The Cornucopia

The cornucopia (Latin: Cornu Copiae) is a symbol of food and abundance dating back to the 5th Century BCE, also referred to as Horn of Plenty, Horn of Amalthea, and harvest cone,

In Greek mythology, Amalthea raised Zeus on the milk of a goat. In return Zeus gave Amalthea the goat's horn. It had the power to give to the person in possession of it whatever he or she wished for. This gave rise to the legend of the cornucopia. The original depictions were of the goat's horn filled with fruits and flowers: deities, especially Fortuna, would be depicted with the horn of plenty.

In modern depiction, the cornucopia is typically a hollow, horn-shaped wicker basket typically filled with various kinds of festive fruit and vegetables. The cornucopia has come to be associated with Thanksgiving and the harvest.

(...from Wikipedia)

According to myth, when the young Zeus (Jupiter) was playing with Amalthea (the goat who had nurtured him on the island of Crete), he accidentally broke off one of her horns. Zeus promised her that from that day forward, the horn would always be filled with whatever fruit she desired. As such, the Cornucopia came to symbolize the unasked profusion of gifts from the gods.

It has been used as an emblem of many deities, including Copia (Roman goddess of wealth and plenty who carries a cornucopia), Justitia (Roman goddess of justice), Spes (Roman goddess of hope), Honos (Roman deity of morality and military honor), and many others. The myth of the horn returns in the story of Hercules, who fights the river-god Achelous, who, having the power to change himself into anything, took the form of a bull. Achelous was the son of the ocean, and the god of the biggest river. Hercules breaks off one of the bull's horns, but after generously returning it, receives from Achelous the horn of plenty - the cornucopia.

(...from About.com)

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