Laureate head of Janus, M. FOVRI LEFT F. around
Keerzijde:Roma standing left erecting trophy, ROMA on right, PHLI in exergue
Unieke productcode (UPC) | 316 |
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Omschrijving voorzijde | Laureate head of Janus, M. FOVRI LEFT F. around |
Omschrijving keerzijde | Roma standing left erecting trophy, ROMA on right, PHLI in exergue |
Diameter | ± 18 mm |
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Gewicht | 3.86 gr. |
Medailleur | M. Furius L.f. Philus |
Referentie | Syd. 529; Cr. 281.1; B. 18. |
Heerser / Regio | Roman Republic |
Achtergrond | In ancient Roman religion and myth, Janus is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces, since he looks to the future and to the past. Occasionally he was depicted as four-faced—as the spirit of the four-way arch. Janus presided over the beginning and ending of conflict, and hence war and peace. There were five shrines built to honor Janus Geminus in Rome, all of which were located near crossings of rivers or watercourses, owing to his early connections to water and bridges. The most important of these shrines was near the Argiletum entrance to the Forum. This particular shrine had bronze doors on the east and west sides, and according to tradition, the doors were kept closed in times of peace and open in times of war. However, since the Romans seemed to always to be at war somewhere, the doors were almost never closed. Also important was the manner in which the army left to wage war; they had to exit the city according to ritual in order to be protected by Janus. Failure to do so could result in defeat. |
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