in heathen worship, the first king of Italy, who, it is said, received Saturn into his dominions, after his being driven from Arcadia by Jupiter. He tempered the manners of his subjects, and taught them civility; and from him they learned to improve the vine, to sow corn, and to make bread. After his death, he was adored as a god.

This deity was thought to preside over all new undertakings. Hence, in all sacrifices, the first libations of wine and wheat were offered to Janus, all prayers prefaced with a short address to him; and the first month of the year was dedicated to and named from him. See JANUARY.

Janus was represented with two faces, either to denote his prudence, or that he views at once the past and approaching years; he had a sceptre in his right hand, and a key in his left, to signify his extensive authority, and his invention of locks.

Though this is properly a Roman deity, the abbe la Pluche represents it as derived from the Egyptians, who made known the rising of the dog-star, which opened their solar year, with an image with a key in its hand, and two faces, one old and the other young, to tipify the old and new year.

Temple of Janus, in ancient history, a square building at Rome (as some say) of entire brass, erected by Romulus, and so large as to contain a statue of Janus five feet high, with brazen gates on each side, which were always kept open in time of war, and shut in time of peace. But the Romans were so much engaged in war, that this temple was shut only twice from the foundation of Rome till the reign of Augustus, and six times afterwards. It was first shut during the long reign of Numa, who instituted this ceremony. 2. In the year of the city 519, after the end of the first Punic war. 3. By Augustus after the battle of Actium, in the year of Rome 725. 4. On Augustus's return from the war which he had against the Cantabrians in Spain, in the year of Rome 729. 5. Under the same emperor, in JAPAN

744, about five years before the birth of Christ, when there was a general peace throughout the whole Roman empire, which lasted 12 years. 6. Under Nero, 81. 7. Under Vespasian, 82. 8. Under Constantius, when, upon Magnentius's death, he was left sole possessor of the empire, 1105. Some dispute the authority on which it is said to have been shut by Constantius, and say that the last time of its being shut was under Gordian, about the year of Rome 994. Virgil gives us a noble description of this custom, Aen. lib. iii. ver. 607, &c. The origin of this custom is not certainly known.

Janus was also the name of a street in Rome, inhabited for the most part by bankers and usurers. It was so called from two statues of Janus which were erected there, one at the top, the other at the bottom, of the street. The top of the street was therefore called Janus Summus, the bottom Janus Imus, and the middle Janus Medius. Hence Horace, lib. i. Epist. i.

Hec Janus summus ab imo perdocet, and Sat. 3. Lib. 2.—Postquam omnis res mea Janum

Ad medium frusta eff.