Janus

Janus was a god from Roman mythology.

Abode
Janus was the god of beginnings, endings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, and passages. Janus also presided over the beginning and ending of conflict, thus associating him with war and peace. As a god of transitions and gateways, he was associated with birth, journeys, exchange, travel, trade, and shipping. Since he was also the god of the past and the future, he also symbolized change.

Depiction
Janus was typically depicted as having two faces, one facing left and the other right. One of these faces was said to look into the future while the other looked into the past. The two faces of Janus symbolized several aspects of his dominion, including duality, the past and future, and beginnings and endings.

Worship
Janus' temple Ianus geminus was opened at the start of war and were closed again when peace was achieved.

Janus was typically worshipped at the start and ends of significant things in Ancient Rome, such as the beginning of the harvest and planting seasons, marriages, deaths, and the start of the new year.

Other than being worshipped at the beginning of every new year and month, Janus was also worshipped at the start and end of the military season on 1 March and 1 October respectively. He was also associated with the anniversaries of the dedication sof the temples of Mars and Quirinus on 1 June and 29 June respectively.

Relationships
Janus was a primordial deity, meaning he appeared at the creation of the universe with no parents. He consorted with another primordial deity, Camese.

Janus fathered at least five children: Canens, Aithex, Olistene, Tiberinus, and Fontus.

Other names

 * Ianus
 * Ianuspater (meaning "Janus Father")
 * Quadrifrons (meaning "Janus Fourfaced")
 * Ianus Bifrons (meaning "Janus Twofaced")
 * Culsans (in Etruscan mythology)