|
lares and penates| In Roman mythology, spirits of the farm and departed ancestors (lares) and of the store cupboard (penates). They joined to form a single group of household guardians represented by small statues; their shrine was the centre of worship in Roman homes. Lares were also guardians of the crossroads at farm boundaries. |
| Public lares and penates formed part of the state religion and were commemorated at an annual festival. |
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
?Sign in  |
|---|
|
|
|