Religion within the households
Analysis
The lararium provides a much more private way of prayer and worship. The lararium were usually located in the atrium or peristyle of the households, they is a shrine to the household gods and usually very elaborate. There were three types of lararium: the first was the most simplest it was a simple cavity in the wall which allowed for figurines of the deities to rest in. The second was an aedicula, like the one above, which was a miniature temple that rested on a podium. The third was just bordered by two black lines running all around it [1]. In the lararium there was either a small bronze statues or a picture of the household gods and a snake. In the lararium above the picture includes two Lares household gods on either side of head of the house while he makes an offering of incense to the gods, so that they may provide protection and welfare for the household. The snake underneath is said to be a symbol of prosperity, fertility and the protection of the household[2]. Rituals were said twice a day, in the morning and the afternoon, they involved some form of worship -usually holding hands and praying as the lararium room was often quite small- and an offering to the Lares. Religion was very important to the Romans as it governed their whole lives, whenever something good happened they thanked the gods, whenever they wanted or needed something they prayed to the gods, nothing was done without the approval from the gods. The Romans thought it would be considered rude to not inform the Lares of changes within the household so when a boy or girl came of age they would give their bullae or doll to the Lares, when a bride moved in with her husband she would have to make an offering to her husbands Lares[3]. In Pompeii it was found that not only the Lares were worshiped in the lararium they also found other gods such as Mercury- god of commerce, and Baccus- god of wine. The lararium were a private area to worship and make offerings to the gods.
Conclusion
The preservation of this lararium shows how significant the eruption was, its was preserved so well that you can still clearly see the images on it. The Lares were first protectors of the farms in older times but as the world became more urbanised so did the way the Lares were worshiped there is at least 500 examples of this in Pompeii[4]. The eruption prevented this way of worship from being changed over time because if it happened once it is most likely to happen again. If the way of worship had changed there might not have been a lararium to find. The lararium also provided a more in depth insight into how involved religion was with the rest of Roman life. Each household had their own private shrine to the gods this helps us to understand that their whole lives revolved around pleasing the gods and fulfilling their wishes, we also understand how the Romans were in a way controlled by the gods.
[1]- website- department.monm
[2]- The Fires of Vesuvius
[3]- website- cultusdeorum
[4]- Pompeii Revisited
The lararium provides a much more private way of prayer and worship. The lararium were usually located in the atrium or peristyle of the households, they is a shrine to the household gods and usually very elaborate. There were three types of lararium: the first was the most simplest it was a simple cavity in the wall which allowed for figurines of the deities to rest in. The second was an aedicula, like the one above, which was a miniature temple that rested on a podium. The third was just bordered by two black lines running all around it [1]. In the lararium there was either a small bronze statues or a picture of the household gods and a snake. In the lararium above the picture includes two Lares household gods on either side of head of the house while he makes an offering of incense to the gods, so that they may provide protection and welfare for the household. The snake underneath is said to be a symbol of prosperity, fertility and the protection of the household[2]. Rituals were said twice a day, in the morning and the afternoon, they involved some form of worship -usually holding hands and praying as the lararium room was often quite small- and an offering to the Lares. Religion was very important to the Romans as it governed their whole lives, whenever something good happened they thanked the gods, whenever they wanted or needed something they prayed to the gods, nothing was done without the approval from the gods. The Romans thought it would be considered rude to not inform the Lares of changes within the household so when a boy or girl came of age they would give their bullae or doll to the Lares, when a bride moved in with her husband she would have to make an offering to her husbands Lares[3]. In Pompeii it was found that not only the Lares were worshiped in the lararium they also found other gods such as Mercury- god of commerce, and Baccus- god of wine. The lararium were a private area to worship and make offerings to the gods.
Conclusion
The preservation of this lararium shows how significant the eruption was, its was preserved so well that you can still clearly see the images on it. The Lares were first protectors of the farms in older times but as the world became more urbanised so did the way the Lares were worshiped there is at least 500 examples of this in Pompeii[4]. The eruption prevented this way of worship from being changed over time because if it happened once it is most likely to happen again. If the way of worship had changed there might not have been a lararium to find. The lararium also provided a more in depth insight into how involved religion was with the rest of Roman life. Each household had their own private shrine to the gods this helps us to understand that their whole lives revolved around pleasing the gods and fulfilling their wishes, we also understand how the Romans were in a way controlled by the gods.
[1]- website- department.monm
[2]- The Fires of Vesuvius
[3]- website- cultusdeorum
[4]- Pompeii Revisited