Janus is a character from the Roman mythology. He is the god of doors and passages. He has two faces and they are located on the opposite sides of his head. Doors and gates signified beginnings and endings and thus he came to be known as someone who has lived in two worlds. He was worshipped at the beginning of the harvest time, planting, marriage, birth, and other types of beginnings, especially the beginnings of important events in a person's life. The month of January is believed to be named after him.
Roman Republic had several coins that depicted Janus. One was always bearded while the other is clean shaven. He also symbolizes or represents change or transition between barbarity to civilization, rural and urban as well as youth to adulthood. It is believed that Janus was a king initially who ruled with his wife and alone after her death. His kingdom was known as Latium and he had many children including the god of Tiberinus after whom the river Tiber was named. Janus was deitified after his death.
Roman Republic had several coins that depicted Janus. One was always bearded while the other is clean shaven. He also symbolizes or represents change or transition between barbarity to civilization, rural and urban as well as youth to adulthood. It is believed that Janus was a king initially who ruled with his wife and alone after her death. His kingdom was known as Latium and he had many children including the god of Tiberinus after whom the river Tiber was named. Janus was deitified after his death.
