the household gods of the Romans, whose images stood on the hearth in a little shrine (edes) or a small chapel (lararium). The name is of Etruscan origin, and signifies kings or heroes. The Lares seem to have been identical with the Manes, but it was only the spirits of good men that were worshipped as such. Of the domestic Lares, the Lar familiaris, as founder of the family, was the chief, and was always taken with the family in its changes of abode. In every household there were generally two Lares at least, and they were either clad in the skin of a dog, or represented with a dog at their feet. In their hands they held a cornucopia; and on their festivals, which fell on the first of May, they were crowned with garlands, and worshipped with sacrifices. Besides the Lares domestici et familiares, there were also Lares compitales et viales, militares et marini, urbani, rurales, &c.