Household Gods · Dioses del hogar
A small figure raises a drinking horn; another hand holds a shallow offering dish. The Lares—introduced here as guardianes del hogar—bring us into Roman domestic religion, where a family's sacred life could have a place within the house itself.
Meet the Roman household guardians
Lar is singular; Lares is plural. The Metropolitan Museum of Art identifies the Lar familiaris as a household deity believed to protect a family's well-being and prosperity. Its bronze statuette, dated to the first or second century CE, belongs to this domestic religious setting. The museum notes that paired Lares became common from the time of Augustus, often carrying a rhyton, or drinking horn, and a patera, a shallow dish.[1]
The Cleveland Museum of Art's early first-century Lar wears a short belted tunic and distinctive boots. Its missing hands once held attributes that the museum interprets as probably an offering dish and cornucopia. Surviving figures therefore vary: one object's details should not become a compulsory checklist for every household shrine.[2]
A god speaks from the doorway
In the prologue to Plautus's comedy Aulularia, the household Lar introduces himself as a presence who has watched over several generations. He praises the young woman's regular offerings, including garlands, and intervenes in the story by revealing a hidden treasure. The scene makes domestic devotion lively and personal, though a theatrical plot is not a ritual manual or a promise of money.[3]
The Lares are Roman divinities, not Scottish brownies under a Latin name. Nor should every Lar be casually identified with a deceased relative. The Cleveland interpretation distinguishes household Lares from Lares associated with crossroads and with the imperial setting. Place and religious context matter when learning their names.[2]
Correspondences with their sources
| Household care and prosperity | The Met’s interpretation of the Lar familiaris; an ancient religious belief. |
|---|---|
| Raised horn and offering dish | Documented Roman iconography; not instructions to pour or drink anything. |
| Garlands | An offering mentioned in Plautus’s prologue; our drawn version is a modern adaptation. |
| Warm gold and cream | Shop colors for this practice, chosen to evoke lamplight and a welcoming room. |
A contemporary household devotion
This is an original Touch of Magick Shop practice inspired by the historical material. It offers a simple way to honor the Lares if that devotion fits your beliefs. It is not a reconstruction of a complete Roman rite, and no antique object, wine, incense, or flame is needed.
Gather: a folded paper card, a pencil, a small plain dish used only as a support, and a clean cloth. Choose a personal shelf, with the household's agreement if the space is shared.
- Prepare their place. Wipe the shelf and set down the dish. Let this ordinary act of care begin the devotion.
- Make a paper garland. Draw a ring of leaves on the card. Inside it write “Lares of this home.” Stand the folded card behind the empty dish.
- Offer words of welcome. Say: “Lares, guardians honored at the hearth, receive this place and these words with goodwill. May our home hold enough, our hands share fairly, and our welcome be kind.”
- Name a household gift. Speak thanks for something specific: shelter, a shared meal, a repaired room, or companionship. Place a paper slip naming that gratitude in the dish.
- Complete the offering. Make one agreed contribution to the home. Close by saying, “With thanks, this offering is complete.” Leave the card while it remains welcome, replacing worn paper respectfully.
The wording and paper offering are ours. They ask for blessing without promising protection or wealth. Keep the arrangement away from heat, children, and pets; remove it whenever the space is needed. No one sharing the home needs to participate.
Journal prompt
What would I like to thank the guardians of my home for today?
Sources & further reading
- Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bronze statuette of a Lar, 19.192.3Roman object and curatorial interpretation of household Lares.
- Cleveland Museum of Art, Lar, 1987.3Early Roman bronze, clothing, attributes, and distinctions among Lares.
- Plautus, Aulularia, prologue, translated by Henry Thomas RileyPrimary literary scene featuring the Lar familiaris; Perseus Digital Library.