Penates

pe-na'tez, in Roman mythology, the household gods who were supposed to guard the welfare and prosperity of the home and family. The word Penates is from penus, the innermost part of the temple. The head of the family was priest to the Penates of his own house. The images of the Penates were kept in the inner or central part of each home. In case of a family removing to another home, or if the home must be deserted in time of danger, it was the first care of the family to take with them the Penates. Each city had also its Penates, guardians of the empire. The Lares were included in the term Penates, although the expression "Lares and Penates" is common. See Lares