Ianus

Janus is the Roman god of doorways, gates, beginnings and endings, and other such "ways in" and "ways out". As such, he is the first deity invoked in prayer and ritual. The month January, named for Him, is also sacred to Him.

Festivals

The New Year

Cur, quamvis aliorum numina placem,
Iane, tibi primo tura merumque fero?
Ut per me possis aditum, qui limina servo,
Ad quoscumque voles, inquit, habere deos.
At cur laeta tuis dicuntur verba Kalendis,
Et damus alternas accipimusque preces?
Tum deus incumbens baculo, quem dextra gerebat,
Omina principiis, inquit, inesse solent.
Ad primam vocem timidas advertitis aures,
Et primum visam consulit augur avem.
Templa patent auresque deum, nec lingua caducas
Concipit ulla preces, dictaque pondus habent.
- Ovid, Fasti

(Ianus is honored first as we enter the new year. We greet each other with happy words that the new year may begin with good omens.)

Agonalia

The Agonalia, also listed as Agonium, is celebrated at four times during the year, 17 March, 21 May, 11 December, and 9 January. On these days, the Rex Sacrorum would enter the Forum, and sacrifice a ram to the god. The exact meaning of the ceremony is not known, and even in the time of Ovid the meaning was not known. Just the same, the meaning of the name of the ceremony is also not known, but some have speculated that it comes from a statement of the ritual assistant.

Priests

The Rex Sacrorum was the only official particularly dedicated to Ianus. There were certainly others who would have been dedicated to Ianus; these would have been temple sacerdotes, as well as other unofficial attendants.