In classical antiquity, the cornucopia (/ˌkɔːrnjəˈkoʊpiə,ˌkɔːrnə-,ˌkɔːrnu-,ˌkɔːrnju-/), from Latin cornu (horn) and copia (abundance), also called the horn of plenty, was a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers, or nuts.
Baskets or panniers of this form were traditionally used in western Asia and Europe to hold and carry newly harvested food products. The horn-shaped basket would be worn on the back or slung around the torso, leaving the harvester's hands free for picking.
Mythology offers multiple explanations of the origin of the cornucopia. One of the best-known involves the birth and nurturance of the infant Zeus, who had to be hidden from his devouring father Cronus. In a cave on Mount Ida on the island of Crete, baby Zeus was cared for and protected by a number of divine attendants, including the goat Amaltheia ("Nourishing Goddess"), who fed him with her milk. The suckling future king of the gods had unusual abilities and strength, and in playing with his nursemaid accidentally broke off one of her horns, which then had the divine power to provide unending nourishment, as the foster mother had to the god.[1]
The cornucopia became the attribute of several Greek and Roman deities, particularly those associated with the harvest, prosperity, or spiritual abundance, such as personifications of Earth (Gaia or Terra); the child Plutus, god of riches and son of the grain goddess Demeter; the nymphMaia; and Fortuna, the goddess of luck, who had the power to grant prosperity. In Roman Imperial cult, abstract Roman deities who fostered peace (pax Romana) and prosperity were also depicted with a cornucopia, including Abundantia, "Abundance" personified, and Annona, goddess of the grain supply to the city of Rome. Hades, the classical ruler of the underworld in the mystery religions, was a giver of agricultural, mineral and spiritual wealth, and in art often holds a cornucopia.[3]
Modern depictions
In modern depictions, the cornucopia is typically a hollow, horn-shaped wicker basket filled with various kinds of festive fruit and vegetables. In most of North America, the cornucopia has come to be associated with Thanksgiving and the harvest. Cornucopia is also the name of the annual November Food and Wine celebration in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Two cornucopias are seen in the flag and state seal of Idaho. The Great Seal of North Carolina depicts Liberty standing and Plenty holding a cornucopia. The coats of arms of Colombia, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, and the coat of arms of the state of Victoria, Australia, also feature the cornucopia, symbolizing prosperity.
In Terry Pratchett's Discworld series of fantasy novels, the witch Tiffany Aching was briefly in possession of the Cornucopia which is badge of office of Summer, when she contracted avatarism as well as ped fecundis during the events of Wintersmith. This causes problems by spurting out food and animals, including a massive flock of chickens.
The motif of the cornucopia is used in the book series The Hunger Games. In the eponymous gladiatorial games described in the series, a large horn-like cache filled with weapons and equipment is placed at the starting point: this cache serves as the focal point of fighting during the games' first minutes, and is even called the "Cornucopia". In the film adaptation, the national anthem of Panem, the series' primary setting, is called "the Horn of Plenty", which is mentioned several times in the lyrics.
The horn of plenty is used for body art and at Thanksgiving, as it is a symbol of fertility, fortune and abundance.[4]
^David Leeming, The Oxford Companion to World Mythology (Oxford University Press, 2005), p. 13; Robert Parker, Polytheism and Society at Athens (Oxford University Press, 2005), p. 422.
^Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.87–88, as cited by J. Rufus Fears, "The Cult of Virtues and Roman Imperial Ideology," Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt II.17.2 (1981), p. 821.
^Kevin Clinton, Myth and Cult: The Iconography of the Eleusinian Mysteries (Stockholm, 1992), pp. 105–107.
