JANUS

A Latin deity, originally the same as the sun. Jle 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 atRome 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. metal JAPANNING.with a thick coat The of art a of hard covering brilliant paper,varnish wood,: it orior ginated in Japan, whence articles so prepared were first brought to Europe. The material, if of wood or papier-machfie, is first sized, polished, and varnished; it is then coloured or painted in various devices, and afterwards covered with a highly transparent varnish or lacquer, which is ultimatelv dried at a high temperature, and carefully polished. zircon. [s. 636]