Also called Lares Augusti.
Their story
The Lares Compitales guarded the compita, the crossroads where farms or city blocks met, and each crossroads had a shrine. At the Compitalia, shortly after the Saturnalia, woollen dolls were hung for each free person and woollen balls for each slave, so that the Lares would spare the living. The festival was run by local associations, including freedmen and slaves. Augustus reorganised the shrines in 7 BC, adding his own Genius beside the Lares.
Best times to give to them
- Compitalia, a movable feast in late December or early January
- Kalends of each month
What they like being given
- Honey cakes
- Incense
- Wine or grape juice
- Woollen balls or small figures
How to honour them
- Hang a small woollen token on the door for each member of the household at the new year.
- Tidy a shared space in your street in their name.
- Hold a neighbourhood gathering in midwinter.
How they can help you
- Neighbourhood harmony
- Safety in your district
- Protection of all household members
Symbols
- crossroads shrine
- woollen dolls and balls
- dancing youths
Sources
- Macrobius, Saturnalia 1.7.34-35
- Varro, De Lingua Latina 6.25
- Cato, De Agricultura 5
More Roman spirits
- The Lares Guardian spirits of the household and crossroads
- Penates Guardians of the household store cupboard
- Manes The honoured spirits of the family dead
- Genius The divine double of each man and household
- Juno (personal spirit) The guardian spirit of each woman
- Forculus and Limentinus Spirits of the door and the threshold
- Parcae The three Fates of birth and death
- Camenae Spring goddesses of song and prophecy