Janus, << JAY nuhs >>, in Roman mythology, was a god who had two faces that looked in opposite directions. One face looked into the past, and the other looked into the future. Janus served as the god of gates and doors and of entrances and exits. His name comes from the Latin word janua, meaning gate.
The Romans prayed to Janus at the beginning and end of any important action, especially a war. The doors to Janus’ temple in Rome always remained open in wartime. They were closed only during the rare periods when Rome was at peace. The Romans called on Janus at the beginning of every prayer, even ahead of Jupiter, the king of the gods. January, the first month of the year, was named for Janus.
Other Indo-European peoples had a god who resembled Janus. For example, the early Hindus in India prayed to a two-faced god named Vayu before starting any major undertaking.
