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Origins and development. Archaic Rome's Etruscan neighbours practiced domestic, ancestral, or family cults very similar to those offered by later Romans to their Lares. [2] .
The Origins of Lares Roman God. The Roman Empire was a civilization deeply rooted in religious beliefs, with a pantheon of gods and goddesses worshipped throughout its vast territories. Among these deities, the Lares held a unique position as household guardian and protector.
Oct 28, 2019 · These spirits were known as Lares Familiares (spirits of the family) or Lares Domestici (spirits of the home) but lares were also acknowledged in protecting the community (Lares Compitales) and were honored at the Compitalia Festival on 22 December.
- Joshua J. Mark
Sep 27, 2023 · Lares are believed to have evolved from the ancient Roman practice of burying their dead family members inside their homes. The spirits of these dead became guardians of...
- Lares protected the household while Penates ensured that the household had food. Images of Penates were often placed on the table during meals.
- Lares are portrayed as guardian spirits or tutelary deities. Their job is to protect the household ( Lares domestici ) or public institutions ( Lar...
- The Romans called their household gods Lares and Penates . The Lares were embodied in a statue that was placed on a Lararia , which was usually loc...
Dec 14, 2020 · Lares were guardians of the hearth and the family meals, fields, fertility, and households at the crossroads, and as such, they were known as Lares compitales (Latin: 'compita' roadsides). They supported the home, family, and community as a whole.
The worship of the Lares at Rome was closely connected with that of the Manes, and that of both was analogous to the hero worship of the Greeks. The name Lar is Etruscan, and signifies lord, king, or hero.
The lares were deified souls, and Greek deification was celebrated by a Dionysian triumphal parade from earth to Olympus, whereby the lares were conceived as drinking wine, wearing crowns, and sometimes accompanying satyrs. Few myths related to the lares are known.
