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Janus (Ianus) Roman One of the principal Roman gods and one of the oldest.

Publié le 26/01/2014

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janus
Janus (Ianus) Roman One of the principal Roman gods and one of the oldest. Janus was the guardian of gates and doors, and as such his name is used in the name of the month of January, the gateway to the year. He is depicted as being two-faced or two-headed: One of his faces looks forward, into the future; the other looks backward, into the past. Janus was the opener and closer of all things. His name was mentioned in prayers even before that of Jupiter. The people of Rome dedicated a shrine to Janus in the Forum. The doors to this shrine were opened only in time of war to allow the warriors to march forward into battle. The chief festival of Janus was on New Year's Day.

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