Penates
the Roman gods of the storeroom and kitchen. The family hearth, which formerly stood in the atrium, and their altar, and on it their images, two in number, were placed, with the image of the Lar between them.
These penates were represented dancing and elevating a drinking horn in token of joy and plenty. The calends, nones, and ides of each month were set apart for their worship, as were the caristia (Feb. 22) and the saturnalia. the state had its public penates. The worship of these gods was closely connected with that of Vesta, in whose temple the public penates were at one time worshipped, though they had a temple of their own near the Forum.