Lares and Penates

Nationality/Culture

Roman

Pronunciation

LAIR-eez and puh-NAY-teez

Alternate Names

None

Appears In

Ovid's Fasti

Lineage

Varies

Character Overview

In Roman mythology , Lares and Penates were groups of deities, or gods, who protected the family and the Roman state. Although different in origin and purpose, the Lares and Penates were often worshipped together at household shrines.

Lares were considered spirits of the dead who had become divine, and they guarded homes, crossroads, and the city. Every Roman family had its own guardian, known as the Lar familiaris (pronounced lar-fuh-mil-ee-YAHR-iss), to protect the household and ensure that the family line did not die out. Each morning Romans prayed and made offerings to an image of the Lar familiaris kept in a family shrine. Deities known as Lares compitales (pronounced LAIR-eez kom-puh-TAY-leez), who guarded crossroads and neighborhoods, were honored in a festival called the Compitalia. Another group of deities, the Lares praestites (pronounced LAIR-eez pree-STYE-teez), served as the guardians of the city of Rome.

The Penates, originally honored as gods of the pantry, eventually became guardians of the entire household. They were associated with Vesta, the goddess of the hearth or household fireplace. The main function of the Penates was to ensure the family's welfare and prosperity. The public Penates, or Penates publici, served as guardians of the state and the object of Roman patriotism. According to legend, they were once the household gods of Aeneas (pronounced i-NEE-uhs), the mythical founder of the Roman Empire.

Major Myths

Few myths exist about the Penates and Lares, and the ones that do exist concern their lineage. King Servius Tullius, for example, was supposedly the son of a lar living in the royal palace; he went on to found the lares cult in towns and villages, including the festival of the Compitalia. The Lares praestites, on the other hand, were the result of the rape of the nymph Lara by the god Mercury.

Lares and Penates in Context

Lares and Penates illustrate the importance of preserving the family line in ancient Rome. Lares were believed to be dead ancestors who tried to help living members of the household preserve the family name, mostly by having children. Lares presided over major life changes, including birth, death, disease, the freeing of slaves, and a young person's passage from childhood to adulthood. The Penates, in their original form, ensured that the household contained enough food to support the family and therefore preserve its existence. As beings that participated in both the divine world and the world of humans, they served as a link between the two worlds to harmonize them.

Key Themes and Symbols

Lares and Penates are both represented as guardians in Roman mythology. They guard members of a household and protect travelers in certain places such as at crossroads or at sea. The hearth is often associated with Lares and Penates. The Greeks pictured Lares wearing crowns and drinking wine, sometimes in the company of half-men, half-goats called satyrs.

Lares and Penates in Art, Literature, and Everyday Life

Lares and Penates were often represented in a household by small statues kept in a special shrine. Lares statues wore short tunics and carried dishes to hold food or drink offered to them. Shrines honoring household gods have been uncovered by archaeologists in locations such as Pompeii.

Read, Write, Think, Discuss

City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction by David Macaulay (1974) is an illustrated look at how the Romans went about constructing cities from the ground up. In addition to technical illustrations and information about architectural structures, Macaulay also delves into household dynamics and smaller details of everyday Roman life. The author has written and illustrated several other books similar in style, including Pyramid, Cathedral, and Ship.

SEE ALSO Aeneas; Roman Mythology