household god
Home's protective spirit
A household god is a deity believed to protect a home and its inhabitants—a concept found across many cultures, from Roman lares to Chinese kitchen gods.
These minor divinities received daily offerings and were thought to watch over domestic affairs.
Figuratively, household gods are the cherished objects, traditions, or values central to a family's identity: The piano was one of their household gods, passed down through generations.
Roman household guardian gods
- kamiShinto sacred spirits
- genius lociGuardian spirit of location
- tutelaryServing as protector
- manesNeck hair on beasts
vesta · agni · brownie · ancestor spirit · protective spirit · divine protector · numen
Sacred ritual table
- shrineSacred devotional place
- offeringsThings presented or given
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
- prayersReverent petitions to deity
libations · veneration · devotion · rituals · piety · reverence · supplication · sacrifice
Protective caretaker of another
- protectorOne who safeguards others
- watcherOne who observes
- defenderOne who guards another
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
safeguard · warding · threshold guardian · family welfare · home blessing · prosperity · fertility · abundance
Indoor structure for burning
- hearthstoneFireplace floor slab
- firesideArea beside the hearth
- homeOne's personal residence
- domesticOf the home
family center · warmth · inglenook · cooking fire · family gathering · homestead
Those from whom one descends
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- family altarDomestic place of worship
- forebearsAncestral family members
ancestral rites · genealogy · bloodline · filial piety · family legacy · ancestor worship · memorial · commemoration
penates
Roman household guardian gods
- kamiShinto sacred spirits
- genius lociGuardian spirit of location
- tutelaryServing as protector
manes · vesta · agni · brownie · ancestor spirit · protective spirit · divine protector · numen
altar
Sacred ritual table
- shrineSacred devotional place
- offeringsThings presented or given
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
prayers · libations · veneration · devotion · rituals · piety · reverence · supplication · sacrifice · ceremony
guardian
Protective caretaker of another
blessing · safeguard · warding · threshold guardian · family welfare · home blessing · prosperity · fertility · abundance · good fortune
fireplace
Indoor structure for burning
- hearthstoneFireplace floor slab
- firesideArea beside the hearth
- homeOne's personal residence
domestic · family center · warmth · inglenook · cooking fire · family gathering · homestead
ancestors
Those from whom one descends
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- family altarDomestic place of worship
forebears · ancestral rites · genealogy · bloodline · filial piety · family legacy · ancestor worship · memorial · commemoration · descent
- deitiesZeus, Odin, Thor, Ra, Apollo
- Guardian Deitiesguardian angel, protective spirit, Lares, genius loci, patron saint
- ritual figurinesfertility idol, clay idol, stone idol, ex-voto, Lares
- household spiritsbrownie, kobold, penates, hob, lob
- local spiritsguardian spirit, protective spirit, genius loci, kami, nats
- sacred imagesidol, holy image, sacred image, graven image, religious icon
household godnature deity
Divine being governing wilderness
forest spirit · demon · Pan · Dionysus
house, hold, houses, housed, housing, holds, held, holding, holder