The festivals of Ops (
Opiconsivia or
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 says that Consus is the god of councils. 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. 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, 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 at
Praeneste and other settlements in Crete (
Dreros,
Hierapytna,
Praisos,
Lyttos,
Knossos). These events all had a religious meaning. In Crete, as well as in Rome, it looks like the god involved was Vulcan (), i.e. the
Cretan megas Kouros, later interpreted as
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 of May the sacrifice to
Bona Dea. Consus is perhaps to be identified with "Equestrian Neptune" (
Neptunus Equestris). Mule or horse races were the main event of the festival. During the festival horses and mules were garlanded with flowers, and given a rest from work. This fact is ascribed by Capdeville to the fact that
Poseidon was the successor of the unknown god of the Arcadian Hippocrateia mentioned by
Dionysius of Halicarnassus, who himself was perhaps the successor of a horse god. A close connection of Consus with the two
Pales and of both with the horse looks apparent. == References ==