Roman Lares: Guardians of the Home and Protectors of the City

Origins and Cultural History of the Lares

The origins of the Lares are somewhat obscure and debated, but their roots seem to reach deep into early Roman religious practices, possibly predating the establishment of the Roman Republic. The Lares were often linked with ancestors or spirits of the dead, and they were thought to be derived from the more ancient Italian spirits of the hearth or countryside.

However, they were not considered ghosts or spirits of individual ancestors. Instead, the Lares were more like collective divine forces that safeguarded entire households and public spaces. There were many types of Lares, each serving different functions depending on where they were worshiped. The two most common categories were the Lares Familiares (household Lares) and the Lares Publici (city or state Lares).

Lares Familiares

The Lares Familiares were the protective spirits of the home. Every Roman family had their own Lares, and they were honored at small household shrines called lararia. These shrines were typically located in the family’s atrium or kitchen, and the Lares were represented as small figurines, often holding a drinking horn or a plate of offerings. Families made daily prayers and sacrifices to their household Lares, offering food, wine, or incense to ensure their protection.

The Lares Familiares played a crucial role in domestic life, ensuring the health, safety, and prosperity of the family. During important family events, such as weddings or births, the Lares were honored with special rituals. The head of the household, or paterfamilias, was responsible for maintaining these rites, and it was believed that neglecting the Lares would bring misfortune to the home.

Lares Publici and Lares Compitales

The Lares Publici were the protectors of entire cities or neighborhoods. These Lares were worshipped at compitalia, shrines located at crossroads, and their annual festival, the Compitalia, was an important public event. The Lares Compitales, a subset of the public Lares, were responsible for guarding these crossroads, where boundaries between city districts met. It was believed that by protecting these crucial intersections, the Lares maintained the peace and safety of the Roman community as a whole.

As the Roman state expanded, the Lares Publici became protectors of the empire itself, symbolizing Rome’s enduring power and prosperity. Emperor Augustus, in particular, heavily promoted the worship of the Lares. He established a new class of deities, the Lares Augusti, who were closely tied to the imperial family. These Lares were believed to protect the emperor and, by extension, the Roman Empire.

Religious Practices and Worship

Worship of the Lares was central to both private and public Roman life. The rituals varied depending on whether one was worshiping the household Lares or the public Lares, but there were some common practices. At home, daily offerings of food, drink, and incense were given to the household Lares, with larger sacrifices during special occasions. The figurines of the Lares were usually placed in small shrines, often alongside other domestic deities like the Genius (the spirit of the paterfamilias) and Penates (gods of the pantry or storehouse).

The Compitalia festival was an important occasion for public worship of the Lares, particularly the Lares Compitales who protected neighborhoods. During this festival, families and neighborhoods came together to offer sacrifices, often including cakes or small animals, at shrines located at crossroads.

Augustus’ reforms elevated the worship of the Lares to a state affair, connecting the Lares directly to the wellbeing of the empire. He commissioned altars and shrines to be built across Rome, ensuring that public rites to the Lares were performed with the same reverence as those to the more traditional gods like Jupiter or Mars. This blending of household and civic worship reflected the Roman belief that the safety of the home was inseparable from the security of the state.

Lares in Roman Literature and Art

The Lares appear less frequently in literature than the grand Olympian gods, but their presence in Roman homes and cities was far more visible. Their representation in art often depicts them as youthful, dancing figures holding a drinking horn or a dish for offerings. This imagery emphasizes their role in accepting sacrifices and protecting the household or community.

In Virgil’s Aeneid, the Lares are invoked as protective deities who safeguard Aeneas and his followers as they journey to found Rome. While their mention is brief, it underscores their importance in both personal and national protection. The poet Tibullus also mentions the Lares in his works, associating them with peace and the prosperity of the Roman countryside.

Roman domestic art frequently featured the Lares, especially in frescoes found in homes in places like Pompeii and Herculaneum. In these homes, the Lares were painted on walls next to images of the household Penates, creating a constant visual reminder of their protective presence.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Lares

Strengths:

1. Ever-Present Guardians: The Lares were always watching over the home or city, offering protection and ensuring peace. Unlike other gods who might be distant or occupied, the Lares were ever-present and approachable.
2. Moral Anchors: The Lares helped reinforce the importance of duty to family and state. By maintaining their worship, Roman citizens upheld their responsibilities to their household, neighbors, and empire, fostering social stability.
3. Flexible Worship: The Lares could adapt to different settings—household, city, or empire. Their ability to serve both domestic and public spheres made them highly versatile deities, deeply integrated into everyday life.
4. Symbols of Roman Identity: The Lares symbolized Rome’s core values—piety, loyalty, and family unity. Under Augustus, they became more than household deities; they became protectors of the empire, reflecting Rome’s expanding power.

Weaknesses:

1. Limited Influence Beyond Protection: The Lares were focused primarily on protection and didn’t hold much sway over other aspects of life like wealth, war, or love. Their power was localized and specific, which limited their divine reach compared to gods like Jupiter or Mars.
2. Dependent on Ritual: The Lares required daily offerings and constant attention. Neglecting them could result in bad fortune or loss of protection, which placed a heavy burden on families to maintain their favor.
3. Overtaken by Imperial Cults: As the imperial cult of Augustus grew, the Lares became more closely associated with the state, losing some of their personal, familial significance. In becoming protectors of the emperor, their role as intimate household deities diminished somewhat.

The Lares in Modern Media

The Lares have not had as significant a presence in modern media as other Roman deities, but they do appear in works that focus on Roman religion or ancient daily life. Their role as domestic guardians makes them less dramatic than gods of war or thunder, but they are often featured in historically accurate portrayals of Roman culture.

• Television and Film:
• In the historical series Rome (2005-2007), the household worship of Lares is shown, emphasizing their importance in daily life. Characters offer prayers and sacrifices to their household shrines, depicting an intimate relationship with these guardian spirits.
• Video Games:
• In games like Total War: Rome and Imperator: Rome, the Lares are referenced in the context of Roman religion. These games often include mechanics for maintaining the favor of household gods or public deities, reflecting their role in ensuring the prosperity of both family and state.

The Lares: Protectors of the Roman Way of Life

The Lares are unique in Roman mythology for their close, personal connection to the lives of everyday citizens. They were not gods of vast, impersonal forces like the sea or the sky, but guardians of the hearth, the home, and the crossroads. Their dual role as protectors of both domestic spaces and public life reflects how intertwined personal and civic duty was in Roman society. The Lares, in their quiet and constant watchfulness, ensured that the values of family, community, and empire were upheld and safeguarded.

Though they may not appear as often in modern depictions of mythology, their role in ancient Rome was nothing short of vital. As symbols of Roman life, they stand as testaments to the importance of home, community, and the enduring spirit of protection.