However the form Dianus postulated by Nigidius is not attested.Ī third etymology indicated by Cicero, Ovid and Macrobius, which explains the name as Latin, deriving it from the verb ire ("to go") is based on the interpretation of Janus as the god of beginnings and transitions. It supposes a former *Dianus, formed on *dia- < *dy-eð 2 from the Indo-European root *dey- shine represented in Latin by dies day, Diovis and Iuppiter. It supports all the assimilations of Janus to the bright sky, the sun and the moon. Īnother etymology proposed by Nigidius Figulus is related by Macrobius: Ianus would be Apollo and Diana Iana, by the addition of a D for the sake of euphony. In this etymology, the notion of Chaos would define the primordial nature of the god. The first one is based on the definition of Chaos given by Paul the Deacon: hiantem, hiare, "be open", from which the word Ianus would derive by the loss of the initial aspirate. Three etymologies were proposed by ancient erudites, each of them bearing implications about the nature of the god. įrom Ianus derived ianua ("door"), and hence the English word "janitor" (Latin, ianitor). Other modern scholars object to an Indo-European etymology either from Dianus or from root *yā.
Iānus would then be an action name expressing the idea of going, passing, formed on the root *yā- < *y-eð 2- theme II of the root *ey- go from which eō, ειμι. It is cognate with Sanskrit yāti ('to go, travel'), Lithuanian jóti ('to go, ride'), Irish áth (' ford') or Serbo-Croatian jàhati ('to ride'). The name of the god Iānus, meaning in Latin 'arched passage, doorway', stems from Proto-Italic *iānu ('door'), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ieh₂nu ('passage').
While the ancient Greeks had no known equivalent to Janus, there is considerate overlap with Culśanś of the Etruscan pantheon. As such, Janus was ritually invoked at the beginning of each ceremony, regardless of the main deity honored on any particular occasion. Janus had a ubiquitous presence in religious ceremonies throughout the year. Janus had no flamen or specialised priest ( sacerdos) assigned to him, but the King of the Sacred Rites ( rex sacrorum) himself carried out his ceremonies. As a god of transitions, he had functions pertaining to birth and to journeys and exchange, and in his association with Portunus, a similar harbor and gateway god, he was concerned with travelling, trading and shipping.
The gates of a building in Rome named after him (not a temple, as it is often called, but an open enclosure with gates at each end) were opened in time of war, and closed to mark the arrival of peace. Janus presided over the beginning and ending of conflict, and hence war and peace. According to ancient Roman farmers' almanacs, Juno was mistaken as the tutelary deity of the month of January, but Juno is the tutelary deity of the month of June. The month of January is named for Janus ( Ianuarius).
He is usually depicted as having two faces. In ancient Roman religion and myth, Janus ( / ˈ dʒ eɪ n ə s/ JAY-nəs Latin: Ianvs ) is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings. Ianuspater ("Janus Father"), Ianus Quadrifrons ("Janus Fourfaced"), Ianus Bifrons ("Two-faced Janus")Īt the limits of Earth, at the extremity of HeavenĬanens, Aithex, Olistene, Tiberinus, Fontus Statue representing Janus Bifrons in the Vatican Museums
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