Understanding Janus: Pagan God of January

by <http://www.helium.<WBR>com/user/<WBR>show/268207> Laura Jean Karr

Pagan history is everywhere and is easily found by researching the history
of our modern customs and practices. Some of the days of the week and even
some months of the year are named after Pagan gods. This week we are going
to take a look at the month of January and find out what part Paganism plays
in the first month of our current calendar year.

The birth of the month of January is credited to Numa Pompilius. Numa was
the second of seven kings that ruled Rome before it became a republic. In
the 6th century B.C.E. Numa added Inauarius and Februarius to the 10 month
long "Romulus" religious calendar. Inauarius became the first month of the
revised 12 month Roman Republican Calendar in 200 B.C.E. Inauarius is
pronounced Januarius, meaning month of Janus.

Janus was the Pagan Roman god of beginnings and endings and of gates and
doors. He was depicted having two faces with one face looking to what is
behind and with one face looking toward what lies ahead. The reasoning
behind the symbolism of the two faces is that both gates and doors have two
sides and to end something to start a new beginning one must pass through
being on one side or the other not remaining in the middle.

Janus' worship preceded the founding of Rome as a city and became a very
important god to the Romans. Though many Roman gods can trace their roots to
the Greek pantheon, Janus stands out as having no Greek counterpart. His
ability to look both forward and behind made him the Guardian of Exits and
Entrances with the best representation of this in Ianus Geminus. The Ianus
Geminus is a double-gated structure (one door facing the rising sun and the
other, the setting sun) found on the Forum Romanum. When the gates of the
temple were closed it represented peace within the Roman Empire. When the
gates were open, it meant that Rome was at war. Between the reigns of Numa
and Augustus, the gates were shut only once.

The popularity of Janus can also be seen on Roman coins. The earlier coins
depicting an older bearded face looking behind with a younger clean shaven
face looking forward. As, the Roman Empire grew both faces were shown as
clean shaven. Later on in the empire both faces were shown as bearded with
Janus holding a key in his right hand.

The origin of the worship of Janus being a Pagan god is attributed to Janus
the first king of Latium. As king, Janus' rule brought about the Golden Age
to his people which meant a time of great peace and welfare in Latium. A
blessing to Janus was requested at the beginning of every day, month, and
year.

Janus was also made a martyr by the Roman Catholic Church and later became
known Saint Januarius.