Who worshipped the god Janus?

Who worshipped the god Janus?

ancient Romans
In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Janus was the god of gates and doors. See, the ancient Romans had a specific god who held the key, so to speak, to the metaphorical doors or gateways between what was and what is to come—the liminal space of transitioning out of one period of time and into something new.

Was cernunnos worshipped in Scotland?

Cernunnos was worshipped primarily in Britain, although there are also traces of his cult in Ireland. The Christian church strongly opposed him because of his powerful pagan influence.

When was Janus worshipped?

God of change He represented time because he could see into the past with one face and into the future with the other. Hence, Janus was worshipped at the beginnings of the harvest and planting times, as well as at marriages, deaths and other beginnings.

Who did the Gauls worship?

Mercury was regarded as the inventor of all the arts, the patron of travellers and of merchants, and the most powerful god in matters of commerce and gain. After him, the Gauls honoured Apollo, who drove away diseases, Mars, who controlled war, Jupiter, who ruled the heavens, and Minerva, who promoted handicrafts.

What did Janus look like?

Janus was represented by a double-faced head, and he was represented in art either with or without a beard. Occasionally he was depicted as four-faced—as the spirit of the four-way arch.

Is Herne a Cernunnos?

Herne the Hunter, also named as Cernunnos, is a character in Michael Scott’s series of The Alchemist, the Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flammel. In Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series, in the book Cold Days, the Erlking is referred to as “Lord Herne.”

Does Cernunnos have a wife?

Perhaps Cernunnos is balanced somewhat by his marriage to the goddess of Beltane. She is celebrated in a time when blessing comes from rubbing yourself with the dew of early May morning to soak in the blessing of Spring.

What god is Janus?

Some scholars regard Janus as the god of all beginnings and believe that his association with doorways is derivative. He was invoked as the first of any gods in regular liturgies. The beginning of the day, month, and year, both calendrical and agricultural, were sacred to him.

Where did the worship of Janus come from?

The worship of Janus traditionally dated back to Romulus and a period even before the actual founding of the city of Rome. There were many jani (i.e., ceremonial gateways) in Rome; these were usually freestanding structures that were used for symbolically auspicious entrances or exits.

Why was Janus the god of the New Year?

When Caesar reorganized the Roman calendar, January replaced March as the official first month of the year. This change meant that Janus became the god of the New Year. The Guardian of the threshold of the year was a fitting role for the god of physical and metaphysical thresholds, beginnings and endings.

Is there an equivalent of Janus in Greek mythology?

Unlike many other gods, there was no equivalent to Janus in Greek myth. He was a uniquely Roman god. In Roman mythology, Janus was said to be the first king of Latium.

Who was the god of January in ancient Rome?

Janus is one of those gods who permeated many aspects of Roman life, but one who is sometimes glossed over when looking at ancient Rome today. Janus was really everywhere. Right now, we find ourselves in the month of Janus, or Ianuarius, as the Romans said. That’s January to all of us.