Cornucopia – ‘Horn Of Plenty’ – Ancient Symbol And Its Almost Forgotten Meaning

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - A cornucopia ( from Latin 'cornu copiae') - horn of plenty ) is often depicted in paintings and on friezes. It is a hollow horn-shaped container filled with the abundance of something like fruit, coins, flowers, grain, nuts or any other desirable things.

It is an ancient symbol of boundless abundance.

A woman holding a cornucopia. Public Domain

Many of us have a cornucopia at home; it can be made of plastic, wicker, metal, wood or other materials. It can be symbolically filled with something valuable or simply beautiful.

Cornucopia – a horn of plenty – is a symbol of wealth, abundance, fertility and nourishment, highly respected by many ancient cultures including the Celts, whose concept of abundance was the main part of their religion.

Left: Lar holding a cornucopia from Axatiana (now Lora del Rio) in Roman Spain, early 1st century AD (National Archaeological Museum of Spain)/Luis García/wikipedia; Right: Base of a statue of Louis XV of France and large cornucopia. Image credit: Vasil/wikipedia

Originally, it represents a mythical symbol that originates from the Mediterranean region of Europe. In North America, the cornucopia is associated with the country’s great tradition of Thanksgiving dating back to the Protestant Reformation in 16th-century Europe but the symbol of cornucopia dates back to very ancient times.

Popular Versions Of Cornucopia’s Origin

There are several mythological explanations suggesting the origin of the cornucopia and some of them date back to 5th century BC. Two of them are believed to be the most popular.

According to a version in Greek mythology, the cornucopia belonged to the goat Amalthea ("Nourishing Goddess"), who protected and raised the infant Zeus, who even as a little boy had enough strength to break off one of  Amalthea’s horns while playing. The horn then had the divine power to fill up with everything the owner wanted.

Left: Fortuna, the goddess of good luck, was given the power to bring prosperity to ahuman being and her attribute is cornucopia - horn of plenty. Image credit: Vatican, Rome, Italy. Statue of Fortune. Brooklyn Museum; Right: Angel with horn of plenty. Image credit: Wolfgang Sauber/Wikipedia

This mythological horn is known as the horn of plenty (cornucopia) and its tradition continues until today.

In another myth, the cornucopia was created during one of Heracles’ (Roman Hercules) missions to fight with the river god Achelous. During their encounter, Heracles broke off one of his horns.

Gods And Goddesses Were Often Depicted With Cornucopia

The cornucopia became the attribute of several Greek and Roman deities, particularly those associated with the prosperity, harvest, or spiritual abundance.

Erecura (Aerecura), a goddess often considered to be Celtic in origin, was often depicted with attributes of fertility as the cornucopia and apple baskets. Also, Epona is associated with cornucopia, Dionysus and Hades, the god of the underworld and ruler of the dead, who as Plouton (or Pluto), is a bringer of agricultural, mineral and spiritual wealth.

Hades (right-hand side) with a cornucopia and Persephone (left-hand side). Detail from an Attic red-figure amphora, ca. 470 BC. Image credit: Jastrow/Wikipedia

In ancient Roman religion, Abundantia was a divine personification of prosperity and abundance, so she was also depicted with a cornucopia, similar to Roman goddess of peace, Pax who cared for peace (Pax Romana) and prosperity and was displayed with attributes like an olive branch and a horn of plenty.

Cornucopia in the Statue of Flora in Szczecin, Poland. Image credit: Remigiusz Józefowicz/Wikipedia

Ancient sources confirm that the cornucopia or some versions of it were found on seals and buildings and imprinted in Jewish coins during the Maccabean times.

A Symbol Of Cornucopia In Ancient Egypt

The cornucopia was also an important symbol for ancient Egyptians.

“Horus the Child (the Greek Harpocrates, the god of silence and confidentiality) was one of the best-loved. In the early centuries of the Christian era, he is shown as a child, sometimes seated in a lotus-blossom, sometimes in a ship, or again enthroned as a follower of the sun-god; frequently he carries a cornucopia or a jar…’ Lewis Spence writes in his book 'Ancient Egyptian Myths and Legends'.

See also:

Triskelion – Millennia Old Traditional Symbol Used In Many Cultures Around The World

Ancient Symbol Fleur-de-lis: It’s Meaning And History Explained

Ankh – Mysterious Ancient Egyptian Symbol With Many Meanings And Unknown History

More About Ancient Symbols

The legendary Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt struck several series of silver coins, apparently at the mint in Askalon. On the observe of these coins, there is her portrait and on the reverse (back), Ptolemaic coins have an extremely only a few motifs; one of them is particularly popular (more than 95 percent) and shows a symbol of a cornucopia (on gold coins).

The cornucopia is still a popular decorative motif although the symbol’s very ancient sacred meaning has long been forgotten.

Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

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