Consuales Ludi 2766 AUC (Nova Roma)

Consus was the protector of grains and (subterranean) storage bins (silos), and as such was represented by a corn seed.

His altar was placed beneath the ground (or, according to other sources, simply covered with earth, which was swept off at His festival) near the Circus Maximus in Rome. The altar was unearthed only during the Consualia, His festival which took place on August 21 (and another one on December 15). Mule or horse races were the main event of the festival because the mule and the horse were Consus' sacred animals. Horses and mules were crowned with chaplets of flowers, and forbidden to work.

Consus' name has no certain etymology down to the present time. This name seems to be Etruscan or Sabine in origin. It seems that Consus' name is really related to the one of Ops as Consivia (or Consiva), itself related to "crops, seeding" (Latin conserere ("to sow"). According to Varro^[1] "the Consualia are so named after Consus." Shortly after His own festivals the ones for Ops, the Opiconsivia or Opalia, were held every August 25 and December 19, these being the periods respectively of the reaping and the seeding of crops.

Consus also became a god associated with secret conferences, perhaps due to a common misinterpretation of his name. The Latins (Romans) associated Consus' name with consilium ("councils, synagogues, assemblies; place where councils assemble"). This word should not be confused with "counsel" ("advice"). It in fact expresses the idea of "sitting together" (consentes), "being together" (con-sum) or perhaps "called together, conclaimed" (con-calare). The connection of Consus with these secret councils is attested by Servius^[2] "Consus is however the god of councils." As such, it seems that Consus was a member of the council of the Di Consentes ("Council of the Gods") formed by six gods and six goddesses which assembled in order to assist Iuppiter in making great decisions such as destroying Troy or Atlantis with a flood. This tradition is due to the Etruscans, but is also widely attested in Greece as well, for instance, in Homer.

Vide

Aldington, Richard; Ames, Delano (1968). New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology. Yugoslavia: The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 209

References

1. ↑ De Lingua Latina, 6:20 Consualia dicta a Consus
2. ↑ In Vergilii carmina comentarii 8:636 Consus autem deus est consiliorum

Victors

Mule Race Finals Report

Chariot Race Finals Report

Salvete! The course has been cleared and the track is ready for the main event of these Consuales Ludi. Eight chariots, seven laps, one champion.

The chariots are lined up at the gates from left to right: Orodes of Parthia, driving Bellator for Veneta, Amadian on Russata's Taurus III, Salaco on Veneta's Coccyx, Sirenia on Veneta's Stella Diurna, Titus Iulius Sabinus Crassus on Aprilis for Russata, on Albus Ventrus for Albata, Charmion on Veneta's Murmur, and Volusus of Ostia on Velox puteolanus sors II for Veneta. Praesina is notably absent from today's finals! A few of the owners had multiple chariots running today but in the finals but none of the owners have more than one chariot in the finals today.

The handlers are signalling ready. The crowd has quieted for a moment. The mappa drops and off they go! Right at the start Senator Placidus's charioteer Amadian rushes ahead to lead the pack through the first lap. In the second lap, coming out of the second turn Velox takes the lead! The chariot Velox is followed by Taurus III, Bellator, Stella Diurna, Albus Ventrus, Murmur, Aprilis, and Coccyx. As they run through their third lap it is Aprilis in the lead followed closely by Murmur. Now in the fourth lap, several chariots are close to the spina and there may be some difficulty completing the turn. Bellator pulls out of the turn in the lead, Velox is two lengths behind, Stella Diurna and Albus Ventrus are neck and neck in third place with Aprilis only a head behind them. They are running quickly through the fifth lap and Albus Ventrus has surged into the lead after cutting off Bellator and leaving Velox in second place. Halfway through the sixth lap Bellator reclaims the lead! Velox keeps second position as Murmur, Coccyx and Taurus III fight for third position. And now we are in the final lap and Taurus III, Coccyx, Bellator and Stella Diurna are pouring on the speed and fighting for position. And Murmur hits Velox! Velox has a cracked wheel and is visibly running slower now. At the finish it is Stella Diurna! Bellator takes second place, Coccyx takes third place, Taurus III is just a nose behind in fourth place. Albus Ventrus takes fifth place, Murmur is finishes in sixth place, Aprilis is seventh and Velox limps across the line to finish in eighth place.

Senator Aeternia is jumping up and screaming something in the VIP box as Senator Triarius and our Vestal Caeca appear to be issuing orders to their staff with rather stern expressions! Senator Caninus is shaking hands with Titus Iulius Sabinus Crassus and Decimus Hortensius Catus, who he invited to the VIP box to watch the final race.

So, ladies and gentlemen, in this edition of the Consuales Ludi Sirenia wins on Stella Diurna. Congratulations to Senator Aeternia and to Factio Veneta! That's all we have for the ludi today. Thank you for joining us!