Lar

Lar‎

The Lar, known also as the Lar familiaris, was the Roman household deity who protected the land that the family lived upon. The Lar was the center of the household cult, his shrine, known as a lararium was usually in one of the common rooms of the house, so the entire family and slaves could make offerings, always on the Kalends, Nones and Ides, as well as on special occasions such as banquets. It was only in the time of Augustus that the plural Lares was used. Plautus' Aularia begins with a description of the lares: Hanc domum iam multos annos et quom possideo et colo patri auoque iam huiius qui nunc habet