Editing Janus (section)

====1. The boat of Janus and the beliefs of the primitive sailing techniques====

;(a) The proximity of Janus and Portunus and the functions of the ''flamen Portunalis'': The temple of Janus was dedicated by [[Gaius Duilius]] on 17 August, day of the [[Portunalia]]. The key was the symbol of both gods and was also meant to signify that the boarding boat was a peaceful merchant boat.

:The ''flamen Portunalis'' oiled the arms of [[Quirinus]] with an ointment kept in a peculiar container named ''persillum'', term perhaps derived from Etruscan ''persie''.<ref>E. Peruzzi, "Un etruschismo del latino religioso", ''Rivista di Filologia Italiana e Classica'' (1976), pp. 144–148.</ref> A similar object seems to be represented in a fresco picture of the Calendar of Ostia on which young boys prepare to apply a resin contained in a basin to a boat on a cart, i.e. yet to be launched.

;(b) The ''Tigillum Sororium'': The ''Tigillum Sororium'' would be related to a gentilician cult of wood of the [[Horatii]], as surmised by the episodes of the ''pons sublicius'' defended by [[Horatius Cocles]], and of the posts of the main entrance of the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus on which [[Marcus Horatius Pulvillus]] lay his hand during the dedication rite. Gagé thinks the magic power of the ''Tigillum Sororium'' should be ascribed to the lively and burgeoning nature of wood.