From these _Teraphim_ came the _Lares_, or the Household Gods of the old _Romans_, who before the Laws of the Twelve Tables, used to bury the Dead in their Houses; from whence arose that great Veneration they had for their _Lares_ and _Penates_, a kind of domestick Divinities, worship’d in Houses, and esteem’d Protectors of Families, which were nothing else but the supposed Ghosts of those who formerly had belonged to the Family, whom they represented by Images, which they placed in the Chimney-Corner, or near their Doors. These were also look’d upon as Guardians of the Highways, near to which their Images were fix’d for the Benefit of Travellers, therefore call’d _Dii Viales_, Gods of the Roads. ’Tis said by the Prophet, _The King of Babylon stood at the parting of the Way_, and consulted _with the Images_; with the _Teraphim_, says the _Hebrew_, _Ezek._ xxi. 21. which the _Jewish_ Interpreters say were prophetick Images, endued with the Gift of Prediction; so far from being mere Idols, that they gave out Oracles, and foretold Things to come. Some think _Laban_’s _Teraphim_ to be such, and that _Rachel_, having observed how her Father did divine by them, and fearing, by consulting with them, he might know which way _Jacob_ went, and follow after and murder him; to prevent so fatal a Catastrophe, she took away his _Oracles_. Those sacred Images might, at first, be made in honour of departed Relatives, or illustrious Persons; but by degrees degenerated into religious Adoration. Thus the _Manes_ of the Dead were worship’d by them under the Figure of their _Teraphim_, in some place of the House, and probably where they had deposited the Remains of their Ancestors, as some think. The _Lares_ were also called _Penates_: To these they paid religious Homage with Sacrifices; so the _Roman Satirist_ says, and calls these images his _dear little House-Gods_; and then observes, that they were crown’d with Garlands of Flowers in Summer, and in Winter with Shaving of Horns colour’d. To these _Waxen-Gods_ the _Romans_ addrest themselves with Offerings of Frankincense and Cakes[372].... Footnote 372: Oh parvi nostrique Lares quos thure minuto Hic nostrum placabo, Jovem Laribusque paternis Thura dabo, atque omnes violæ jactabo colores Cuncta nitent—— _Juvenal. Sat._ ix. _v._ 137. & _Sat._ xii. _v._ 89. They were supposed to be the Spirits of such, who had lived well on the Earth, and in consequence of it, were happy; so on the other hand, those who lived ill here, did after Death wander up and down in Horror, and were supposed, by the Vulgar, to be Hobgoblins, call’d _Lemures_, _i. e._ restless Ghosts of departed Spirits, who return to the Earth to terrify the Living.