in antiquity, feasts which were held among the ancients, in honour of the god Consus, i.e. Neptune; different from those other feasts of the same deity called Neptunalia. They were introduced with a magnificent cavalcade, or procession on horseback; because Neptune was reputed to have first taught men the use of horses; whence his surname of Taurus, Equestris.

Evander is said to have first instituted this feast: it was re-established by Romulus, under the name of Consus; because it was some god under the denomination of Consus that suggested to him the rape of the Sabines. It is said, that it was with a view to this rape that he made that establishment. This, however, is certain, that it was to this feast all his neighbours were invited; when, taking advantage of the solemnities and sacrifices, he seized the women. To draw the greater concourse of people, he gave out, that he had found an altar hid under ground, which he intended to consecrate, with sacrifices to the god to whom it had been originally erected. Those who take upon them to explain the mysteries of the heathen theology, say, that the altar hid under ground is a symbol of the secret design of Romulus to seize his neighbours' wives.

The consualia were of the number of feasts called sacred; as being consecrated to a divinity. Originally they were not distinguished from those of the circus; whence it is, that Valerius Maximus says, that the rape of the Sabines was effected at the games of the circus.

Plutarch observes, that during the days of this solemnity, horses and asses were left at rest, and were drestled up with crowns, &c., on account of its being the feast of Neptunus Equestris. Festus says, the cavalcade was performed with mules; it being an opinion, that this was the first animal used to draw the car.

Servius gives us to understand, that the consualia fell on the 13th of August; Plutarch, in the life of Romulus, placed them on the 18th, and the old Roman calendar on the 21st of that month.