Tutela

The capacity for offering protection or guardianship was a basic function of deity, expressed by formulations such as Tutela Iovis, "the tutelage of Jove".

For instance, trees of ill omen (arbores infelices) were in the tutela of the gods below (di inferi).

The true name of the deity was theoretically kept secret, to prevent an enemy from enacting a ritual "calling out" (evocatio) the tutelary and rendering the city vulnerable.

[9] If the identity of a deity whose protection was desired was unknown, an altar might be inscribed with an open-ended invocation such as "to the tutelary god".

[11] She is often linked invoked with the Genius to assure a full range of protection, and became a regular part of household cult along with the Lares and Penates.