Roman fresco from the lararium of the house of Iulius Polybius (IX 13,3) in Pompeii. Photo by By Wol
Roman fresco from the lararium of the house of Iulius Polybius (IX 13,3) in Pompeii. Photo by By WolfgangRieger via Wikimedia Commons (X). Public Domain.The figures on the outside of the image represent the Lares, guardian spirits of a specific location; in this case, a particular home. The two mid-size figures represent the husband and wife in charge of this home. The serpent coiled around the altar represents the Genius (the guardian spirit of the male head of the household) - or perhaps, since a woman is performing the sacrifice, a Juno (the guardian spirit of the female head of the household). The tiny human figures represent other members of the household - perhaps servants or slaves - assisting in the ritual.This is from an article I found when searching for information about ancient Greek and Roman birthdays:The most important and characteristic feature of the Roman birthday celebration was the sacrifice to the genius, which seems to have been a distinctively Roman observance….To the mind of the Romans… the genius was a guardian spirit, accompanying and guiding the individual through life…. The common idea of the snake as the presiding genius of a place is familiar from wall paintings and mosaics….It is interesting to note that the genius is spoken of only in connection with men or masculine ideas. Juno, the ideal personification of the feminine, seems to have filled a similar place for the women.As has been said, the birthday was the natural festival of the genius, as he was at once the guardian spirit of the individual and the occasion of his life. Therefore Varro, quoted by Censorinus De Die Nat. 3, says that only bloodless offerings should be made on this day…Horace Car. iii. 17. 15 speaks of the sacrifice of a pig, but probably this was to be made by some person other than the one whose birthday was being celebrated. Accordingly, then, the genius is honored by offerings of wine, flowers, incense, and cakes, and by the dance.Bowerman, Helen C. “The Birthday as a Commonplace of Roman Elegy.” The Classical Journal 12, no. 5 (1917): 310-18. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3288051.Q: How do you say “Happy Birthday” in Latin? A: Felix dies natalis! -- source link
#ancient rome#lararium#religio romana#cultus deorum#roman polytheism