Janus

Roman god of passage, gates and doorways. Janus was also the god of agriculture, particularly sowing time. Janus was one of the earliest deities worshipped at the time of Romulus.

Janus was depicted as a god with two faces, facing opposite directions. It was said that one face was looking into the past, while the other face looked into the future, so Janus was also the god of time, if not of prophecy.

Janus was also depicted carrying a key in his right hand and a staff in his left.

Though there was no Greek counterpart of Janus, he was probably linked with Ani, the Etruscan sky-god, who also had two faces.

In the Aeneid, there were special gates in the temple of Janus, within the city of Laurentum. If the gates were opened, then it would signify war. Latinus, the king of the Latins, refused to open the gate and be dragged into a needless war against Aeneas and the Trojans. It was Juno who threw open the gates.

In Rome, the sacred gates of war called Ianus geminus stood in the Forum. They were left open during times of war. These doors were closed only during the time of Numa Pompilius and Augustus.

In later myth, Janus was said to be the son of Apollo and Creusa, who was born in Thessaly. Janus migrated to Italy where he founded the city of Janiculum on the Tiber. Janus was an ancient king of Italy and married a woman named Jana. Janus was the father of several children other than by his wife. Janus was the father of Tiberinus by Camasena, of Fontus by Juturna, and of Canens by Venilia.

The month of January was named after him, and his festival, called Agonium, was celebrated on January 9.