n.
In ancient Roman religion , the attendant spirit of a person or place.
It originally represented the housefather, who gave continuity to a family or clan over generations; its female counterpart was the housemother, called the juno . In later times, the genius was seen as an individual's guardian spirit or higher self, and it was worshiped by that individual, especially on his birthday. There were also genii of places and of groups such as legions, states, and guilds.