On This Day in Ancient History - Not a Good Day If You're a Sabine

On this day in ancient history, Romans celebrated the Consualia with games known as Consuales Ludi. This was a Roman festival celebrating the end of the harvest. The Romans honored the god Consus with sacrifice and burnt offerings of first fruits, and horse and chariot races. In Livy's account, the Rape of the Sabine Women takes place on this day.

Romulus, disguising his resentment [over the fact that other cities wouldn't give his men the right to marry their women], made elaborate preparations for the celebration of games in honour of "Equestrian Neptune," which he called "the Consualia."

Read Livy's account of the Consualia and the Rape of the Sabines.