Lares, archaically Lases, were guardian deities in ancient Roman religion. Their origin is uncertain; they may have been hero-ancestors, guardians of the hearth, fields, boundaries or fruitfulness, or an amalgam of these. Lares were believed to observe, protect and influence all that happened within the boundaries of their location or function. The statues of domestic Lares were placed at table during family meals; their presence, cult and blessing seem to have been required at all important family events. Read more
Lares, Aedes: (delubra, Ovid): a temple of the Lares in summa sacra via (Solin. I.23), mentioned first in connection with the prodigies of 106 B.C. (Obseq. 41),º and by Cicero (de nat. deor. III.63; Plin. NH II. 16) to locate the fanum Orbonae. It was restored by Augustus (Mon. Anc. IV.7 - Grk. X.11: and its day of dedication was 27th June (Ov. Fast. VI.791-792; Fast. Ant. ap. NS 1921, 99). These are the only references that belong indisputably to this temple, and they indicate a site at the top of the Sacra via, that is, near the arch of Titus. Read more