Arnobius

“ The Etruscans say that these are the Consentes and Complices, [4] and name them because they rise and fall together, six of them being male, and as many female, with unknown names and pitiless dispositions, [5] but they are considered the counsellors and princes of Jove supreme. There were some, too, who said that Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva were the dii Penates, without whom we cannot live and be wise, and by whom we are ruled within in reason, passion, and thought. ”

“ As you see, even here, too, nothing is said harmoniously, nothing is settled with the consent of all, nor is there anything reliable on which the mind can take its stand, drawing by conjecture very near to the truth. ”

“ Footnotes ↑ The ms. reads immortalium, corrected in the edd. urbem Ilium.↑ Supposed to be either the genius attending Jupiter; the family god as sent by him; or the chief among the genii, sometimes mentioned simply as Genius.↑ Lit., “whom the commonalty receives.”↑ Consentes (those who are together, or agree together, i.e., councillors) and Complices (confederate, or agreeing) are said by some to be the twelve gods who composed the great council of heaven ”