Consus
| Religion in ancient Rome |
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In ancient Roman religion, the god Consus was the protector of grains and storage bins, which among the Romans were subterranean silos. He was represented by a grain seed.[citation needed]
His altar (ara)[1] was located near the Circus Maximus.[2] It was either underground, or according to other sources, covered with earth, which was swept off only during the two Consualia, his festivals on August 21 and December 15. He was thus a chthonic god.[3] The Flamen Quirinalis and the Vestals officiated at his rites.[4]
The etymology of the name Consus is uncertain. It may be of Etruscan or Sabine origin. In the allegorical etymology[5] of antiquity, the name was related to the Latin verb conserere, "to sow," as was the title of the goddess Ops as Consivia or Consiva. The late Republican theologian Varro said that the Consualia were named for Consus.[6] Georges Dumézil[7] and G. Capdeville consider verb condere, to store, to be the best etymology: Consus would be an archaic noun verb denoting the action of storing grain. Capdeville states that Consus cannot be related to conserere and adjective consivius.[8]
The festivals of Ops (Opiconsivia or Opalia) followed his 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, as his name was also interpreted allegorically in relation to consilium ("council, assembly"). Servius says that Consus is the god of councils.[9]
Consus is perhaps to be identified with "Equestrian Neptune" (Neptunus Equestris). Mule or horse races were the main event of the festival.[2] During the festival horses and mules were garlanded with flowers, and given a rest from work.[2]
Sources [edit]
- ^ Michael Lipka, Roman Gods: A Conceptual Approach (Brill, 2009), p. 42.
- ^ a b c Aldington, Richard; Ames, Delano (1968). New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology. Yugoslavia: The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 209.
- ^ Lipka, Roman Gods, p. 42.
- ^ Lipka, Roman Gods, p. 57, citing Tertullian, De spectaculis 5.7.
- ^ On which in general see Davide Del Bello, Forgotten Paths: Etymology and the Allegorical Mindset (Catholic University of America Press, 2007).
- ^ Varro, De lingua latina 6.20: Consualia dicta a Consus.
- ^ G. Dumézil La religione romana arcaica Milano 1977 p. 241.
- ^ G. Capdeville "Les épithètes cultuelles de Janus" in MEFRA 85 2 1973 p . 434.
- ^ Servius, note to Aeneid 8.636: Consus autem deus est consiliorum.
