In ancient Roman religion and myth, Janus is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces. The month of January is named for Janus (Ianuarius). 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.
Statue representing Janus Bifrons in the Vatican Museums
Different depictions of Janus from Bernard de Montfaucon's L'antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures
The temple of Janus with closed doors, on a sestertius issued under Nero in 66 AD from the mint at Lugdunum
The month of January is named after Janus
Religion in ancient Rome consisted of varying imperial and provincial religious practices, which were followed both by the people of Rome as well as those who were brought under its rule.
Defaced Dea Roma holding Victory and regarding an altar with a cornucopia and other offerings, copy of a relief panel from an altar or statue base
Augustus as Pontifex Maximus (Via Labicana Augustus)
Cybele enthroned, with lion, cornucopia and Mural crown. Roman marble, c. 50 AD (Getty Museum)
Relief panel from an altar to Venus and Mars depicting Romulus and Remus suckling the she-wolf, and gods representing Roman topography such as the Tiber and Palatine Hill
