January
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.
Janus: Roman God of Beginnings and Transitions
Orin Vale
Janus is one of the most distinctive gods in Roman religion, presiding over beginnings, endings, thresholds, and passage. Often depicted with two faces and linked to doors, gates, and January itself, Janus reveals how the Romans understood time, ritual change, and the movement between one state and another.
