Horns 'a Plenty

[figure 1] [figure 2]

Recently, my interest was sparked as to the history of this seemingly "American" symbol of harvest and abundance. The Cornucopia.

My parents were children of the Great Depression Era when food and resources were scarce. Hence, a bountiful table was symbolic to them of providence and the ability to provide well for a family. Most times our table was, indeed, laden. Whether abundant or not so abundant, my mother's innate artistry shone forth in the atmosphere she would create for Holiday celebrations. Her tables were arranged with great care and style. From her wedding china and linen napkins - to her "infamous" cornucopia centerpiece. A great woven horn filled with symbols of the Harvest. It was always elegant and we anticipated the display as children do with great celebration. There were always, of course, the whimsical touches we just *had* to add to the display. Things like crooked marshmallow and toothpick turkeys.

Remembering my mom's gigantic horn of plenty, it always seemed and looked like some infinite twisty funnel. Sort of like when we're children and think that those times will last forever. In a sense they do - in our own pieces of those soul memories that spiral on into time. We then create our own infinities in the traditions we establish with our own children. As I viewed the cornucopia this week, it not only looked like an infinite spiraling horn but rather serpentine. As in a woven helix spiral of DNA. Here is some "ancient" history on the origins of the cornucopia.

Definition: The cornucopia or cornu Copiae is, literally, the horn of plenty.

When Zeus was playing with the goat Amalthea (Amaltheia), he accidentally broke off one of her horns. To atone for this, Zeus promised Amalthea that the horn would always be full of whatever fruits she desired. This became the cornucopia of the Roman goddess Copia, the personification of plenty. Other goddesses, including Fortuna and Pax, also held the cornucopia.

http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_cornucopia.htm

Cornucopia: (kôr´´nyk´p) (KEY) , in Greek mythology, magnificent horn that filled itself with whatever meat or drink its owner requested. Some legends designate it as a horn of the river god Achelous, others as a horn of the goat Amalthaea. It is often represented as filled with fruits and flowers and has become the symbol of plenty.

http://www.bartleby.com/65/co/cornucop.html

Cornucopia:
The cornucopia was the horn of plenty, and it symbolized an abundant harvest. Sometimes a cornucopia or double cornucopia is found on the reverse of Roman coins.

Photo figure 1:

This lovely portrait of Aequitas on the reverse of an as of Antoninus Pius clearly shows the cornucopia to the far right of the image, in Aequitas' left hand. She holds a scales in her right hand. The scales and cornucopia are attributes of both Aequitas and Moneta.

http://fc.kcsd.org/~vciviletti/cpwpages2/Cornucopia.html

Photo figure 2:

This portrait of Felicitas on the reverse of a silver antoninianus (double denarius) of Philip I shows her holding two of her attributes, a caduceus and a cornucopia.

The serpent as symbol of both healing and destruction is particularly interesting to me when featured along with the symbols of Harvest and abundance.

Well, off to bake a cherry pie. Blessings and thanks to those who support and love us. Blessings and thanks to those who don't. We learn from each.

Love,

Tink