In classical antiquity , the cornucopia ( / ˌ k ɔːr n ( j ) ə ˈ k oʊ p i ə , - n ( j ) uː -/ ; from Latin cornu 'horn' and copia 'abundance'), also called the horn of plenty , was a symbol of abundance and nourishment , commonly a large horn -shaped container overflowing with produce , flowers, or nuts .
12-400: Baskets or panniers of this form were traditionally used in western Asia and Europe to hold and carry newly harvested food products. The horn-shaped basket would be worn on the back or slung around the torso, leaving the harvester's hands free for picking. Mythology offers multiple explanations of the origin of the cornucopia. One of the best-known involves the birth and nurturance of
24-477: A cornucopia, including Abundantia , "Abundance" personified, and Annona , goddess of the grain supply to the city of Rome . Hades , 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. In modern depictions, the cornucopia is typically a hollow, horn-shaped wicker basket filled with various kinds of festive fruit and vegetables . In most of North America ,
36-822: A few uses. Weaving strips of bark or other plant material to support the bark containers would be the next step, followed by entirely woven baskets. The last innovation appears to be baskets so tightly woven that they could hold water. Depending on soil conditions, baskets may or may not be preserved in the archaeological record. Sites in the Middle East show that weaving techniques were used to make mats, and possibly also baskets, circa 8000 BCE . Twined baskets date back to 7000 in Oasisamerica . Baskets made with interwoven techniques were common at 3000 BCE . Baskets were originally designed as multi-purpose vessels to carry and store materials and to keep stray items about
48-463: A wide choice of colors, materials, sizes, patterns, and details. The carrying of a basket on the head , particularly by rural women, has long been practiced. Representations of this in Ancient Greek art are called Canephorae . The phrase " to hell in a handbasket " means to deteriorate rapidly . The origin of this use is unclear. "Basket" is sometimes used as an adjective for a person who
60-482: Is a container that is traditionally constructed from stiff fibers , and can be made from a range of materials, including wood splints, runners , and cane. While most baskets are made from plant materials, other materials such as horsehair , baleen , or metal wire can be used. Baskets are generally woven by hand. Some baskets are fitted with a lid, while others are left open on top. Baskets serve utilitarian as well as aesthetic purposes. Some baskets are ceremonial, that
72-475: Is religious, in nature. While baskets are usually used for harvesting , storage and transport, specialized baskets are used as sieves for a variety of purposes, including cooking, processing seeds or grains, tossing gambling pieces, rattles, fans, fish traps , and laundry . Prior to the invention of woven baskets, people used tree bark to make simple containers. These containers could be used to transport gathered food and other items, but crumbled after only
84-485: 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 child Plutus , god of riches and son of the grain goddess Demeter ; the nymph Maia ; and Fortuna , the goddess of luck, who had the power to grant prosperity. In Roman Imperial cult , abstract Roman deities who fostered peace ( pax Romana ) and prosperity were also depicted with
96-452: The coat of arms of the state of Victoria, Australia , also feature the cornucopia, symbolizing prosperity. Cornucopia motifs appear in some modern literature, such as Terry Pratchett 's Wintersmith , and Suzanne Collins 's The Hunger Games . The horn of plenty is used for body art and at Thanksgiving , as it is a symbol of fertility, fortune and abundance. Basket For other uses see: Basket (disambiguation) A basket
108-482: The cornucopia has come to be associated with Thanksgiving and the harvest. Cornucopia is also the name of the annual November Food and Wine celebration in Whistler , British Columbia, Canada. Two cornucopias are seen in the flag and state seal of Idaho . The Great Seal of North Carolina depicts Liberty standing and Plenty holding a cornucopia. The coats of arms of Colombia , Panama , Peru and Venezuela , and
120-571: 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 ripped off one of his horns; river gods were sometimes depicted as horned. This version is represented in the Achelous and Hercules mural painting by the American Regionalist artist Thomas Hart Benton . The cornucopia became
132-507: The home. The plant life available in a region affects the choice of material, which in turn influences the weaving technique. Rattan and other members of the Arecaceae or palm tree family, the thin grasses of temperate regions, and broad-leaved tropical bromeliads each require a different method of twisting and braiding to be made into a basket. The practice of basket making has evolved into an art . Artistic freedom allows basket makers
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#1732772675996144-447: 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 Amaltheia ("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
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