Temple of Janus (Roman Forum) the Janus itself with closed gates) on the reverse to commemorate this event. Other emperors certainly closed and reopened the Gates of the Janus, but references in later and less thorough historians are fairly rare. The Roman poet Virgil included in the "Aeneid" the opening of the Gates of the Janus to start war between the Trojans and the Latins. Today, the scant remains of the temple lie beside the Basilica Aemilia, at the foot of the Argiletum, in the Roman Forum. Temple of Janus (Roman Forum) In ancient Rome, the main Temple of Janus as it is often called,
Culsans out that since the two figures both wear boots and a torque in common, these items are not likely special clothing, characteristic of either god in particular. The two Cortona figures are different in that Selvans only has one face and wears a different style cap which seems to be made from an animal skin of some sort, possibly from a lion or a wolf. Selvans is equated by some scholars to the Roman god Silvanus. Selvans, like Culśanś is probably a god who protected boundaries, liminal spaces, gates and doorways. Another noteworthy aspect of these two Cortona figures, is