Editing Janus (section)

====3. The depiction of Janus and Boreas as bifrons====
The depiction of both Janus and [[Boreas (god)|Boreas]] as bifrons, and seasonal elements.

;(a) The calendar of Numa and the role of Janus: Contradictions of the ancient Roman calendar on the beginning of the new year: originally March was the first month and February the last one. January, the month of Janus, became the first after several changes in the calendar. The liminal character of Janus is still present in the association to the [[Saturnalia]] of December, reflecting the strict relationship between the two gods Janus and Saturn and the rather blurred distinction of their stories and symbols.

:The initial role of Janus in the political-religious operations of January: the ''nuncupatio votorum'' spanning the year, the imperial symbol of the boat in the opening rite of the sailing season, the ''vota felicia'': Janus and his myths allow for an ancient interpretation of the ''vota felicia'', different from the Isiadic one.

;(b) The idea of the Seasons in the ancient traditions of the [[Ionian Islands]]: The crossing of the [[Hyperborean]] myths. [[Cephalonia]] as a place at the cross of famous winds. Application of the theory of winds for the navigation in the Ionian Sea. The type ''Boreas Bifrons'' as probable model of the Roman Janus.

:This observation was made first by the ''Roscher Lexicon'': "Ianus is he too, doubtlessly, a god of wind"<ref>repeated in the ''RE Pauly-Wissowa'' s.v. Boreas by Rapp, P.</ref> Grimal has taken up this interpretation connecting it to a vase with red figures representing [[Boreas (god)|Boreas]] pursuing the nymph [[Oreithyia]]: Boreas is depicted as a two headed winged demon, the two faces with beards, one black and the other fair, perhaps symbolising the double movement of the winds Boreas and Antiboreas. This proves that the Greeks of the 5th century BC knew the image of Janus. Gagé feels compelled to mention here another parallel with Janus to be found in the figure of [[Argus Panoptes|Argos]] with one hundred eyes and in his association with his murderer [[Hermes]].

;(c) Solar, solsticial and cosmological elements: While there is no direct proof of an original solar meaning of Janus, this being the issue of learned speculations of the Roman erudits initiated into the mysteries and of emperors as [[Domitian]], the derivation from a Syrian cosmogonic deity proposed by P. Grimal looks more acceptable. Gagé though sees an ancient, preclassical Greek mythic substratum to which belong [[Deucalion]] and [[Pyrrha]], and the [[Hyperborean]] origins of the Delphic cult of [[Apollo]], as well as the [[Argonauts]].<ref>M. Delcourt ''Pyrrhus et Pyrrha'' Liège 1965; G. Colli ''La sapienza greca'' I. Milano 1977 p. 27; 45–47; 431–434.</ref> The beliefs in the magic power of trees is reflected in the use of the olive wood, as for the rolls of the ship Argos: the myth of the Argonauts has links with [[Corcyra]], remembered by [[Lucius Ampelius]].<ref>''Liber memorialis'' VIII.</ref>