Janus was believed to be the first king of Latium, long before Rome was founded. He welcomed the exiled Saturn, gave him refuge, and shared his rule. Together they created the Golden Age – a time without war, hunger, or deceit. When Rome was later founded, Janus became the protector of its gates, bridges, and transitions. No era, no war, no harvest began without his gaze.

Janus loved the nymph Cardea, guardian of hinges and thresholds. He granted her the power to protect every household from harm. From their union came the ancient belief that every doorway is sacred – a place where the gods witness all who pass.

Janus is depicted with two faces – one looking back, one looking forward. He embodies the totality of time: memory and possibility, ending and renewal. For the Romans, he was the symbol of every transition where choices must be made. “I am the beginning and the end – through my gates every future must pass.”