lares

For other meanings, see Lares (disambiguation).

Lares (sing. Lar, also called Genii loci or, more archaically, Lases) were ancient Roman deities protecting the house and the family, they were a form of household gods.

Lares were presumed sons of Mercury and Lara, and deeply venerated by ancient Romans through small statues, usually put in higher places of the house, far from the floor, or even on the roof (but some statues were also on some crossings of roads). Of the Lares proper, there are only two, and they had inferior power. Over time, their power was extended over houses, country, sea, cities, etc., as the Lares became conflated with other Roman deities and protective spirits.

Household lararium in Pompeii

The Genius loci was presumed to take part in all that happened inside the house, and a statue was also put on the table during the meals.

In the early Roman times, in every house there was at least one little statue. Later, a sort of confusion connected their figure with those of Manes, deities of Hades (and the most virtuous dead persons of the family). Finally the confusion included the Penates (other minor deities) as well. In Late Antiquity they represented the "illustrious dead" of the city and empire of Rome, and the Emperor Alexander Severus venerated the Lares of such figures as Abraham, Orpheus, and Jesus Christ.^[1]

In his book Phases in the Religion of Ancient Rome, historian Cyril Bailey presents some interesting information regarding the Lares. The festival of the Lares was known as the Compitalia, which refers to the crossroads. The crossroads were the traditional setting for the veneration of the Lares. Crossroads have also been associated with witchcraft since ancient times.

Scholar Georges Dumezil, in his book Archaic Roman Religion, mentions that the worship of the Lares included setting little towers with an altar placed before them. Archaeologists Lesley and Roy Adkins note (in their book Dictionary of Roman Religion) that the Lare shrine at the crossroads was “open in all four directions to allow passage for the Lar”.

The ancient writer Ovid, in his work titled Fasti, refers to the Lares as the “night watchmen”.

Lararia

Lararia are small domestic altars to the Lares and other household Gods, most visible in the remains of Pompeii. Often in small niches in very public areas within a house, such as looking down corridors and onto peristyle gardens, they represent a very personal and very important part of Roman domestic religion. The House of Menander has one such lararium within room XXV^[2] that had very rustic statuary associated with it, revealing the active use of such altars in the mid-first century AD when Pompeii was destroyed.

Other examples of Lararia at Pompeii include the House of the Vettii, the House of the Golden Cupids and the House of the Ephebus

Non-structural forms of Lararia can be seen through decorative art. The example from the House of the Vettii is perhaps the best known of these. Measuring 1.3m x 2.25m, this alternative forms of expression is in a very visible area within a courtyard of the house; perhaps revealing of its purpose in showing status. Even the stonework surrounding this painting is used to help generate a religious experience as it is styled like a classical temple complete with a detailed pediment. Interestingly, this pediment contains a patera; a bowl used during religious activity, and undoubtedly a very recognisable icon.

Types of Lares

Types of Lares:

1. Lares Compitales—crossroads
2. Lares Domestici—the house
3. Lares Familiares—family
4. Lares Patrii
5. Lares Permarini—the sea
6. Lares Praestitis—the state
7. Lares Privati
8. Lares Rurales—land
9. Lares Viales—travellers

See also

• Genius
• Lemures
• Di Penates
• Manes
• Turan, the Etruscan love goddess

References

• Federica Giacobello, Larari pompeiani. Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico, LED Edizioni Universitarie, Milano, 2008, ISBN 978-88-7916-374-3

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