CONSUS, an ancient Italian deity, cult-partner of Ops (q.v.). The time at which his festival was held (after harvest and seed sowing), the nature of its ceremonies and amusements, his altar at the end of the Circus Maximus always covered with earth except on such occasions, all point to his connection with agri culture. His name is clearly derived from condere, to store away, and he is in all probability god of the store-bin. Anciently, when the true meaning of his cult was forgotten, three explanations were rife : He was a god of good counsel (consilium): Varro ap. Augustine, Civ. Dei, iv., (2) He was Neptunus Equester; i.e., Poseidon Hippios: Dion. Hal., i. 33, 2. (3) He was god of hidden or secret (condita) policy, Dion. Hal., ii., 31, 3.
His festival was celebrated on Aug. 21 and Dec. 15. On the former date, the flamen Quirinalis, assisted by the vestals, offered sacrifice, and the pontifices presided at horse and chariot races in the circus. Horses and mules, crowned with garlands, were given rest from work. A special feature of the games in the circus was chariot racing, in which mules took the place of horses. The origin of these games was generally attributed to Romulus, sometimes to Evander. There was a sanctuary of Consus on the Aventine, dedicated by L. Papirius Cursor in 272 B.C.