Temple of Janus (Roman Forum) Temple of Janus (Roman Forum) In ancient Rome, the main Temple of Janus as it is often called, although it was not a normal temple, stood in the Roman Forum near the Argiletum. It had doors on both ends, and inside was a statue of Janus, the two-faced god of boundaries. The doors (the "Gates of Janus") were closed in times of peace and opened in times of war. According to Livy 1.19 the second king of Rome, Numa Pompilius, decided to distract the early, warlike Romans from their violent ways by instilling in them awe and reverence. His projects
Doorways in the Sand fascinating conflict that is apparent in his writings.” In "Doorways" Zelazny changes three fantasy elements into science fiction elements. Jewels with supernatural properties are a staple in fantasy. In Zelazny’s Amber series the Jewel of Judgment plays a decisive role in the plot. In "Jack of Shadows", Jack is imprisoned in a jewel that is worn around the neck by another character, the Lord of Bats. Zelazny takes the jewel fantasy motif and revises it into the star-stone in "Doorways." Instead of having magical qualities, the star-stone is described in the vocabulary of science: To function properly, [Speicus] requires a