JANUS

A Latin deity, originally the same as the sun. He was represented with two faces looking opposite ways, and holding a key in one hand and a staff in the other. He presided over the commencement of all undertakings, whence the first month in the year was named after him. His temple at Rome was kept open in the time of war, and shut in peace. The warlike disposition of the Romans is manifest from the fact that this temple was only shut six times in 800 years: viz. once in the reign of Numa; at the conclusion of the first Punic war; thrice in the reign of August us; and once again under Nero. [s. 631]