbands.

The tear bottle tradition has historically been a mourning tradition. Only recently have tears of joy and inspiration been captured. In current music, literature, and even music videos, tear bottles have once again been romanticized. Contemporary tear bottles are created by glass artists around the world and a few manufacturers.