CONSUS

ancient Italian deity, cult partner of Ops. His name was derived from condere (to store away), and he was probably god of the storage bin. He had a temple on the Aventine. In later times, Consus sank to the level of a secondary deity whose character was rather abstract. On his festival days, in August and December, horses and mules were crowned with garlands and were given rest from work. In August the flamen Quirinalis (the priest of the god Quirinus) offered sacrifice, and the pontifices presided at horse and chariot races (in which mules took the place of horses).