Just before the sparkling lights of Uranus appeared, before Young Earth had yet formed, Janus oversaw the beginning of things. But Janus was a curious god, and so, as one face looked over what was starting, the other looked ahead, and saw what was ending. Thus did Janus come to know the fate of all things.
Janus had few friends among the gods or on earth, but the one companion he always had with him was an old man named Agaes, whom the Lord of Doors was never without. Agaes talked with the god about everything, first speaking to one face, then the other. Through their discussions, he learned much about the earth and stars, even gaining knowledge of the End of Things. But the old man remained faithful to Janus, never uttering a word of what the god told him.
One Day, Jupiter grew angry at Janus, because he would not reveal to Jupiter the nature of what was to be. Jupiter gathered the other gods, and conspired to learn Janus's secret by trickery. As Janus was wandering about with Agaes at his side, Mars and Minerva appeared further along the trail and began to argue, blocking Janus's way. Janus, annoyed at the delay in his walk, inquired what the quarrel was about, and Minerva explained that Mars and she were arguing the best way to begin a battle. Janus shook his head in dismay, and in order to clear up the controversy, asked to be taken to the war in question, to make the descision himself.
No sooner had the god been lead from the path but Jupiter leapt out from the woods, and advanced on defenseless Agaes. The old man ran speedily up the mountain, calling out for Janus, but Jupiter was gaining rapidly. Up, up, up they ran, entering the hall of the gods where stood Janus, Minerva, and Mars, still debating over the start of the war. Upon hearing his friend's cries for help, Janus looked up to see mighty Jupiter looming over Agaes. In an instant Janus turned Agaes into a pure white moth to escape, but Jupiter drew in a huge breath to devour the moth - at last, Agaes had no choice, and fluttered into the sacred flame of Vesta rather than betray his friend.
The other gods offered to hang Agae's image in the stars, but Janus could not bear to see his only friend held in the cold gleam of the sky. In honor of the old man's sacrifice, Janus gave the Moth two faces, and kept the creature around him, winging through the air, still privy to the secrets of the world, and just as ready to protect them.
Janus had few friends among the gods or on earth, but the one companion he always had with him was an old man named Agaes, whom the Lord of Doors was never without. Agaes talked with the god about everything, first speaking to one face, then the other. Through their discussions, he learned much about the earth and stars, even gaining knowledge of the End of Things. But the old man remained faithful to Janus, never uttering a word of what the god told him.
One Day, Jupiter grew angry at Janus, because he would not reveal to Jupiter the nature of what was to be. Jupiter gathered the other gods, and conspired to learn Janus's secret by trickery. As Janus was wandering about with Agaes at his side, Mars and Minerva appeared further along the trail and began to argue, blocking Janus's way. Janus, annoyed at the delay in his walk, inquired what the quarrel was about, and Minerva explained that Mars and she were arguing the best way to begin a battle. Janus shook his head in dismay, and in order to clear up the controversy, asked to be taken to the war in question, to make the descision himself.
No sooner had the god been lead from the path but Jupiter leapt out from the woods, and advanced on defenseless Agaes. The old man ran speedily up the mountain, calling out for Janus, but Jupiter was gaining rapidly. Up, up, up they ran, entering the hall of the gods where stood Janus, Minerva, and Mars, still debating over the start of the war. Upon hearing his friend's cries for help, Janus looked up to see mighty Jupiter looming over Agaes. In an instant Janus turned Agaes into a pure white moth to escape, but Jupiter drew in a huge breath to devour the moth - at last, Agaes had no choice, and fluttered into the sacred flame of Vesta rather than betray his friend.
The other gods offered to hang Agae's image in the stars, but Janus could not bear to see his only friend held in the cold gleam of the sky. In honor of the old man's sacrifice, Janus gave the Moth two faces, and kept the creature around him, winging through the air, still privy to the secrets of the world, and just as ready to protect them.