Janus
God of beginnings, gates, and transitions with a double-sided head.
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Janus is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings. He is usually depicted as having a double-sided head. The month of January is named for Janus (Ianuarius). While Juno was mistakenly cited in some ancient farmers' almanacs as the tutelary deity of January, she is actually the tutelary deity of June. Janus presided over the beginning and ending of conflict, meaning war and peace. As a god of transitions, he governed birth, journeys, and exchange, working alongside Portunus to oversee travelling, trading, and shipping.
Quick Facts
- Other names
- Ianuspater ("Janus Father")
- Ianus Quadrifrons ("Janus Fourfaced")
- Ianus Bifrons ("Two-faced Janus")
- Member of
- the di selecti
- Deity of
- God of all beginnings
- gates
- transitions
- boundaries
- roads
- duality
- doorways
- passages
- paths and endings
- Abode
- at the limits of Earth, at the extremity of Heaven
- Consort
- Camese
- Venilia
- and Juturna
- Parents
- None (primordial deity); Terra and Caelus (variant)
- Siblings
- Saturn and Ops
- Children
- Canens
- Aithex
- Olistene
- Tiberinus
- and Fontus
Lore & Background
Janus had no flamen or specialised priest assigned to him; instead, the King of the Sacred Rites (rex sacrorum) himself carried out his ceremonies. His presence was ubiquitous in religious ceremonies throughout the year, invoked at the beginning of each ceremony regardless of the main deity honored. The gates of the Temple of Janus in Rome were opened in time of war and closed to mark the arrival of peace. Ancient interpretations varied on his nature: Paul the Deacon linked him to 'Chaos' via the root meaning 'be open,' while Nigidius Figulus proposed he was Apollo and Diana Iana combined, though this form is not attested. Cicero, Ovid, and Macrobius explained the name deriving from the verb ire ('to go'). Modern scholars often view his functions as organized around a single principle: presiding over all beginnings and transitions.
Reader's Guide
Janus was ritually invoked at the beginning of each ceremony. He had an altar and later a temple near the Porta Carmentalis where the road to Veii ended, and he was present on the Janiculum, a gateway to Etruria. While the ancient Greeks had no known equivalent to him, there is considerable overlap with Culśanś of the Etruscan pantheon. Leonhard Schmitz suggests he was likely the most important god in the Roman archaic pantheon and often invoked together with Iuppiter. G. Dumézil proposed a structural difference where Janus acts as an introducer god distinct from the tripartite structure of other gods, functioning alongside a goddess of ending and a nurturer fire spirit.
Did You Know?
- A statue of Janus in the Forum Holitorium had hands positioned to show 355 (later 365), symbolizing his control over time.
- According to myth, Janus was the first to mint coins, and the 'as' coin bore his effigy on one face.
- Janus is usually depicted with a double-sided head to represent looking into the past and future simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Janus?
In the context of historical records within the universe, Janus is identified as an ancient Roman deity rather than a modern operative. He represents beginnings and transitions and is historically invoked during specific ceremonies.
Where does Janus operate or appear?
Ancient texts locate his primary temple in Rome near the Porta Carmentalis and the Janiculum hill. He is ritually present at the beginning of each ceremony to oversee exchanges and journeys.
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Elsewhere in Deus Ex
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