# Consus

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Ancient Roman god of grains

Religion in ancient Rome Marcus Aurelius (head covered) sacrificing at the Temple of Jupiter Practices and beliefs libation votum temples festivals ludi funerary practices cult (imperial) mystery religions Priesthoods Pontifices Augures Vestales Flamines Fetiales Epulones Fratres Arvales Deities Dii Consentes Capitoline Triad Aventine Triad Indigitamenta underworld gods agricultural gods childhood gods divine emperors Related topics Glossary of ancient Roman religion Roman mythology Ancient Greek religion Etruscan religion Gallo-Roman religion Interpretatio Graeca Decline v t e

In [ancient Roman religion](/source/Religion_in_ancient_Rome), the god **Consus** was the protector of grains. He was represented by a grain seed.[1] His [altar](/source/Altar_of_Consus) *([ara](/source/Glossary_of_ancient_Roman_religion#ara))*[2](p 42) was located at the first *meta* of the [Circus Maximus](/source/Circus_Maximus).[3] It was either underground, or according to other sources, covered with earth, which was swept off during the two [Consualia](/source/Consualia), his festivals on August 21,[4] December 15,[4][1] and on July 7 when the pontiffs held a sacrifice there.[5] He was thus a [chthonic](/source/Chthonic) god.[2](p 42)

The *[Flamen Quirinalis](/source/Flamen_Quirinalis)* and the [Vestals](/source/Vestals) officiated at his rites.[6]

## Etymology

The [etymology](/source/Etymology) of the name *Consus* is uncertain. It may be of [Etruscan](/source/Etruscan_language) or [Sabine](/source/Sabine_language) origin. In the [folk etymology](/source/Folk_etymology) of antiquity,[7] the name was related to the Latin verb *conserere*, "to sow," as was the title of the goddess [Ops](/source/Ops) as *Consivia* or *Consiva*.

The [late Republican](/source/Roman_Republic) theologian [Varro](/source/Varro) said that the Consualia were named for Consus.[8] [G. Dumézil](/source/Georges_Dum%C3%A9zil)[9] and G. Capdeville[10] consider verb *condere*,[4] "to store", to be the best etymology: *Consus* would be an archaic verbal noun denoting the action of storing grain.

Capdeville states that *Consus* cannot be related to *conserere* and adjective *consivius*, and advances the hypothesis that *condere* might have to be taken in the meaning of "to found" or "establish".[10][11](p 177, note 140)

Ancient sources, [Festus](/source/Sextus_Pompeius_Festus) included, were very fond of the similar sound of *Consus* and *consilium*, and allegorically interpreted his name[7] as relating to "council" or "assembly" (*consilium*). Moreover, [Tertullian](/source/Tertullian) reports that on one of the *metae* of the [circus maximus](/source/Circus_maximus) an inscription read: "*Consus consilio, Mars duello, Lares coillo po[tentes]*".[5] which may be archaic considering *co[v]illo* and external factors. This is close to "hide" too cf. *abdere, (abs)condere*. This derivation is certain, but on the other hand, as de Vaan[12] writes on the etymology of *consilium*, it is very uncertain whence comes the head word, *consulere-solere*, although very probably not from *con-sideo*.

## Function and associations

The festivals of Ops ([Opiconsivia](/source/Opiconsivia) or [Opalia](/source/Opalia)) followed Consus' closely, being held every August 25 and December 19, at the time of reaping and the seeding of crops.

Consus became a god associated with secret conferences. The grammarian [Servius](/source/Maurus_Servius_Honoratus) says that Consus is the god of councils.[13] This fact stems from the role played by Consus in the abduction of the Sabine women, which took place on the occasion of the *Consualia aestiva* and was considered to have been advised by the god himself. This power of hidden counselling held by Consus seems to be related to the concept expressed by Dionysius and Plutarch that he is the "holder" of the Earth, an idea that makes of him a parallel to [Neptune](/source/Neptune_(mythology)).

So although it is certain that *condere* and *consulere* are from two different roots, it looks the character of Consus as hidden master of the Earth was at the basis of the identification with [Neptune](/source/Neptune_(mythology)), as well as the strict affinity of the two gods with the horse.

