What does lara mean? To answer this question, it is necessary to turn to the beliefs of the ancient Romans. They had a number of deities who patronized the hearth. Among them were laras, whose significance in ancient beliefs will be revealed in this article.
Guardians of the Norms
In Roman mythology, Laras are deities who were originally the patrons of collectives, as well as the lands on which they lived. As a rule, they were revered as a whole. They were worshiped by both individual surnames, and neighboring and civilian communities.
It is believed that the cult of these deities was derived by the Romans from the cult of the dead. Family laras were associated with the hearth, family meals, groves and separately standing trees, which were dedicated to them in the estate.
They were often approached for assistance in various life situations. Such could be, for example, childbirth, the rite of initiation, marriage, death. People believed that they guard the observance of traditional norms regarding relations between family members and punish their violators.
Slaves believed that laras could punish gentlemen who treat servants too strictly. Therefore, they turned to them for protection from the anger of the owners. They prayed to them at the hearth or at the special altar of the chests. The high priest of the cult of these deities was the head of the surname.
For good neighborly relations
The other side of the life of the Romans, which was patronized by the Lars, is good neighborly relations, both between communities and within them. Sanctuaries with holes were built at the crossroads for their veneration. The number of these holes was equal to the number of estates adjacent to the intersection. Heads of families hung dolls and balls of wool here. The first of them depicted free members of the family, and the second - slaves.
Some researchers consider such a ritual as a transformation of the previous practice of bringing the Laras as chthonic (personifying the forces of the underworld) deities of human victims. Here you can see their connection with Larenta, identified with their mother. They presented bean porridge, poppy heads, and possibly people, as a victim.
These laras were called kompitnye. This name is derived from the Latin noun Compitum, which means "crossroads." When the bride and groom passed into the surname and the neighboring community to which her husband belonged, she brought coins to home and companion laras. In honor of the latter, festivals called kompitaliyami were held.
Democratic holiday
During it, general meals were held, accompanied by fun. These were jokes, songs, dances, competitions with the presentation of prizes. Since free people and slaves took part in the amusements, it was the most democratic of all Roman holidays. He was associated with Servius Tullius, the sixth king of Ancient Rome, who was called a popular lover. It was believed that he was the son of Lara and the slave.
The cult of the companion deities was served by colleges of plebeians and slaves. In the 12th century BC e. it was reformed by Augustus, who united the collegiums of plebeians, freedmen and slaves in each of the quarters of Rome and in other cities with the cult of their own genius. However, in estates and in houses, lars were still revered by the same colleges, which continued until the pagan cults completely disappeared.
At the same time, both types of deities under consideration were often depicted identically: family and neighbors' barks — these were, for example, two young men in dog skins, accompanied by dogs. They symbolized the vigilant guardians of the hearth, community and land.