What does Sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt mean?

Aeneas is moved to tears and says “sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt” (“There are tears for [or ‘of’] things and mortal things touch the mind.”) The genitive “rerum” can be construed as “objective” or “subjective.”

What does Rerum lacrimae rerum mean?

Lacrimae rerum ( Latin: [ˈlakrɪmae̯ ˈreːrũː]) is the Latin phrase for “tears of things.” It derives from Book I, line 462 of the Aeneid (c. 29–19 BC), by Roman poet Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro) (70–19 BC). Some recent quotations have included rerum lacrimae sunt or sunt lacrimae rerum meaning “there are tears of (or for) things.”

What is the origin of the term’Rerum lacrimae’?

It derives from Book I, line 462 of the Aeneid (c. 29–19 BC), by Roman poet Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro) (70–19 BC). Some recent quotations have included rerum lacrimae sunt or sunt lacrimae rerum meaning “there are tears of (or for) things.”