The Romans used symbols and signs, such as amulets, statuettes or inscriptions, to protect their home because they believed in the existence of spirits and supernatural forces that could influence their daily lives. These protections were supposed to bring luck, health, and security to their home and family.
In Roman times, the family hearth (called focus in Latin) held a very important place. It was the clearly symbolic and emotional center of the home, much like the heart of the family. The Lares, protective spirits of the ancestors, and Vesta, the goddess of fire and the hearth, were honored there. Specifically, this hearth was represented by a sacred fire that was always kept burning. It was around this fire that the family lived, ate, and practiced their daily rituals. Keeping it lit meant ensuring safety, protection, and prosperity for the entire household. For a Roman, extinguishing this sacred fire was almost sacrilegious, synonymous with impending disaster or bad luck. This shows just how significant this small flame was in daily life.
In Roman times, the house was not just a dwelling, but also a place protected by domestic deities known as the Lares and the Penates. The Lares, a kind of protective spirits of the ancestors, watched over the safety of the home, while the Penates were there to ensure material well-being and family prosperity. Every day, families would leave small offerings (wine, food, or flowers) in front of a small household altar to encourage their protection. These daily rituals reassured the Romans and strengthened their confidence in the goodwill of these domestic deities.
The Romans often used particular symbols as a means of protection, and each symbol had its own little story. For example, the figure of the serpent was seen as protective, a symbol of prosperity and the guardian of the home against bad influences. The laurel branch, on the other hand, symbolized purity and was placed on doors to ward off evil spirits. Then there was the famous hand called "Mano Fico", a protective gesture intended to ward off the evil eye and bring luck to the entire household. Not to mention the famous symbol of the phallus, which at the time was not just used for humor but was very seriously employed as a powerful apotropaic sign, meaning it drove away curses and ensured fertility and wealth for the home.
The Romans regularly drew symbols on doors or walls to ward off evil spirits and attract good luck. Every morning, they greeted and honored their Lares, small figurines placed on a personal altar at home, sometimes offering them a bit of food. It was a habit as common as it was quick, as there was no need for a grand ceremony every day. People often wore small amulets called bullae around their necks or wrists, meant to protect against everyday dangers. At every important moment of daily life, such as a journey or a birth, they would check that these protective signs were clearly visible and placed correctly, just to feel at ease.
The Lares, Roman gods who guarded the hearth, were honored daily with small offerings such as grains, fruits, or a little wine to ensure their goodwill and constant protection.
The serpent, a symbol of fertility and protection among the Romans, frequently appeared in domestic wall paintings to attract good health and prosperity to the household.
The entrance door of Roman houses was often protected by carved and decorated amulets called 'bulla', primarily worn by children to ward off evil spirits.
When they settled into a new house, the Romans performed a ritual called 'lectisternium', during which a table was laid with food to favorably welcome the protective gods.
The Romans typically placed symbolic objects such as small altars, amulets, or painted images of protective deities near the household fire, often in the atrium or kitchen, in order to continuously ensure the protection of the home and its inhabitants.
Yes, some Roman symbols still partially exist in our contemporary culture, notably the use of the horseshoe for good luck or certain symbolic gestures like knocking on wood, practices derived from ancient beliefs related to domestic protection.
The household, symbolized by the perpetual flame of the sacred fire dedicated to the goddess Vesta, represented family continuity and divine protection. Extinguishing this fire was seen as a bad omen, while keeping its flame alive signified prosperity and constant protection.
The majority of Romans, regardless of their social status, resorted to protective symbols. Nevertheless, the materials and the refinement of the signs used could vary in quality and abundance according to the social status or financial means of the families.
The main Roman household gods were the Lares and the Penates. The Lares protected the home and family, while the Penates watched over the pantry and brought abundance.
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