duality

Two smiling children sharing a gray hoodie, facing opposite directions like Janus with two faces

Two Faces of Janus: Meaning, Symbolism, and Origins

Orin Vale

Two Faces of Janus is a concise entry into the Roman god whose double gaze symbolized thresholds, beginnings, endings, and the passage between states. This excerpt explores his religious role, the likely connection of his name to doors and January, and the lasting influence of Janus as a sign of transition, duality, and time.