^Hastings, James, ed. (1910). Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics. Vol. III https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofr03hastuoft. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[page needed]
cornucopia, other, uses, disambiguation, classical, antiquity, cornucopia, ɔːr, ɔːr, ɔːr, ɔːr, from, latin, cornu, horn, copia, abundance, also, called, horn, plenty, symbol, abundance, nourishment, commonly, large, horn, shaped, container, overflowing, with, . For other uses see Cornucopia disambiguation In classical antiquity the cornucopia ˌ k ɔːr n j e ˈ k oʊ p i e ˌ k ɔːr n e ˌ k ɔːr n u ˌ k ɔːr n j u from Latin cornu horn and copia abundance also called the horn of plenty was a symbol of abundance and nourishment commonly a large horn shaped container overflowing with produce flowers or nuts Allegorical depiction of the Roman goddess Abundantia with a cornucopia by Rubens ca 1630 Baskets or panniers of this form were traditionally used in western Asia and Europe to hold and carry newly harvested food products The horn shaped basket would be worn on the back or slung around the torso leaving the harvester s hands free for picking Contents 1 In Greek Roman mythology 2 Modern depictions 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksIn Greek Roman mythology Edit Allegory of Fortune 1658 by Salvator Rosa representing Fortuna the Goddess of luck with the horn of plenty Poster of cornucopia for California Mythology offers multiple explanations of the origin of the cornucopia One of the best known involves the birth and nurturance of the infant Zeus who had to be hidden from his devouring father Cronus In a cave on Mount Ida on the island of Crete baby Zeus was cared for and protected by a number of divine attendants including the goat Amaltheia Nourishing Goddess who fed him with her milk The suckling future king of the gods had unusual abilities and strength and in playing with his nursemaid accidentally broke off one of her horns which then had the divine power to provide unending nourishment as the foster mother had to the god 1 In another myth the cornucopia was created when Heracles Roman Hercules wrestled with the river god Achelous and ripped off one of his horns river gods were sometimes depicted as horned 2 This version is represented in the Achelous and Hercules mural painting by the American Regionalist artist Thomas Hart Benton The cornucopia became the attribute of several Greek and Roman deities particularly those associated with the harvest prosperity or spiritual abundance such as personifications of Earth Gaia or Terra the child Plutus god of riches and son of the grain goddess Demeter the nymph Maia and Fortuna the goddess of luck who had the power to grant prosperity In Roman Imperial cult abstract Roman deities who fostered peace pax Romana and prosperity were also depicted with a cornucopia including Abundantia Abundance personified and Annona goddess of the grain supply to the city of Rome Hades the classical ruler of the underworld in the mystery religions was a giver of agricultural mineral and spiritual wealth and in art often holds a cornucopia 3 Modern depictions EditIn modern depictions the cornucopia is typically a hollow horn shaped wicker basket filled with various kinds of festive fruit and vegetables In most of North America the cornucopia has come to be associated with Thanksgiving and the harvest Cornucopia is also the name of the annual November Food and Wine celebration in Whistler British Columbia Canada Two cornucopias are seen in the flag and state seal of Idaho The Great Seal of North Carolina depicts Liberty standing and Plenty holding a cornucopia The coats of arms of Colombia Panama Peru and Venezuela and the coat of arms of the state of Victoria Australia also feature the cornucopia symbolizing prosperity In Terry Pratchett s Discworld series of fantasy novels the witch Tiffany Aching was briefly in possession of the Cornucopia which is badge of office of Summer when she contracted avatarism as well as ped fecundis during the events of Wintersmith This causes problems by spurting out food and animals including a massive flock of chickens The motif of the cornucopia is used in the book series The Hunger Games In the eponymous gladiatorial games described in the series a large horn like cache filled with weapons and equipment is placed at the starting point this cache serves as the focal point of fighting during the games first minutes and is even called the Cornucopia In the film adaptation the national anthem of Panem the series primary setting is called the Horn of Plenty which is mentioned several times in the lyrics The horn of plenty is used for body art and at Thanksgiving as it is a symbol of fertility fortune and abundance 4 Gallery Edit Statue of a Ptolemaic queen perhaps Cleopatra VII 200 30 BC dolomitic limestone 2nd century statuette of the Hellenistic god Harpocrates with a cornucopia in Dion s Archaeological Museum Dion Greece Statue of Fortuna Roman copy after a Greek original from the 4th century BC Allegory of Peace by Girolamo Campagna late 16th early 17th century after models from circa 1585 86 bronze L Abondance by Antoine Coysevox a sculpture at the Palace of Versailles Personification of the Americas with an alligator a parrot and a cornucopia all symbols of the New World Cornucopia in the Statue of Flora in Szczecin Poland Louis XVI style armchair with a pair of cornucopia in the Cabinet Dore de la Reine of the Palace of Versailles Pair of cornucopia in the Opera national de Lorraine from Nancy Stuccos with pairs of cornucopia in the BCR Headquarters Building from Bucharest Romania The Coat of arms of Colombia Coat of arms ofCopiapo Chile Seal of Cagayan de Oro Philippines Seal of North Carolina Coat of arms of Huntingdonshire England Coat of arms of Peru Coat of arms of Kharkiv Ukraine Europe forcing the wild bull on its knees and pouring out the cornucopia with the blessings of prosperity Saarlouis Town HallSee also EditAkshaya Patra Chalice of Dona Urraca Cup of Jamshid Drinking horn Holy Chalice Holy Grail List of mythological objects Nanteos Cup Relic Sampo Venus of Laussel Sarira Cintamani Mani stone Ashtamangala Yasakani no Magatama Kaustubha Gem Luminous gemstones Philosopher s stone Sendai Daikannon statue Syamantaka Gem Eight Treasures CornucopianReferences Edit David Leeming The Oxford Companion to World Mythology Oxford University Press 2005 p 13 Robert Parker Polytheism and Society at Athens Oxford University Press 2005 p 422 Ovid Metamorphoses 9 87 88 as cited by J Rufus Fears The Cult of Virtues and Roman Imperial Ideology Aufstieg und Niedergang der romischen Welt II 17 2 1981 p 821 Kevin Clinton Myth and Cult The Iconography of the Eleusinian Mysteries Stockholm 1992 pp 105 107 Hastings James ed 1910 Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics Vol III https archive org details encyclopaediaofr03hastuoft a href Template Cite encyclopedia html title Template Cite encyclopedia cite encyclopedia a Missing or empty title help page needed External links Edit Media related to Cornucopia at Wikimedia Commons Portals Arts Food Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cornucopia amp oldid 1143363163, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