According to G. Capdeville, it was a customary event that games were held at the foundation of a new settlement. These were connected with rituals that included athletic games such as footraces and marriage games along with invitations to settle in the new town: He mentions the instances of [Caeculus](/source/Caeculus) at [Praeneste](/source/Praeneste) and other settlements in Crete ([Dreros](/source/Dreros), [Hierapytna](/source/Hierapytna), [Praisos](/source/Praisos), [Lyttos](/source/Lyttos), [Knossos](/source/Knossos)). These events all had a religious meaning. In Crete, as well as in Rome, it looks like the god involved was Vulcan (Bελχάνος), i.e. the [Cretan *megas Kouros*](/source/Zeus#Zeus_Velchanos), later interpreted as [Zeus](/source/Zeus). In Rome the relationship of Vulcan with Consus is apparent in the dates of their festivals and the fact that the *flamen volcanalis* officiated at the [Calends](/source/Calends) of May the sacrifice to [Bona Dea](/source/Bona_Dea).

Consus is perhaps to be identified with "Equestrian Neptune" (*[Neptunus Equestris](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Neptunus_Equestris&action=edit&redlink=1)*).[4] Mule or horse races were the main event of the festival.[3] During the festival horses and mules were garlanded with flowers, and given a rest from work.[3] This fact is ascribed by Capdeville to the fact that [Poseidon](/source/Poseidon) was the successor of the unknown god of the Arcadian Hippocrateia mentioned by [Dionysius of Halicarnassus](/source/Dionysius_of_Halicarnassus), who himself was perhaps the successor of a horse god.[11](p 178, note 141) A close connection of Consus with the two [Pales](/source/Pales) and of both with the horse looks apparent.[14]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Colchester-2014-12-12_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Colchester-2014-12-12_1-1) ["The festival of Consus"](https://www.thecolchesterarchaeologist.co.uk/?p=16928). *The Colchester Archaeologist*. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lipka-2009_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lipka-2009_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Lipka-2009_2-2) Lipka, Michael (2009). *Roman Gods: A conceptual approach*. Brill.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aldington-Ames-1968_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aldington-Ames-1968_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Aldington-Ames-1968_3-2) Aldington, Richard; Ames, Delano (1968). *New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology*. Yugoslavia: The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited. p. 209.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EB1911_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EB1911_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-EB1911_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-EB1911_4-3) [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm), ed. (1911). ["Consus"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Consus). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 23.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Tertullian-V-7_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Tertullian-V-7_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Tertullian-V-7_5-2) [Tertullian](/source/Tertullian). *[De Spectaculis](/source/De_Spectaculis)*. V 7.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Lipka (2009),[2](p57) who cites [Tertullian](/source/Tertullian).[5]

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-delBello-2007_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-delBello-2007_7-1) del Bello, Davide (2007). *Forgotten Paths: Etymology and the allegorical mindset*. Catholic University of America Press.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Varro-consualia_8-0)** [Varro](/source/Varro). *[De Lingua Latina](/source/De_Lingua_Latina)* [*On the Latin Language*]. 6.20. *Consualia dicta a Consus* [the *Consualia* were named for *Consus*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Dumézil-1977_9-0)** [Dumézil, G.](/source/Georges_Dum%C3%A9zil) (1977). *La religione romana arcaica* [*The Ancient Roman Religion*]. Milano, IT. p. 241.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Capdeville-1973_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Capdeville-1973_10-1) Capdeville, G. (1973). "Les épithètes cultuelles de Janus". *MEFRA*. **85** (2): 434. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3406/mefr.1973.953](https://doi.org/10.3406%2Fmefr.1973.953).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Capdeville-1993_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Capdeville-1993_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Capdeville-1993_11-2) Capdeville, G. (1993). *Jeux athletiques et rituels de fondation*. Publications de l' École Française de Rome.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** de Vaan, M. (2010). *Etymological Dictionary of Latin and Italic Languages*. Leyden. s.v.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Servius_13-0)** [Maurus Servius Honoratus](/source/Servius_(grammarian)). *In Vergilii Aeneidem commentarii* [*Commentary on [Virgil](/source/Virgil)'s*[Aeneid](/source/Aeneid)]. 8.636. *Consus autem deus est consiliorum.*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Capdeville (1993)[11](p 180, note 149) also citing [Dumézil, G.](/source/Georges_Dum%C3%A9zil) (1956). "[article on the mare Viśpala of the RgVeda]". *Eranos*.[*[full citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include)*]

Authority control databases VIAF GND

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Consus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.