A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

JANUS. JANUS. 5S1;
after Janus, the highest divinity, presiding over the described as the god who had power over the enbeginning of all things: the same king dedicated to trance of heaven (Ov. Fast. i, 125); hence he had
Janus the passage called Janus, which was opened the surnames of Patulcus or Patulcius, and Clusius
in times of war, and clbsed when the Roman arms or Clsivius. (Ov. Fast. i. 129; Serv. ad Aen. vii.
rested. (Liv. i. 9; Varro, de Ling. Lat. v. 164.) 610; Macrob. 1. c.; L. Lydus, de Mens. iv. 1.)
This passage (commonly, but erroneously, called a Although in the classical age the Romans themtemple), with two entrances, was usually called selves avowed that Janus was peculiar to, themJanus Geminus, Janus Bifrons, Janus Quirinus or selves (Ov. Fast. i. 90), yet we find at a later pePortae Belli (Iorat. Caarm. iv. 15. 8; Virg. Aen. riod, when Janus was regarded as the god of all
vii. 607), and stood ad inflnum Argiletumz, close by entrances and gates, that he was identified with
the forum. Atemple of Janus was built by C. Duilius Apollo avpda-os. (Macrob. 1. c.) We pass over a
in the time of the first Punic war: it was restored series of arbitrary etymological and philosophical
by Augustus, and dedicated by Tiberius. (Tacit. speculations (see Varro, ap. August. de vC. Dei,
Ann. ii. 49.) Niebuhr(Hist. ofRome, vol. i. p. 292, vii. 9; Festus, s. v. Chaos), and merely remark,
3d edit.) explains the objects of the earliest Janus that no nation of antiquity attributed such import(and those of the others in a similar manner) as ance to the beginning of a work or undertaking as
follows: " When the two cities (that of the Romans the Romans, who believed that the progress and
on the Palatine, and that of the Sabines on the success of a thing had some magic connection with
Quirinal) were united on terms of equality, they its beginning. (Gellius, v. 12; Plin. H. N. xxxvi.
built the double Janus, on the road leading from 5.) Janus was the god of the beginning of everythe Quirinal to the Palatium, with a door facing thing: he protected the beginning of all occupations
each of the cities, as the gate of the double barrier and actions as well as of human life, whence
which separated their liberties. It was open in he was called Consivius (a conserendo, or consatime of war, that succour might pass from one to tionibus, Macrob. Sat. i. 9; Tertull. ad Nat. ii.
the other, and shut during peace; whether for the 11). Hence, whenever a civil or military underpurpose of preventing an unrestricted intercourse, taking did not succeed, it was attributed to some
out of which quarrels might arise, or as a token fault in the manner of beginning it, and was frethat, though united, they were distinct." But if quently commenced afresh. (Ov. Fast. i. 179.) It
this had been the case, the two gates would neces- was indeed Jupiter who by augury sanctioned
sarily have faced the north and south, whereas, ac- every undertaking, but its beginning depended on
cording to the express testimony of Procopius (Bell. the blessing of Janus; hence these two divinities
Goth. i. 25); the two gates, as well as the two-faced were invoked first in every undertaking, and in all
statue of Janus, which stood- in the passage, faced prayers their names were mentioned first. The
the east and west. It is therefore more probable fact of the name of Janus being pronounced even
that the Janus Geminus originally was not an or- before that of Jupiter, and that according to tradinary gate of the city, but, like the later porta dition Janus was in Italy before any of the- other
triumphalis, used only on certain occasions, viz. gods, and that he dedicated temples to them (Maarmies marching out against an enemy and return- crob. 1. c.; Ov. Fast. i. 70; L. Lydus, de Mens. iv.
-ing from their campaign, passed through it: hence 2; Aur. Vict. de Orig. Gent. Rom. 3), is perfectly in
it was open in war, indicating symbolically that the accordance with the idea of the god, he being the begod too had gone out to assist the Roman warriors, ginning of every thing; but it does not follow that
and shut in time of peace that the god, the safeguard on this account he was considered superior or more
of the city, might not escape. (Ov. Fast. i. 281; powerful than all the other gods. As'he presided
Macrob. Sat. i. 9.) This covered gate is in later over the beginning of the-year, the people offered
*times often called a temple, but probably in a wider sacrifices to him on the first day of the year, and
sense of the word, that is, as a sacred place, con- priests offered sacrifices to him on twelve altars, as
taining the statue'of Janus. A bronze statue of the beginner of the twelve months, and prayed to
the god, five cubits in height, existed as late as the him at the commencement. o:fe'very day. (Varro
time of Procopius. The earliest representations, ap. Macrob. L c.; P. Vict: Reg.: U[b. xiv.) As the
however, appear to have been the two-faced heads, kalends of every month were sacred to Juno, Janus
which are -frequently seen on Etruscan medals was surnamed Junonius, and in reference to his
found at Volaterrae. A statue with four faces was presiding over the beginning of every day, he was
brought to Rome after the conquest of the Etruscan called Matutinus pater. On new year's -day, which
town of Falerii (Serv. ad Aen. vi. 607; Macrob. was the principal -festival of the god, people took
1. c.), and was there imitated, for one of the same care that all they thought, said, and did, was pure
kind existed at Rome in the forum of Nerva as late and favourable, since every thing was ominous for
as the time of Laurentius Lydus. (De Mens. iv. the occurrences of the whole year. Hence the
1.) Whether the Etruscan divinity with two or people wore festive garments, abstained from cursfour faces was originally the same as the Roman ing, quarrelling; they saluted every one they met
Janus is uncertain, but it was at any rate very na- with Words of a favourable import, gave presents to
tural for the Romans to see in him their own Janus, one another, and performed some part of what they
and to identify the two. The identity of Janus intended to do in the course of the year, auspicandi
with the Sun was commonly expressed by his in- causa. (Columella, de Re Rust. xi. 2; Senec.
dicating with the fingers of the right hand the Epist. 83; Ov. Fast. i. 169.)' The presents connumber 300, and with those of the left the number sisted of sweetmeats, such as gilt dates, figs,
55 (Plin. H. N. xxxiv. 7), and in later times by honey cakes, and copper coins, showing on one side
his counting in his right hand 300 pebbles, and in the double head of Janus and on the other a ship.
his left 65. (L. Lydus, de M1aens. i. 4.) In some (Ov. Fast. i. 185, &c., 230; Plin. H. N. xxiii. 3,
representations he held in his right hand a staff or 13; Martial, viii, 33, xiii. 27; Plut. Quaest. Rom.
sceptre, and in his left a key (Ov. Fast. i. 99; p. 274; Macrob. Sat. i. 7; L. Lydus, de Mens. iv.
comp. L. L.ydus,. c.), by which he is symbolically 2.) The general name for these presents was
NN 4