If you missed my article on Thanatos, you can find it here.
Janus, who has no Greek equivalent, is the god of beginnings, transitions, doorways, duality, and endings. Janus governs dualities, both literal and abstract. He is one of the most important gods in Roman mythology.
Janus has no parents as he is a primordial being. He does, however, have siblings (I don’t understand how that works, but hey, not my job). Janus’s siblings are Camese, Saturn, the god of time, and Ops, goddess of Earth and fertility. His consorts are Venilia, a sea nymph, and Juturna, a minor goddess of wells and springs. He has five children that I can find. Canens, who is songs, Aithex, Olistene, Tiberinus, god of the Tiber River, and Fontus, also a deity of wells and springs, are his only children that I know of. I could be wrong.
Janus is the god of transitions and transformation, which I think are the same coin. He stands on the cusp between life and death, youth and adulthood, and then again from adulthood to old age. Janus also is there between beginnings and ends, war and peace (he must be a busy deity currently with the state of the world), and between what is civilized and what is barbaric. He even presides over the changes of season. If there is a transition, Janus is all over it.
Janus is an important deity. When Pagan rites were being held regularly, Janus was given offerings before the rituals. Then the ceremony or sacrifice would happen, and the deity they were going to invoke for the ceremonies’ purpose. Janus is usually depicted with two faces which makes sense as he is the god of transformation and transitions. He can see what is and what will be. Since he is the god of doorways, too, he carries a key in his right hand and protects those doorways.
Janus is truly an important god. He was even invoked before Jupiter in ceremonies. I think I am going to start honoring him in my home and life. Gods know, I am going through a number of transitions right now. Maybe he will smooth the way.
What are your thoughts on Janus? Have you played him in Smite? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time, have fun storming the castle!
