Consualia

Consualia was a Roman festival that takes place twice a year: on August 21 and December 15. On this day, the Romans worshipped Consus, the god who looked after the grain stored in the granaries, or Neptunus Equestris. According to Plutarch, Neptunus Equestris and Consus were different names for the same god. An altar dedicated to the deity was unveiled every year, and which was buried in Circus Maximus.

According to tradition, Romulus was the first to find the altar. During Consualia, all horses, donkeys and mules were decorated with wreaths and were not allowed to work. Horse races took place in Circus Maximus, and in its basement sacrifices were made on the Consus altar, which was only available during this holiday. According to Roman legends, it was during Consualia that the kidnapping of the Sabine women was supposed to take place. The holiday was agricultural and archaic and symbolized the end of the harvest.