Janus: The God Who Watches the Doorways of Time
January is a strange month. It doesn’t quite belong to the year before or the year ahead. It stands in the doorway between what has been and what might be, and long before resolutions, planners, and fresh notebooks existed, the Romans believed this threshold was guarded by a god named Janus (JAY-NUS).
Janus was not a god of thunder, war or love. He was something quieter and more powerful: the god of beginnings, endings, transitions, doors, gates, and moments of change. Whenever something ended, and something new began, Janus was already there, watching both sides.
Unlike most Roman gods borrowed from Greek mythology, Janus was distinctly Roman, ancient even by their standards, and deeply woven into everyday life. Every doorway, every journey, every new undertaking quietly fell under his gaze.
The Story of Janus and Saturn: A God of Peaceful Time
One of Janus’ most endearing stories begins not with battle, but with refuge.
When Saturn (the god of agriculture and time) was overthrown and driven from his realm, it was Janus who welcomed him. Rather than ruling through force, Janus shared his land and power, creating an age of peace and abundance. Under their joint rule, people lived simply, agriculture flourished, and conflict was rare.
It was said that Janus, gifted with the ability to see both past and future, taught Saturn the wisdom of balance, that progress without memory is hollow, and nostalgia without growth becomes a prison.
This story is why Janus is often associated not only with time but with wisdom through reflection. To move forward well, one must understand what came before.
Why Janus Is the God of January
January takes its name directly from Janus, Ianuarius, the month of doors.
In the Roman calendar, January marked the beginning of the civic year. It was the time when officials took office, plans were laid, and intentions were set. Before any major ritual, Romans would first offer prayers to Janus, asking him to “open the way” so the gods might listen.
January wasn’t about a dramatic transformation. It was about standing still long enough to choose your direction.
Much like Janus himself, January looks backwards at the year that has passed and forward into the year unfolding, a perfect pause between chapters.
Bestiary Entry: Janus, Guardian of Thresholds
Name: Janus
Type: Roman Deity
Habitat:
Doorways, city gates, crossroads, beginnings of journeys, moments of transition. Often believed to exist wherever one thing becomes another.
Temperament:
Calm, observant, impartial. Janus is not quick to anger but deeply attentive. He favours thought over impulse.
Appearance:
Most commonly depicted with two faces, one looking to the past, the other to the future. Often bearded, dignified, and timeless, with an expression that suggests he knows something you do not.
Behaviour:
Janus does not interfere unless invited. He watches, waits, and opens or closes paths depending on intent. He values honesty, preparation, and awareness.
Powers:
– Sight into both past and future
– Control over beginnings and endings
– Ability to open or seal pathways (physical, spiritual, or symbolic)
– Blessing new ventures and transitions
Weakness:
Janus cannot act without a moment of choice. He governs thresholds, not destinations — once the crossing is made, his influence fades.
Fun Fact:
The Temple of Janus in Rome had doors that remained open during times of war and closed only during peace. For much of Roman history, those doors were rarely shut.
Janus reminds us that beginnings don’t have to be loud or dramatic. Sometimes, they’re just quiet moments of standing in a doorway, taking one last look behind us before stepping forward.
And perhaps that’s exactly what January is asking of us too.