Horn of plenty and cornucopia are two terms that refer to the same thing. We will examine the meaning of the terms horn of plenty and cornucopia, where they came from and some examples of their use in sentences.
A horn of plenty is a woven basket that is vaguely shaped like an animal horn, filled with bounty such as fruit, vegetables, grains and flowers. A horn of plenty is self-explanatory, symbolizing abundance. The horn of plenty is often seen in art and today, is often used as fall decoration. Interestingly, the horn of plenty has its origins in Greek myth. According to the story, Zeus was hidden away as an infant on the isle of Crete, taken care of by Amalthea, a she-goat. Zeus accidentally broke off one of Amalthea’s horns, and abundant food poured forth in a never-ending stream.
The word cornucopia is interchangeable with the term horn of plenty, which makes the two terms synonyms. Cornucopia is derived from the Latin phrase cornu copiae, which translates as horn of plenty. Both horn of plenty and cornucopia may be used figuratively, to describe something that provides abundance or an array of abundance.
Examples
They have the athleticism at quarterback and a horn of plenty at wide receiver. (The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal)
At the Theodore Roosevelt DFAC on Fort Hood, the centerpiece was a huge cornucopia, created by Spc. Trever Luttrull and Sgt. 1st Class Amah Williams. (The Killeen Daily Herald)
As we gather today with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving with dinner, football and early Christmas shopping, we are surrounded with decorations and mementoes of the season — pumpkins, hay bales, cornucopias (horn of plenty) overflowing with fruit and vegetables, colorful fall foliage, chrysanthemums and cacti. (The Times Record)