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Myths about the Roman God Janus
He is introduced by Ovid as describing his origin, office
and form: he was the ancient Chaos, or confused mass of
matter before the formation of the world, the reduction of
which into order and regularity, gave him his divinity. Thus
deified, he had the power of opening and shutting every
thing in the universe: he was arbiter of peace and war, and
keeper of the door of heaven. He was the god who presided
over the beginning of all undertakings; the first libations
of wine and wheat were offered to him, and the preface of
all prayers directed to him. The first month of the year
took its denomination from Janus.
It is certain that Janus early obtained divine honors among
the Romans.
Numa ordained that his temple should be shut in
time of peace, and opened in time of war, from which
ceremony Janus was called Clusius and Patulcius.
The peculiar offerings to Janus were cakes of new meal and
salt, with new wine and frankincense. In the feasts
instituted by Numa, the sacrifice was a ram, and the
solemnities were performed by men, in the manner of
exercises and combats. Then all artificers and tradesmen
began their works, and the Roman consuls for the new year
solemnly entered on their office: all quarrels were laid
aside, mutual presents were made, and the day concluded with
joy and festivity. Janus was seated in the centre of twelve
altars, in allusion to the twelve months of the year, and
had on his hands fingers to the amount of the days in the
year. Sometimes his image had four faces, either in regard
to the four seasons of the year, or to the four quarters of
the world: he held in one hand a key, and in the other a
sceptre; the former may denote his opening, as it were, and
shutting the world, by the admission and exclusion of light;
and the latter his dominion over it.
Myths about the Roman God Janus
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