Religion in the Homes and City of Ancient Rome
Romans set up in their homes alters and shrines known as Lararium.
The head of the household, usually the father, was responsible for prayer and
incense to the Lares, or household gods. I was believed the Lares protected
the home and helped with the fields and the crops. The Romans set up altars
around their fields to try to please gods, which would then help the crops.
A second set of household gods were the Penates, which they believed provided
food for the families.
In the city of Rome, two special deities were worshiped. The
first was Roma, who represented the city 
of
Rome. The second was Vesta. At her temple, a fire was tended by six young ladies
known as Vestals. The Vestals were chosen as young ladies and were expected
to serve for thirty years without marring. Vesta was never represented by a
statue like most other gods of the Roman pantheon. Instead a fire was lit at
her temple in March, and tended by the Vestal Virgins for the rest of the year.
As long as the fire burned, it was believed that Rome would remain strong. The
temple and the Vestals were guarded to insure the flame continued to burn
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