Cornucopia -what a lovely word. I happened upon it just the other day and decided it needed focus.
Derived from Latin, the word ‘cornu copiae’, means ‘horn of plenty’. The image owes its origins to a colourful Greek mythology. According to the best-known legend, the infant Zeus was hidden from his father, the Titan Cronus, who had developed the unfortunate habit of swallowing his children.
Energetic
Zeus was nursed by the divine goat Amalthea. During his energetic infancy, he accidentally broke off one of her horns. To make amends, he blessed the horn so that it would forever overflow with whatever its owner desired –fruit, grain, flowers or riches. Thus, the Horn of Plenty was born.
Wrestling
Another version links the horn to the river god Achelous, who transformed himself into a bull while wrestling the legendary Heracles. Heracles broke off one of the bull’s horns, and it later became the magical symbol of abundance. Mythology, as always, likes to keep its options open.
Elegant
English adopted ‘cornucopia’ in the early 1500s, and it has maintained its air of elegance. It is one of those words that sounds as rich as the meaning it conveys.
Over the centuries, the cornucopia escaped the pages of myth and entered art, literature and everyday language. Renaissance painters loved to depict goddesses carrying overflowing horns. Thanksgiving decorations still feature woven baskets spilling pumpkins, grapes and autumn leaves – a direct descendant of the ancient cornucopia. In business, politics and advertising, the word has become popularised as an alternative to ‘abundance’.
Generous
Today, ‘cornucopia’ means a plentiful supply of something. It can refer to food, certainly, but also to ideas, opportunities, books, music, colours or even problems. A travel brochure might promise “a cornucopia of experiences”, while a book reviewer could praise “a cornucopia of literary talent”. The word almost always carries a sense of richness, variety and generosity.
Next time you want to show off your literary prowess, plumb for cornucopia and wait for your proverbial cup to ‘runneth over’.
Cat in the bag rewrites idiom: usage and origin
How breaking bread is a social act that’s lasted through time
From Superheroes to Greek Gods: Unpacking the Meaning of Weakness
