Words from Mythology pt V: Cornucopia

This blog is about the word Cornucopia.

The cornucopia, meaning horn of plenty, appears at the Thanksgiving table thanks to greek mythology. This is how the story goes…

Zeus had a rough childhood, to say the least. His father, Cronus, was so nuts about one of his sons taking his place that he ate each one when they were born.

When Zeus was born his mother, Rhea, sent him to live in a cave for safe-keeping. While there he was nursed by a magical goat named Amalthea. The myth has a few versions. It was either the horn on the head of Amalthea given to Zeus or Zeus tore it off and gave it back to Amalthea promising her great abundance.

Whatever the myth, the horn of Amalthea full of nuts, fruits, and grain is an ancient symbol of the harvest dating back 2000 years in Greece. It is associated with the Greek goddess Demeter, goddess of the harvest, and has become the symbol of the American Thanksgiving.

That’s it for Now

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