Consus (Roman God of Grains): Character Card

General Information:

• Pantheon: Roman
• Domains: Agriculture, Grain Protection, Strategic Counsel, Equestrian Deities, Chthonic Forces
• Symbol: Grain seed, Underground altar
• Sacred Animal: Horse, Mule
• Festivals: Consualia (August 21, December 15, July 7)
• Officiated by: Flamen Quirinalis, Vestal Virgins

Identity & Function:

Consus is an ancient Roman god with a deeply chthonic (earth-related) nature. He serves primarily as the protector of grains, overseeing the storage and sowing of crops essential for the survival of Roman society. His power lies in the hidden forces of the earth, governing both the fertility of the land and the safeguarding of the harvest. In addition to his agricultural role, Consus is often connected with secret counsel and strategic planning, embodying the quiet but essential deliberations that lead to decisive action, whether in the fields or in matters of state.

Associations & Symbolism:

• Chthonic God: His altar, located underground or covered with earth, reflects his ties to the underworld and the life-giving powers of the soil. This connection aligns him with hidden, mysterious forces that govern the natural cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
• God of Grains: Consus plays a critical role in ensuring the prosperity and abundance of Roman agriculture. He oversees the entire grain cycle, from sowing seeds to storing the harvest, protecting the food supply of the people.
• Counsel & Strategy: Known as the god of counsel, Consus is also associated with secrecy, making him a deity invoked during times of careful planning or covert activities. This role extends to societal events, such as the strategic abduction of the Sabine women in Roman mythology.
• Equestrian Link: During his festivals, horse and mule races are held, suggesting a potential connection to Equestrian Neptune (Neptunus Equestris). Horses symbolize strength, speed, and vitality, linking Consus to both the earth and equestrian deities.

Attributes:

• Alignment: Neutral (Chthonic)
• Domains: Agriculture, Strategy, Secrecy, Earth, Equestrianism
• Symbols: Grain seed (representing life and fertility), underground altars (hidden power and chthonic nature), horses (earth’s vitality)
• Sacred Sites: Altar in the Circus Maximus, which is either underground or covered, symbolizing his hidden nature.
• Mythological Role: Protector of Rome’s grain supply, linked to the abduction of the Sabine women as a hidden plan, and honored in secret conferences and agricultural rites.

Key Abilities:

1. Grain Guardian: Consus ensures successful harvests and protects stored grain. He has the power to influence the fertility of the land, ensuring that crops are bountiful.
2. Strategic Mind: As the god of counsel and hidden planning, Consus helps guide leaders in making secretive or strategic decisions, particularly those that require careful foresight.
3. Chthonic Power: Consus draws strength from his connection to the underworld and the earth’s hidden forces, influencing not only agriculture but the balance of life and death.
4. Equestrian Influence: His ties to horses and mules, particularly seen in the Consualia festivals, link him to the physical and symbolic power of the equestrian deities, embodying strength, speed, and endurance.

Consualia Festivals:

• August 21, December 15, July 7: During these festivals, horse and mule races are held to honor Consus. His altar, normally hidden, is uncovered, allowing offerings and rituals to be made in his name. These festivals highlight his dual nature as a god of secrecy and fertility, bringing together both the hidden forces of the earth and the vitality of animals like horses.
• Sacrifices & Rituals: Rites are conducted by the Flamen Quirinalis and the Vestal Virgins, linking Consus to both civic duty and sacred tradition.

Notable Relationships:

• Ops: Consus is often linked with Ops, the goddess of abundance and the earth. Their festivals follow closely, reflecting their shared responsibility for ensuring the fertility of the land.
• Neptune (Neptunus Equestris): Some traditions suggest Consus may have a connection to Neptune’s equestrian aspect, tying him to horses and, by extension, the life-sustaining forces of both the sea and the earth.

Personality Traits:

• Mysterious: Consus is associated with secrecy, making him a figure of hidden counsel and covert plans. His actions are often unseen, but their impact is felt in the prosperity of the land and the success of strategic efforts.
• Patient: Much like the earth, Consus works steadily and subtly, ensuring growth and abundance through careful nurturing and protection.
• Protective: As the guardian of grains, he is deeply committed to ensuring prosperity and the well-being of the Roman people through the safeguarding of their food supply.

Quotes:

• “Consus was the protector of grains. He was represented by a grain seed.” – Highlights his primary role in ensuring the abundance of crops and prosperity.
• “Consus is the god of councils.” – Emphasizes his role in strategic and secretive planning, a domain where careful thought leads to success.
• “Consus cannot be related to conserere…advances the hypothesis that condere might mean ‘to found’ or ‘establish’.” – A scholarly debate reflecting Consus’s multifaceted role, either as a god of planting, storing, or founding (establishing).

Overall Significance:

Consus’s significance lies in his dual nature: both an agricultural deity ensuring the success of crops and a god of strategic counsel. His influence stretches beyond the physical domain of the earth into the realms of politics, warfare, and careful planning, making him a versatile and essential figure in the Roman pantheon. His festivals, symbols, and connections to other deities all emphasize the importance of hidden power—whether it be the grain beneath the earth, a secret plan, or the strength of horses.

Character Role:

Consus is a character who embodies the balance of the hidden and the revealed, acting as a bridge between secret knowledge and practical power, be it in the fields, political councils, or in the symbolic strength of animals like horses. He plays a pivotal role in ensuring prosperity, making him essential in any domain related to agriculture, strategy, and the mysteries of the earth.