last-of-the-romans:Household GodsLares and Penates were common objects in homes throughout the Roman
last-of-the-romans:Household GodsLares and Penates were common objects in homes throughout the Roman world. The tiny bronze statuettes represented spirits of the home and the larder. At mealtime, bits of food were burned in their receptacles as offerings to the departed. Some households had miniature shrines, like the last image, fashioned after Roman temples. This shrine, a particularly elaborate one, shows the families special deity (center) flanked by two household gods. Below the figure is the sacred serpent, a significant figure in temple rites. -- source link