The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Dancing Lar [ARK00025]
Attached People: Collector (major) - Bargrave, John (1610-1680)Location(s): Current location at - Canterbury Cathedral Library and Archives (Library and/or Archive) -> Canterbury Cathedral (Institution)
Annotation:[Canterbury Catalog: Bronze Lar, from' Lares', the Roman household Gods of dancing. Documented as being a statue of Mercury: "a maymed [maimed] Mercury, with one arm and one legg; ancient, dugg out of his temple". Lares were presumed sons of Mercury and Lara, and deeply venerated by ancient Romans through small statues, usually put in higher places of the house, far from the floor. There are two Lares proper and they had inferior power. Over time, their power was extended to houses, country, sea, and cities. Types of Lares: Lares Domestici- the house, Lares Familiares- family, Lares Permarini- the sea, Lares Praestitis- the state, Lares Rurales- land, Lares Viales- travellers; "ancient, dugg out of his temple". ]