Janus

beginnings and doorways

Janus watches over every beginning, every door and every transition: from the old state to the new.

💡 Did you know? At every sacrifice and prayer Janus was invoked first: even before Jupiter.

he has two faces

With two opposite faces Janus looks backward and forward at the same time.

💡 Did you know? The month of January, standing between the old and the new year, is named after him.

in times of war

The gates of his temple stood open in times of war and were closed only in peace.

💡 Did you know? In early Roman history they stayed almost continuously open: Rome was almost always at war.

a key and a staff

As god of doorways, Janus often carries a key with which he opens and closes gates.

💡 Did you know? The doorkeeper knew the way in as well as out: beginning and end at once.

he was invoked first

At every sacrifice and prayer, Janus was invoked first: even before Jupiter.

💡 Did you know? As god of all beginnings, the start of every act belonged to him.

January

January, standing between the old and the new year, bears Janus's name.

💡 Did you know? Fittingly, the two-faced god looks at once into the past and the coming year.