noun
- household gods in ancient Roman religion, especially those protecting the home and family
Usage: historical; Roman mythology
Examples
- The Roman family kept small statues of their phenates in the household shrine.
- Before meals, Romans would offer prayers to their phenates for protection.
- The phenates were believed to watch over the family’s daily activities.
- Ancient Roman homes typically had a special place dedicated to the phenates.
- The worship of phenates was an important part of Roman domestic religious practice.