Thanksgiving-The Cornucopia- The Horn Of Plenty

In the spirit of Thanksgiving- we all should be thankful we are in a place in our lives where we can enjoy the hobby of coins, and be able to share them with our friends, collectors, and numismatists from around the world, those who truly love them, as we do.

The Cornucopia- The Horn of Plenty



The iconic cornucopia, the horn of plenty is symbol of Thanksgiving in here in United States, and a continued symbol in Western Art. The origins of which are deeply rooted in antiquity.

Classical 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 Amalthea ("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.
In another myth, the cornucopia was created when Heracles (Roman Hercules) wrestled with the river god Achelous and wrenched off one of his horns; river gods were sometimes depicted as horned.
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 nymph Maia; and Fortuna, the goddess of luck, who had the power to grant prosperity. Another is the goddess of the corn and agriculture, which is Demeter. 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. Pluto, 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 to distinguish him from the gloomier Hades, who holds a drinking horn instead.

Share with us your Cornucopias!
Demetrius I Soter (The Savior) 187-150 BC
AR 29.5mm Tetradrachm, Antioch, Syria (15.17g)
Obverse:Demetrius I
Reverse: Tyche seated left, holding sceptre & cornucopiae; winged Tritoness supporting throne, two monograms to outer left, date in ex.




And Thanks to Wikipedia for laying it all out!