Janus Geminus

Janus Geminus is the Roman God of gates, doors, beginnings and endings. He is depicted as having two faces, to signify his two sides. The Romans sacrificed to him to protect their houses and sacred buildings, and also on the New Year (hence, January). Saturn gave Janus the gift to see into the future and the past. In more modern times, Janus's name has been used in cell biology, and when you google Janus you come up with lots of interesting depictions of two faced men. Janus-faced can mean two faced. Interestingly enough, it's also where we get the word janitor, the caretaker of doors and halls.

So, here's to ends that lead to beginnings and keeping an eye on both the past and the future.

Roman humour

Ask anyone that knows me and they'll tell you that I laugh like a maniac at any type of historical joke. Even as I write this I'm watching Season Two of Hercules.

I just wanted to share one of my favourites, as I get ready to write cheesy puns for my fourth year classics class presentation.

And all others, who love, and who will love, must they die too?

Euripides' Phaedra was a puppet of the Gods, overcome by Aphrodite's need for revenge on Hippolytus, given no choice but to love him madly and to kill herself to escape that love which would ruin her honour. Seneca's Phaedra is a spoiled princess who wants the world to move around her desire for her stepson, Hippolytus, who is willing to ruin the honour ruin her own honour and that of her entire household to satisfy that need. And who kills herself when she is denied what she wants.

How can one woman be both?

And in each, Hippolytus is both a staunch unblemished servant of Artemis and a hater of woman. Strange that while the woman changes, the man remains the same.

Seneca's Phaedra is the weakness of women, who give in to their desire. Seneca hates women. In Euripides, Hippolytus' hatred of women is something the audience is supposed to find ridiculous.

I like the Greeks far more than the Romans. At least a woman's weakness isn't inherent in the Greek.

"The tide of love, at its full surge, is not withstandable." (Eur. Hippolytus 443) I like that idea, in the Greek, as well, that love is undeniable, that it has power over mortals and Gods alike.