In Roman mythology, Janus was the god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings, and endings. His most apparent remnant in modern culture is his namesake, the month of January.Though he was usually depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions (Janus Geminus (twin Janus) or Bifrons), in some places he was Janus Quadrifrons (the four-faced). The Romans associated Janus with the Etruscan deity Ani.
Janus was frequently used to symbolize change and transitions such as the progression of past to future, of one condition to another, of one vision to another, and of one universe to another.Hence, Janus was worshipped at the beginnings of the harvest and planting times, as well as marriages, births and other beginnings.He was representative of the middle ground between barbarity and civilization, rural country and urban cities, and youth and adulthood.Janus was supposed to have come from Thessaly in Greece and shared a kingdom with Camese in Latium.
They had many children, including Tiberinus. Janus and his later wife, Juturna, were the parents of Fontus. Another wife was named Jana. Historically, however, he was one of the few Roman gods who had no ready-made Greek counterpart, or analogous mythology.As the sole ruler of Latium, Janus heralded the Golden Age, introducing money, laws and agriculture (making him a culture hero).When Romulus and his men kidnapped the women of the Sabines, Janus caused a hot spring to erupt, causing the would-be attackers to flee. In honor of this, the doors to his temples were kept open during war so that he could easily intervene. The doors and gates were closed during peace.
The bust depicts Janus with two faces. Originally one face was always bearded, the ther one clean-shaven; later both bearded) originally represented the sun and the moon.He was usually depicted with a key.One suggested origin of the name of the Italian city of Genoa is a derivation of Janus.
Children:
Anais Sierra Vernia
Janus was frequently used to symbolize change and transitions such as the progression of past to future, of one condition to another, of one vision to another, and of one universe to another.Hence, Janus was worshipped at the beginnings of the harvest and planting times, as well as marriages, births and other beginnings.He was representative of the middle ground between barbarity and civilization, rural country and urban cities, and youth and adulthood.Janus was supposed to have come from Thessaly in Greece and shared a kingdom with Camese in Latium.
They had many children, including Tiberinus. Janus and his later wife, Juturna, were the parents of Fontus. Another wife was named Jana. Historically, however, he was one of the few Roman gods who had no ready-made Greek counterpart, or analogous mythology.As the sole ruler of Latium, Janus heralded the Golden Age, introducing money, laws and agriculture (making him a culture hero).When Romulus and his men kidnapped the women of the Sabines, Janus caused a hot spring to erupt, causing the would-be attackers to flee. In honor of this, the doors to his temples were kept open during war so that he could easily intervene. The doors and gates were closed during peace.
The bust depicts Janus with two faces. Originally one face was always bearded, the ther one clean-shaven; later both bearded) originally represented the sun and the moon.He was usually depicted with a key.One suggested origin of the name of the Italian city of Genoa is a derivation of Janus.
Children:
Anais Sierra Vernia
