OPI, OPALIA, OPICONSIVIA. - OPI, an ancient Roman goddess, is often identified in literary sources with the Greek RHEA and thus appears as the wife of SATURN (KRONOS).
Originally, however, as is evident from the arrangement of the archaic calendar, OPI was closely associated with another god, CONSUS. Her two festivals, the OPALIA on December 19 and the OPICONSIVIA on August 25, follow the two CONSUALIA (December 15 and August 21) at equal intervals. The name of the festival OPICONSIVIA, which corresponds to a divine name OPS CONSIVIA, implies the same connection. The sanctuary of OPS CONSIVIA was located in the Regia, and no one could enter it except the Vestal Virgins and a public priest. Later, OPI also had a temple on the Capitoline Hill: in the age of AUGUSTUS, the matrons gathered before this temple to celebrate the secular games; state documents were preserved in the temple. The name of the goddess signifies both abundance (opes, opulentia, etc.) and aid, protection (opem ferre, cf. the goddess’s epithet: opifera). Prayers to OPI were offered while seated, touching the ground.