Also called Genius of the place, Genii locorum (plural).
The tale
Romans believed every place had its genius, a guardian spirit of that exact spot, and they set up small altars inscribed to the genius of the place in towns, forts, crossroads and baths. It was often pictured as a serpent. In the Aeneid, when Aeneas makes offerings at his father's tomb, a great shining snake glides out, tastes the offerings and slips back under the altar. Aeneas is not sure whether it is the genius of the place or his father's attendant spirit, so he honours it all the more.
When they are met
- when arriving in a new place
- when moving into a house
- at a birthday or anniversary
- before building or planting
Staying on their good side
- wine or water poured on the ground
- incense
- flowers and garlands
- small cakes
Honouring them, or keeping safe
- When you move somewhere new, greet the place aloud and pour a little water on the ground.
- Make a small outdoor shrine with a stone and flowers in your garden or on a balcony.
- Learn the history of your street or town.
- Leave a place tidier than you found it.
What their tales teach
- settling in a new home
- a sense of belonging
- caring for the land
- protection of a place
Symbols
- a serpent
- a small altar
- a cornucopia
- a libation dish
Well attested in Roman inscriptions across the empire; the phrase is now used for the character of a place in general.
More Roman folklore
- Lemures The hungry ghosts of May
- Striges The screech-owls of the night
- The Sibyl of Cumae The prophetess of the hundred-mouthed cave
- Fauns The goat-legged spirits of the woods
- The Versipellis The werewolf by the tombs
- Larvae Malevolent ghosts of the restless dead
- Mania Mother of the dead and nursery bogey
- Lamia (in Roman sources) Child-devouring witch of Roman tales