Household deity

A household deity is a <a href="/facts/Deity/doCvhDHj">deity</a> or spirit that protects the <a href="/facts/Home/6E2KNpSe">home</a>, looking after the entire <a href="/facts/Household/snEgg9vP">household</a> or certain key members. It has been a common belief in <a href="/facts/Paganism/JaWTHBtJ">paganism</a> as well as in <a href="/facts/Folklore/hcBN8qcd">folklore</a> across many parts of the world.

Household deities fit into two types; firstly, a specific deity – typically a goddess – often referred to as a hearth goddess or domestic goddess who is associated with the home and hearth, such as the ancient Greek <a href="/facts/Hestia/sCG4PTbQ">Hestia</a>.
The second type of household deity is not one singular deity but a type or species of <a href="/facts/Animism/jsPnJBuD">animistic</a>, which usually has lesser powers than major deities. This type was common in the religions of antiquity, such as the <a href="/facts/Lares/SfNCSndc">lares</a> of <a href="/facts/Religion_in_ancient_Rome/QrNwmgPM">ancient Roman religion</a>, the <a href="/facts/Gashin/slDJ6YK7">gashin</a> of <a href="/facts/Korean_shamanism/V2aem5DY">Korean shamanism</a>, and <a href="/facts/Cofgodas/chbw84Yh">cofgodas</a> of <a href="/facts/Anglo-Saxon_paganism/da7PLuac">Anglo-Saxon paganism</a>. These survived Christianisation as <a href="/facts/Fairy/P5ca3mNx">fairy</a>-like creatures existing in folklore, such as the Anglo-Scottish <a href="/facts/Brownie_(folklore)/n2se741v">brownie</a> and Slavic <a href="/facts/Domovoy/tLjEBaCW">domovoy</a>.
Household deities were usually worshipped not in temples but in the home, where they would be represented by small <a href="/facts/Idolatry/VRA0DKEd">idols</a> (such as the <a href="/facts/Teraphim/WUjqhH4R">teraphim</a> of the <a href="/facts/Bible/SqkRTKCh">Bible</a>, often translated as "household gods" in Genesis 31:19 for example), <a href="/facts/Amulet/aTApH0q5">amulets</a>, paintings, or reliefs. They could also be found on domestic objects, such as cosmetic articles in the case of <a href="/facts/Tawaret/f2xSmptH">Tawaret</a>. The more prosperous houses might have a small <a href="/facts/Shrine/fxhVLe5y">shrine</a> to the household god(s); the <a href="/facts/Lararium/SfNCSndc">lararium</a> served this purpose in the case of the Romans. The gods would be treated as members of the family and invited to join in meals or be given <a href="/facts/Sacrifice/nTYAYulo">offerings of food</a> and <a href="/facts/Libation/V3K9ljx9">drink</a>.

Household deity open-in-new

Household deity