The meaning of the phraseology "cornucopia", or Eternal hope for happiness
In the language there are many phraseological units that wewe use rather intuitively than consciously. Far from everyone knows the history of this or that saying, the meaning behind it. Today we will talk about the meaning of the phraseology "cornucopia". It has an ancient history dating back to ancient times.
The Legend of the Goat and Grateful Zeus
The origin of the phraseology "cornucopia"is associated with the myths of ancient Greece. In times immemorial, the supreme god was Kronos. He was predicted that a grown son would dethrone him from the throne. Therefore, Kronos ate all his children immediately after birth. When the next child appeared, little Zeus, his mother, Ray, wanted to protect the child. She hid the baby in a cave on the island of Crete. The helper of Zeus was the Amalfean goat, nymphs and priests as teachers.
He who grew up Zeus fulfilled the prophecy and himself becamethe supreme god. He did not forget his saviors. Goat Amalfeus took the thunder to the sky with him. She became the star of Capella (the "goat") in the constellation of the Auriga. However, during the ascension, the nurse lost her horn. His Zeus gave nymphs and priests who took care of him in childhood. He endowed the horn with magic power. All that his owner would like, immediately appeared from him. Hence the importance of the phraseology "cornucopia". It symbolizes an inexhaustible flow of treasures, wealth, happiness, extraordinary generosity.
Other Versions and Myths
The further fate of the cornucopia is intricate. He appears in several ancient myths. According to one of them, a battle took place between Aheloy, the god of rivers, and Hercules. The deity turned into a bull. During the battle, Hercules tore off his horn, and then returned it to the defeated enemy. The river God was generous. He gave Hercules as a substitute for the cornucopia, once created by his father Zeus. According to another version, the hero did not return the horn to Aheloy, but gave the nymphs that filled him with tasty fruits, berries and flowers.
On ancient images this magical artifactoccurs in the hands of Themis (goddess of justice), Plutos (the owner of the untold underground treasures of the realm of the dead), Fortune (the goddess who bestows the happiness of randomly chosen people). From myths, he gradually migrated to folklore, becoming in the end a stable expression. The meaning of phraseology "cornucopia" does not change for many centuries. He turned into a symbol of wealth and luck.
What does the expression "cornucopia" mean?
It is depicted on coins and state armsas a sign of prosperity. It is filled with fruits, flowers, coins and precious stones. When unexpected happiness, wealth and gifts are poured on someone, we say: "as from a cornucopia." After all, the owner of this magical object gets everything he wants.
These are not only material values, but alsospiritual blessings: health, love, long-awaited motherhood or paternity, wisdom, kindness, good luck, etc. The gift of gods, the cornucopia promises their patronage, protection. In this symbol lies the dream of mankind about a happy life without pain and misery. And also the hope that in difficult times, when there is nothing to hope for, help will always come from above in the form of a magic object or divine intervention.
The meaning of phraseology "cornucopia"was formed in the extreme antiquity. Times, realities are changing, but the aspirations of people remain unchanged. Like our ancestors, we want to be happy, rich and lucky. Therefore, phraseology continues to sound in our speech, inspiring hope for the best.
