Containers for liquids, usually made of goatskin, clay, or glass. Dried skins of goats in particular made quite functional vessels, once sewed up with the hair on the outside (Gen 21:14-19). Similar skins were also used to carry water (Josh 9:4; Josh 9:13; Judg 4:19; 1Sam 16:20) and hold wine (Matt 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37). Terra-cotta bottles are well known from every period, and although what they contained is not always certain, it is clear that tiny vessels were used as unguentaria and perfume containers. Their fragility is used as a figure of speech by Jeremiah to depict the destruction of Jerusalem (Jer 19:1-11).
