Why the First Month?

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people that time and difference are apparent. Later on in his depictions, he is most often shown with beards on both faces and frequently holds a key in his right hand. Very early statues of Janus depict him with four faces. Many believe that this was for the four cardinal directions even though he never faced in the four directions.
In his role as the Guardian of Exits and Entrances, Janus was also believed to represent beginnings. The explanation for this belief being that one must emerge through a door or gate in order to enter into a new place. The Romans took this notion and considered Janus as the God of Beginnings and his name was an obvious choice for the first month of their year. A month referred to by the Ancient Romans as Ianuarius, which is not so far removed from the modern-day "January," taken from the Etruscan word jauna which means "door."
Originally Janus was honored on the first day of every month, in addition to being worshipped at the beginning of ...

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