Lares were the household gods in ancient Roman religion, believed to be the spirits of ancestors or local guardians who protected the home and its inhabitants. Each Roman household worshiped its own Lares through daily rituals, offerings, and prayers at the family’s lararium.
The Lares were thought to oversee the prosperity, health, and safety of the family, making them central figures in Roman domestic worship. Public Lares, known as Lares Compitales, also protected entire neighborhoods and were honored in communal shrines.
The festival of Compitalia, celebrated in honor of the Lares, involved the decoration of local shrines and offerings made by households to ensure the gods’ continued favor and protection.
« Back to Glossary Index
