Lăres, gods of inferior power at Rome, who presided over houses and families. They were two in number, sons of Mercury by Lara. See: [Lara]. In process of time their power was extended not only over houses, but also over the country and the sea, and we find Lares Urbani to preside over the cities, Familiares over houses, Rustici over the country, Compitales over cross-roads, Marini over the sea, Viales over the roads, Patellarii, &c. According to the opinion of some, the worship of the gods Lares, who are supposed to be the same as the manes, arises from the ancient custom among the Romans and other nations of burying their dead in their houses, and from their belief that their spirits continually hovered over their houses, for the protection of the inhabitants. The statues of the Lares resembling monkeys, and covered with the skin of a dog, were placed in a niche behind the doors of the houses, or around the hearths. At the feet of the Lares was the figure of a dog barking, to intimate their care and vigilance. Incense was burnt on their altars, and a sow was also offered on particular days. Their festivals were observed at Rome in the month of May, when their statues were crowned with garlands of flowers, and offerings of fruit presented. The word Lares seems to be derived from the Etruscan word Lars, which signifies conductor, or leader. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 5, li. 129.—Juvenal, satire 8, li. 8.—Plutarch, Quæstiones Romanæ.—Varro, de Lingua Latina, bk. 4, ch. 10.—Horace, bk. 3, ode 23.—Plautus, Aulularia & Cistellaria.
Largra, a well-known prostitute in Juvenal’s age. Juvenal, satire 4, li. 25.
Largus, a Latin poet, who wrote a poem on the arrival of Antenor in Italy, where he built the town of Padua. He composed with ease and elegance. Ovid, ex Ponto, bk. 4, ltr. 16, li. 17.
Larīdes, a son of Daucus or Daunus, who assisted Turnus against Æneas, and had his hand cut off with one blow by Pallas the son of Evander. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 10, li. 391.
Lārīna, a virgin of Italy, who accompanied Camilla in her war against Æneas. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 11, li. 655.
Larīnum, or Lārīna, now Larino, a town of the Frentani on the Tifernus, before it falls into the Adriatic. The inhabitants were called Larinates. Silius Italicus, bk. 15, li. 565.—Cicero, For Aulus Cluentius, chs. 63, 64; Letters to Atticus, ltr. 12; bk. 7, ltr. 13.—Livy, bk. 22, ch. 18; bk. 27, ch. 40.—Cæsar, Civil War, bk. 1, ch. 23.
Larissa, a daughter of Pelasgus, who gave her name to some cities in Greece. Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 23.——A city between Palestine and Egypt, where Pompey was murdered and buried, according to some accounts.——A large city on the banks of the Tigris. It had a small pyramid near it, greatly inferior to those of Egypt.——A city of Asia Minor, on the southern confines of Troas. Strabo, bk. 13.——Another in Æolia, 70 stadia from Cyme. It is surnamed Phriconis by Strabo, by way of distinction. Strabo, bk. 13.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 2, li. 640.——Another near Ephesus.——Another on the borders of the Peneus in Thessaly, also called Cremaste from its situation (Pensilis), the most famous of all the cities of that name. It was here that Acrisius was inadvertently killed by his grandson Perseus. Jupiter had there a famous temple, on account of which he is called Larissæus. The same epithet is also applied to Achilles, who reigned there. It is still extant, and bears the same name. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 2, li. 542.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 2, li. 197.—Lucan, bk. 6.—Livy, bk. 31, ch. 46; bk. 42, ch. 56.——A citadel of Argos, built by Danaus.
Larissæus. See: [Larissa].
Larissus, a river of Peloponnesus flowing between Elis and Achaia. Strabo, bk. 8.—Livy, bk. 27, ch. 31.—Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 43.
Larius, a large lake of Cisalpine Gaul, through which the Addua runs in its way into the Po, above Cremona. Virgil, Georgics, bk. 2, li. 159.