Janus Bifrons

Attributes & Domains

Mythology & Stories

Unlike most Roman deities, Janus has no Greek counterpart—he is purely Roman, possibly predating even the founding of Rome itself. His antiquity is reflected in his precedence: Janus was always invoked first in any prayer or sacrifice, before even Jupiter. This primacy reflects his role as the god who "opens" all actions and whose blessing is needed to begin any undertaking.

Key Myths:

• The Origin of Two Faces: Various traditions explain Janus's double visage. One holds that he was the first king of Latium who received Saturn when he fled from Jupiter; in gratitude, Saturn gave him the power to see both past and future. Another says his two faces represent his primordial nature as Chaos, who existed before the ordered cosmos.
• Welcoming Saturn: When Saturn arrived in Italy as an exile, Janus welcomed him and shared his kingdom on the Janiculum hill. Together they ruled during the Golden Age. This hospitality earned Janus eternal honor and established the precedent of Roman hospitality.
• The Sabine War: During the war between Romans and Sabines over the abducted Sabine women, the Sabines nearly took the city. Janus opened his sacred spring and flooded the invaders with boiling water, saving Rome. This miracle established him as a protector of the city in wartime.
• Gates of War: The Gates of Janus (Ianus Geminus) in the Forum were kept open during wartime and closed only when Rome was at complete peace. Tradition held they were closed only twice before Augustus: once under the legendary King Numa, and once after the First Punic War. Their closing symbolized Janus's dual power over war and peace.
• The First God: Some sources claim Janus was the primordial deity from whom all others descended, existing before even Chaos was ordered into cosmos. As Janus Pater, he was honored as the father of all beginnings, including the gods themselves.

Relationships

Family

• Origins: Primordial, existing before the cosmos was ordered; some accounts name him son of Apollo, but most traditions consider him self-generated from Chaos
• Consort: Juturna (nymph of springs) or Camese (early Italic goddess)
• Children: Fontus (god of wells and springs), Canens (nymph of song), Tiberinus (god of the Tiber River)

Divine Associates

• Saturn: His guest during the Golden Age; they ruled together over Latium
• Jupiter: Though Jupiter is king, Janus precedes him in all invocations
• The Hours (Horae): Janus guards heaven's gate alongside the Hours, goddesses of seasons and time

Worship & Rituals

Sacred Sites

The Ianus Geminus (Temple of Janus) in the Roman Forum was not a traditional temple but a small bronze shrine with double doors on each end. Its opening and closing marked the state of war or peace. The Janiculum Hill across the Tiber bore his name, traditionally where Janus had his palace. Every doorway (ianua) was sacred to him, making every Roman home a site of his worship. Arched gateways (iani) throughout Rome honored him.

Festivals

• Kalends of January (January 1): The most important day for Janus worship. Romans exchanged gifts of dates, figs, and honey (strenae, origin of New Year's gifts). The day was spent in pleasant activities to ensure a good year. Citizens greeted each other with good wishes.
• Agonalia (January 9): The rex sacrorum (king of sacred rites) sacrificed a ram to Janus. This ancient festival honored his role in all beginnings.
• Kalends of Each Month: The first day of every month was sacred to Janus, when the pontifex minor announced the dates of that month's festivals.

Ritual Precedence

Janus was always invoked first in any prayer or sacrifice, regardless of which deity was primarily being honored. This unique privilege reflected his power over all beginnings. Wine and spelt cakes (liba) were his typical offerings. Priests approached his shrine through one door and exited through the other, symbolizing transition.

Prayers & Invocations

Traditional invocation: "Janus Pater, Janus Bifrons, you who see all beginnings and endings, who guard all doorways and passages: I invoke you first among the gods. Open the way for this undertaking, as you open the gates of heaven. With your key, unlock success; with your staff, steady my path. You who welcomed Saturn, welcome my prayer. You who watch past and future, guide my present. Iane Pater, Iane Patulci!"

A Uniquely Roman Deity

Janus stands apart in Roman religion as a deity with no Greek equivalent. While Romans identified most of their gods with Greek counterparts, Janus remained distinctly Italic:

• No Greek Counterpart: Unlike Jupiter/Zeus or Mars/Ares, Janus has no Hellenic parallel. He represents indigenous Roman religious thought.
• Ritual Primacy: His precedence in all invocations is uniquely Roman, reflecting the importance Romans placed on proper beginnings.
• Political Significance: The Gates of Janus linking war and peace had no Greek parallel and embodied Rome's martial self-image.
• Calendrical Role: January (Januarius) named for Janus demonstrates his integration into Roman civic life.
• Architectural Presence: The Latin word for door (ianua) derives from his name; every threshold honored him.
• Primordial Status: His identification with primordial Chaos predates the standard Olympian mythology borrowed from Greece.