Household Divinities.
PENATES--LARES.
_Ques._ What were the Pena´tes?
_Ans._ This name was given to a certain class of household deities,
which were worshipped by the Romans in the penetralia, or innermost
part of their dwellings. The greater Pena´tes governed kingdoms and
provinces; others presided over cities; and the lesser Pena´tes
watched over particular houses and families.
_Ques._ What were the Lares?
_Ans._ They were, according to some, the children of Mercury and the
nymph Lara; they were domestic gods, and presided over houses, streets
and roads. They warded off danger from without, while the Pena´tes
watched over the interior of the dwelling. The spirits of ancestors
sometimes watched as Lares, over the fortunes of families. This idea
of the spirits of the deceased watching over their descendants, made
the Romans wish to bury the dead within, or very near their dwellings.
This custom was condemned by the laws of the Twelve Tables. Besides
the spirit which watched over the family, each individual was supposed
to have his Lar, or familiar genius, who watched over him from his
birth. In early times, children were sacrificed to the goddess Mania,
who was supposed by some to be the mother of the Lares. After the
expulsion of the Tarquins, Junius Brutus abolished this barbarous
rite, and substituted little balls of wool, and heads of garlic and
poppy, in place of the human heads which had been formerly offered.
The ordinary altar of the Lares was the domestic hearth; hogs, sheep
and steers were among the sacrifices offered to these divinities, but
the first fruits of the season were always laid upon the hearth. No
family repast was properly begun, unless some portion of the viands
had been first cast into the fire; in the more solemn form of
marriage, the bride always threw a piece of money on the hearth, to
the Lares of her family, and another on the cross roads, that they
might grant her free passage to her husband's house. The Roman boy, on
attaining the age of fifteen, put off his childish dress, and
consecrated the golden bulla, which he had worn around his neck from
infancy, to the domestic Lares.
The soldier whose term of service had expired dedicated his arms to
these powerful genii; while captives, and slaves restored to freedom,
hung up their fetters, in token of gratitude, by the altar of the
Lares.
_Ques._ How were the Lares represented?
_Ans._ Variously; sometimes as children, sometimes as young warriors,
but always accompanied by a dog.
Virtues Worshipped by the Ancients. Vices.
_Ques._ What Virtues were particularly honored as divinities?
_Ans._ The ancients not only worshipped the different Virtues, but the
abstract idea of virtue itself was personified as a goddess. The
Romans dedicated two temples, one to this divinity, and another,
adjoining, to Honor. As the temple of Honor could only be reached by
passing through that dedicated to Virtue, the votaries were reminded
that it was by walking in her paths, that true honor was to be
attained.
_Ques._ What were the emblems of Truth?
_Ans._ She was generally represented as a beautiful and modest virgin,
with garments as white as snow. She was the daughter of Time, or
Saturn, because Time always brings truth to light.
Fides, or Fidelity, had a temple near the Capitol, which was said to
have been founded by Numa Pompilius. The symbols of this goddess were,
a white dog, two hands joined, or sometimes two maidens with joined
hands.
_Ques._ What were the emblems of Peace?
_Ans._ Pax, or Peace, was represented as a matron holding ears of
corn, and crowned with olives and laurel. Her particular symbol was a
caduceus, a white staff anciently borne by ambassadors when sent to
treat of peace. A magnificent temple was dedicated to this goddess in
the Roman Forum.
Justice was worshipped by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Her
emblems have been described in the article on the goddess Astræa.
Hope had a temple at Rome in the herb market. It was destroyed by
lightning.
Misericordia, or Mercy, had an altar at Athens This was a public
sanctuary for the unfortunate, and it was unlawful to take any one
from it by force. This altar is said to have been erected by the
kindred of Hercules, after the death of that hero.
Pudicitia, or Modesty, had two temples, much frequented by the Roman
matrons. The second of these was founded under peculiar circumstances.
Virginia, the daughter of Aulus, a patrician of high rank, married
into a plebeian family. The noble ladies of Rome were so indignant at
this alliance, that they would not permit her to enter the temple of
Pudicitia, nor to offer sacrifice with them. She desired to repair
this public affront by some memorable action. For this purpose, she
built, in the Via Longa, a temple similar to that from which she had
been expelled, and dedicated it likewise to Pudicitia. Virginia then
assembled the plebeian matrons, and exhorted them to honor this Virtue
in such a manner, that however the patrician ladies should surpass
them in power or rank, they might still excel in modest behavior and
purity of life. The two temples were from that time distinguished as
Pudicitia Patricia, and Pudicitia Plebeia.
_Ques._ Was Fortune honored as a goddess?
_Ans._ Yes, the ancients worshipped under this name, a certain unseen
power which was supposed to exercise a supreme dominion over human
affairs. Fortune had many splendid temples in Italy. Servius Tullius
dedicated two at Rome; one to Bona Fortuna, the other to Fors Fortuna.
This capricious goddess was sometimes represented with her eyes
bandaged, her feet winged, and her right hand resting on a wheel. In
the temple of Fortune at Thebes, the goddess held Wealth, represented
as an infant, in her arms.
The goddess Salus, or Health, was much honored by the Romans. In
ancient times, certain days in the year were set apart for her
worship. Her emblems were a bowl and a serpent.
Liberty was honored as a divinity. Her emblem was the peculiar cap
with which we are familiar from the representations on our own coins.
_Ques._ Were not the Vices also honored by the ancients?
_Ans._ It is certain that both the Greeks and Romans erected temples
and altars to certain vices, but it does not appear that their
intention was to do them honor. In some instances, they strove to
propitiate the powers of evil, that they might abstain from doing them
harm. When they built a temple at Rome to Febris, or Fever, they
undoubtedly wished to appease the demon or malignant deity who was
supposed to send this calamity. The same superstition has been
remarked among the modern Hindoos, who are said to have dedicated
temples to thunder and lightning, earthquake, pestilence, etc. The
Vices were always represented in such a manner as to excite
abhorrence. We have an instance of this in the altar erected to
Calumny at Athens.
Apelles drew an allegorical picture, in which the odious features of
this Vice were strikingly portrayed. A man sits in a listening
attitude, beckoning Calumny to approach. Two counsellors, Ignorance
and Suspicion, stand near him. Calumny is beautiful in form and
feature, but has a malignant countenance, and flashing eyes. Envy goes
before, while Fraud and Conspiracy accompany her on either side.
Repentance follows with woful mien and torn garments. She looks behind
her, as if calling upon Truth, who is seen advancing slowly in the
distance.
Discord, Fraud, etc., were represented with appropriate symbols.