Janus

Janus is a Roman god associated with beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces, since he looks to the future and to the past. The Romans named the month of January (Ianuarius) in his honor.

History

Janus was a prominent deity in Roman religion, who played a key role in its mythology. He was often invoked together with Jupiter and Juno, and was considered a mediator between gods and humans. His two-faced image can be found on many ancient Roman coins, and he was frequently depicted in art and sculpture.

Worship and Rituals

Janus was worshipped at the beginning of harvest time, planting, marriage, birth, and other types of beginnings. He was thought to represent change and transitions such as the progress of past to future, from one condition to another, from one vision to another, and young people's growth to adulthood. He was also involved in the rites of the Vestal Virgins, Rome's only college of full-time priests.

Temples

The most famous temple of Janus in Rome was the Janus Geminus, which was actually a gateway rather than a temple. This structure had doors on both ends, and they were closed in times of peace and opened in times of war.

In Popular Culture

Janus has been referenced in various aspects of popular culture, including literature, music, and film. He is often used as a symbol of duality, change, and new beginnings.

See also

• Roman mythology
• Jupiter (mythology)
• Juno (mythology)
• Vestal Virgins

Janus Resources
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