Cleveland Museum of Art
Janus Figure
- Date
- late 1800s-early 1900s
- Medium
- Wood
- Culture
- Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hemba-style maker
- Department
- African Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
This Janus figure features opposing faces and symbolizes change and transformation. A cavity in the top of the head served to hold ingredients with magical and medicinal qualities. The figure played a pivotal role in cults dedicated to the ancestors; in exchange for prayers, libations, and offerings, the ancestors were asked to safeguard the well-being and fertility of the population. The opposite faces refer to a dualistic philosophy, a threshold between past and future.
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