Two-Faced Janus at The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

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In ancient Roman mythology and tradition, Janus is the supreme god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, doorways, passages, and endings. Typically depicted with two faces, he looks forward to the future and backward to the past. It's widely accepted that January, the first month of the year, was named after Janus (Ianuarius), but according to ancient Roman farmers' calendars, Juno was actually the tutelary deity of the month. Janus oversaw the commencement and conclusion of conflict, which is why he presided over war and peace. The doors of his temple were open during times of war, and they closed to signify peace. As a god of transitions, Janus had responsibilities related to birth, travel, trade, and exchange. In his association with Portunus, another harbor and gateway deity, he was concerned with shipping, trading, and traveling. Janus did not have a flamen or specialized priest assigned to him, but the King of Sacred Rites himself carried out his rituals. Janus was omnipresent in religious ceremonies throughout the year, and he was ritually invoked at the start of each ceremony, regardless of which deity was being honored. The ancient Greeks had no equivalent to Janus, whom the Romans claimed as their exclusive god.