Penates

Culture: Ancient Roman   Domain: The household pantry, provision, domestic security

The Penates are household guardian spirits specifically tied to the family's stores and provisions, worshipped alongside the Lares at the household shrine; a family's Penates were considered so central to its identity that they were said to be carried along when a household relocated, most famously by Aeneas fleeing Troy.

Associations

The pantry, household provision, security of resources, continuity through relocation.

Ways people honor them (modern)

• Keep the pantry or food storage area tidy and cared for
• Offer thanks for reliable provision and resources
• Keep a small token from a former home if you've moved
• Read of Aeneas carrying his household's Penates from fallen Troy

Approach any deity with respect and do your own research. Practices vary widely between traditions, and modern devotional practice often goes beyond what survives in ancient sources.