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File:Double_herm_Chiaramonti_Inv1395.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Janus

Also known as Ianus, Ianuspater, Ianus Quadrifrons, Ianus Bifrons

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). According to ancient Roman farmers' almanacs, Juno was mistaken as the tutelary deity of the month of January, but Juno is the tutelary deity of the month of June.

AI overview

Janus was the ancient Roman god of beginnings, endings, transitions, and doorways, typically shown with two faces looking in opposite directions. The month of January takes its name from him, reflecting his association with new beginnings and the passage of time.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Deity.type: Roman
Deity.name: Janus
Deity.other_names: ("Janus Father"), ("Janus Fourfaced"), ("Two-faced Janus")
Deity.member_of: the di selecti
Deity.image: Double herm Chiaramonti Inv1395.jpg
Deity.caption: Statue representing Janus Bifrons in the Vatican Museums
Deity.deity_of: God of all beginnings, gates, transitions, boundaries, roads, duality, doorways, passages, paths and endings
Deity.abode: at the limits of Earth, at the extremity of Heaven
Deity.symbol: two faces
Deity.consort: Camese, Venilia, and Juturna
Deity.parents: None (primordial deity) Terra and Caelus (variant)
Deity.siblings: Saturn and Ops
Deity.children: Canens, Aithex, Olistene, Tiberinus, and Fontus
Deity.Etruscan_equivalent: Culsans

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: Janus-Vatican.JPG

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Commons category: Janus
Commons gallery: Janus

Sources (4)

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~71 min read

Article

49 sections

Contents

Etymology
Ancient interpretations
Theology and functions
God of beginnings and passages
God of change
Demi-god or a king reformator
Position in the pantheon
Structural peculiarity theory
Solar god theories
Temples
Cult epithets
Carmen Saliare
Other sources
Pater
Geminus
Patulcius and Clusivius the 1st
Quirinus
Ποπάνων (Popanon, Libo?)
Iunonius
Consivius
Κήνουλος (Coenulus)
Curiatius
Rites
Beginning of the year
Beginning of the month
Beginning of the day
Space
Rites of the Salii
Tigillum Sororium
Myths
Origin, legends, and history
Distant origin hypothesis
1. The boat of Janus and the beliefs of the primitive sailing techniques
2. Religious quality of trees
3. The depiction of Janus and Boreas as bifrons
4. The sites of the cults of Janus at Rome
5. Sociological remarks
Relationship with other gods
Janus and Juno
Janus and Quirinus
Janus and Portunus
Janus and Vesta
Janus in Etruria
Association with non-Roman gods
Legacy
See also
Citations
Bibliography
External links

Janus presided over the beginning and ending of conflict, and hence war and peace. The gates of the Temple of Janus in Rome were opened in time of war and closed to mark the arrival of peace. As a god of transitions, he had functions pertaining to birth and to journeys and exchange, and in his association with Portunus, a similar harbor and gateway god, he was concerned with travelling, trading, and shipping.