Janus
['dʒeinəs]
Definition
(noun.) (Roman mythology) the Roman god of doorways and passages; is depicted with two faces on opposite sides of his head.
Checked by Bernie--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A Latin deity represented with two faces looking in opposite directions. Numa is said to have dedicated to Janus the covered passage at Rome, near the Forum, which is usually called the Temple of Janus. This passage was open in war and closed in peace.
Checker: Paulette
Examples
- They reckoned time by months, and in the earlier period kept a ru de tally of the years by driving nails into a statue of Janus, the ancient sun-god. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- We cannot hope to live so long in our names as some have done in their persons; one face of Janus holds no proportion to the other. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
Checker: Sandra