Overview of Lares and Their Significance in Roman Beliefs
The Lares were revered figures in Roman culture, representing benevolent spirits of deceased ancestors who continued to influence and protect their living descendants. This reverence derived from early Roman custom in which families interred their dead within their homes, an act that was later restricted by the Twelve Tables. Each household was assigned a specific Lares, known as the lar familiaris, whose main role was to safeguard the familial line. Typically depicted in a toga, the lar familiaris was situated between the Penates in a shrine called the lararium, often positioned near the hearth, which was a symbol of family and domestic devotion.
Daily Worship and Sacrificial Practices
Ancient Romans held routine rituals to honor the Lares within their homes, commencing each day with prayers and offerings. Following the main meal, a portion was traditionally offered to the fire on the hearth as a tribute. If the hearth was not conveniently located for these offerings, a designated table was set up before the shrine. Significant sacrifices were conducted on notable dates — including the calends, nones, and ides of each month, as well as at pivotal family milestones such as birthdays, the rite of passage into adulthood for sons, marriages, and the return of relatives.
During these sacred moments, the Lares were lavished with garlands and cakes, alongside offerings of wine, incense, and animals, particularly pigs. In addition to domestic worship, public Lares were worshipped at various street junctions (compita), where lares compitales were celebrated during annual festivals.
Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, augmented this tradition by introducing the Genius Augusti to the Lares and mandated dedicated festivities for the Lares in May and August. Beyond individual households, the Lares represented protections over the entire community, known as lares proestites, who were invoked alongside their maternal counterpart, Lara or Larunda.
Contrast with Other Spirits
The Lares, regarded as good spirits, were distinct from their malevolent counterparts called Larvae. While the Lares were associated with positive influences, the Larvae were believed to be restless souls bound in sorrow and despair due to wrongful acts during their lifetimes. The Romans performed exorcisms to rid their homes of these ominous spirits on designated days.
The Role of Acca Larentia
One significant figure connected to the Lares is Acca Larentia, who is portrayed in myth as a nurturing character associated with various stories, including being a wife of the herdsman Faustulus and a caretaker of Romulus and Remus. Through her narrative, she symbolizes an ancient goddess who provided fertility over land and crops, reinforcing the connections between the Lares and ancestral protection of agricultural sustainability.
The Penates and Their Connection
Complementary to the Lares were the Penates, household gods associated specifically with storerooms and provisions. These deities safeguarded the abundance of a household and were integral to family and state rituals alike. Much like the Lares, they received regular offerings and were depicted in rather festive and joyous art.
Sacrificial Norms and the Collegiates
Familial and communal religious practices coalesced around the notions of the sacra. Private sacrifices were commonplace, conducted by families or individuals, while public ceremonies involved coordinated groups or communities (collegia). These unique associations sometimes had specific deities at the focus of their worship—e.g., the lares compitales representing their commitment to local spiritual guardianship.
Conclusion
The Lares encapsulate an essential aspect of Roman spirituality, serving as protectors of family lineage and well-being. Through various rites, they supported domestic harmony and agricultural vitality, dovetailing personal and communal responsibilities in worship practices. The Lares also intertwined with other deities, reinforcing the essential interconnectedness of life, death, and the divine in Roman thought.
