CONSUL, con'-seil, a name applied to two annual magistrates at Rome, instituted on expulsion of the kings (Tarquinfi), 50o B.C., whose civil and military powers they inherited, while the religious functions were transferred I to the Rex Sacrilialus. Their powers were equal, but they usually alternated every month in the direction of the state when in the city, the acting Consul being preceded by twelve officers (lista' res), each carrying a bundle of rods ( ases) with an axe (sicO'ris) stuck in the midst ; while the other Consul appeared without lictors, or they walked behind him, and an ordinary messenger (accen'sus) preceded u him. The election was made by the Comit'Z'a Centilrata, usually in July, for the year be- 1 ginning in the January following ; and this vote conferred on them the Pdles'tas, i.e., their civil privileges as heads of the government, summoning the Senate, &c.; and the Candela Carla' ta granted the Zmtir'ium(supreme mili tary power) and A usgela (the right of taking the auspices for the state). Patrician, only were eligible till, after severe conflicts, the Lex Licin'ia was passed in 367. At induction, the Consuls went in procession with the Senate to the Capitol, to offer sacrifices ; their consisted of twelve lictors with the fasces, a tog'a frertex'ta (cloak with a scarlet border), and a see& cura'lis (ivory chair). The year was
called after them (as in the case of the Athe nian A 2'chAn E,o'narnds). The power of the Consuls might at any time overridden by the appointment of a Dictietor (q.v.), with whose pow= they were, under the later Re public, on critical occasions, invested • and, like all other magistrates, they were liable to be tried for maladministration when their office had expired. The sphere of their action was much reduced by the creation of the Censor ship, Prwtorship, &c. Under the Empire the Consulship was retained, but there were two classes of Consuls : the Or'dincerli, who gave their name to the year, and then resigned ; and the Sufec'ti, any number of successive pairs afterwards appointed accord ing to the number of persons the emperor wished to gratify. Between tilt. day of election and that of entering on office, the consul was called Count/ designertus.
Consul, can'-sus, a Roman ,god of secret deliberations, identified by some with Neptfe nus Eques'tris ; his altar in the Circus Maxi mus was kept covered, to show councils should be secret : his festivals were Cour:Mart kb v.). CONTADESDUS, con-ta-des'-dus, a river of Thrace, flows into the Agrianes (Erzene). CONTREBIA, con-trill-1-a, a town of Celti beria.
Coos, c3'-os (see CO).