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Roman

Prayers to the Lares

6 prayers

The Lares are the gods of this house and no other. They were greeted daily at the shrine by the hearth, garlanded at the Kalends, and given a share of the meal; the prayers are short because they were said often. Cato and Plautus preserve them almost by accident.

What is asked
Fontes · Sources
  • Tibullus · Elegiae2
  • Ennius · Annales1
  • Fratres Arvales · Carmen Arvalium (CIL VI 2104)1
  • Livy · Ab Urbe Condita1
  • Plautus · Mercator1
Orationes · The texts
  1. 001

    Carmen Arvale

    Fratres Arvales · Carmen Arvalium (CIL VI 2104)

    Lasas assist us, Lasas delight us, Lasas come to our aid! Neither plague nor ruin, Marmor, allow to be visited on us. But if however we are invaded, like Mars we shall leap across our borders to sate you with the blood of our enemies and stay the barbarians. Marmor assist us, Marmor defend us, Marmor come to our aid. Triumph, triumph, triumph, triumph, triumph!

    RomanPetitionProtection
  2. 002

    The devotio of Decius Mus

    Livy · Ab Urbe Condita · 8.9.6-8

    Janus, Jupiter, Father Mars, Quirinus, Bellona, Lares, You divine Novensiles and You divine Indigetes, deities whose power extends over us and over our foes, and to You, too, Divine Manes, I pray, I do You reverence, I crave Your grace and favour will bless the Roman People, the Quirites, with power and victory, and will visit fear, dread and death on the enemies of the Roman People, the Quirites. In like manner as I have uttered this prayer so do I now on behalf of the commonwealth of the Quirites, on behalf of the army, the legions, the auxiliaries of the Roman People, the Quirites, devote the legions and auxiliaries of the enemy, together with myself to Tellus and the Divine Manes.

    RomanDedicationOath
  3. 003

    Prayer to the Lares

    Tibullus · Elegiae · 1.1.19-24

    Lares, and you gods also, who earlier made our household fruitful and fortunate, may you guard and bless the little that remains today on our farm. Lares, accept what your kindred present to you. For you a lamb shall be offered when around your altar you'll hear rustic boys shouting, 'Io! Give us fine harvests and fruitful vines!'

    RomanPetitionDedication
  4. 004

    Prayer to the Lares

    Tibullus · Elegiae · 1.10.15-25

    Lares, gods of my fathers, preserve me! While young and still nursing, you guided me when I played at your feet. Let none profane your antique images: rough-hewn wooden statues set upon altars of upturned sod then dwelled among our grandfathers. In those days humble reverence provided you with sweet honey alone, you stayed in meager shrines made of twigs, in tattered robes the gods were pleased with offerings of grapes and wreathes of wheat set upon carved heads. Lares, turn away from us those who scheme against us with their bronze weapons.

    RomanPetitionProtectionPraise
  5. 005

    Prayer to the Lares

    Ennius · Annales · I fr. 141

    And you Lares, care for our house that you established.

    RomanPetition
  6. 006

    Prayer to the Lares

    Plautus · Mercator · 865

    Lares of the roadside, I call upon you to kindly protect me.

    RomanPetitionProtection
Invoked alongside
Mars2Bellona1Earth1Janus1Jupiter1Quirinus1the Di Indigetes1the Di Novensiles1the Manes1
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