The Roman god of passage in a topographical, temporal and figurative sense. His name is derived from ianua (‘passage, gate’) and is connected with Ianiculum. The name refers to the god as well as to the cultically relevant gates connected to him. Iconographical representations begin in the Republican period, depicting I. usually with two faces, occasionally with four (bifrons, quadrifrons).
His cult is almost exclusively public and political, only two private ded…
Cite this page
Graf, Fritz (Columbus, OH),
“Ianus”, in:
Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry.
Consulted online on 21 April 2021 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e521110>