Mythology Crafts

Teaching Kids History and Mythology with Crafts

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Edmund Cain

I love art and mythology and teaching others about history.

Greek and Roman Activities

Cornucopia Craft: Zeus’ Horn of Plenty
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Cornucopia Craft: Zeus' Horn of Plenty

Every year at Thanksgiving there are plenty of images of the cornucopia. It is an ancient and famous horn that symbolizes a successful and fruitful harvest. It overflows with the bounty of the summer’s farming.

Many of us associate it with the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth, but guess what? It’s waaaaaay older than that. We will show you how to make your own Cornucopia and explain it’s mythical beginning.

The Horn of Plenty
"Horn of Plenty" by WELS.net is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

The Origin of the Cornucopia

The cornucopia can be traced back to Greek mythology and two legends that are almost 3000 year old. The name cornucopia comes from ancient Latin and means “horn of plenty” (“Cornu” means horn while “copia” means plenty.) Today in addition to the literal meaning, horn of plenty, we sometime use cornucopia to describe something that is abundant. 

What's Zeus Got To Do With It?

The first Greek myth of the cornucopia goes as follows: 

As you may know from our previous craft, Staff of the Gods, the titian Kronos (Chronos) tried to eat all this kids because he heard a prophecy that said his children would overthrow him. After eating ALL her other kids, Zeus’ mom Rhea decided she’d had enough and hid him from Kronos to save him. She sent baby Zeus to hide with the goat Amalthea in a cave. (In some versions of the story Amalthea is a nymph, but we’ll stick with a goat.) In the painting below by Nicholas Poussin, you can see both the toddler Zeus being feed goat’s milk from a jar and the goat, Amalthea. You will also notice two nymph’s a goat header helping to feed the baby god. 

Baby Zeus with a goat
"IMG_3833B Nicolas Poussin. 1594-1665 Rome. Jupiter (Zeus) enfant nourri avec le lait de la chèvre Amalthée Berlin Gemäldegalerie." by jean louis mazieres is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The stories vary somewhat, but basically, Zeus accidently (or maybe on purpose) breaks off one Amalthea’s horns. The horn has the power to provide a plentiful and never ending supply of food. And, BOOM the horn of plenty is now associated with abundance and prosperity.

If it's Not Zeus it's Hercules

"Hercules Wrestling the Bull" by carfull...from Wyoming is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

As they were wrestling, Hercules broke off one of Achelous’ horns. One of his daughters, the naiad, Acheloides found the horn and transformed it into a cornucopia. (For the record a naiad, is sort of like a river goddess).

In the end, Hercules won the match and the princess. She became his second wife. 

The cornucopia become the symbol for many Greek gods and goddesses such as Demeter and her daughter Persephone. So, I guess a cornucopia isn’t just a fancy Thanksgiving decoration after all. 

Another myth that explains how the cornucopia came to be features a hero most of you already know, Heracles or Hercules. (You can learn more about this demi-god with our Cerberus Craft.) He wanted to marry a princess named Deianira. But like any princess worth marring, she had another suitor, who happened to be the river god, Achelous. 

(Side note: In ancient times, there were 1000s of river gods known as Potamoi and each river had its own god).

Hercules and Achelous decided to wrestle to see who could win her hand in marriage. During the fight, the river god transformed himself into a bull (in some stories it is a centaur).

"The vertex stone of an arch with a depiction of the river deity Achelous, from Pula, 2nd - 3rd century AD, on display in the Temple of Augustus, Colonia Pietas Iulia Pola Pollentia Herculanea, Histria"
By Following Hadrian is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Let's Get Crafting

Supplies:

  • Styrofoam cone
  • Twine or Brown Yarn
  • Tinfoil
  • Mod Podge or Glue
  • Paint Brush 
  • Scissor 
  • Plastic Knife (Not pictured)
Cornucopia Model
  • Cover the cornucopia model in tinfoil. Make sure the entire model is covered. 
  • Paint a layer of glue or Mod Podge on the tinfoil.
  • Wind the yarn or twine around the model. Use a LOT of the yarn or twine and make sure there are no gaps. 
  • As you wind the twine or yarn, paint more glue or Mode Podge on the outside of the yarn. You may need to get a little messy and pat the yarn or twine down with your hands. 
  • Make sure the entire model is covered in twine or string. 
  • Allow the mold and twine to dry for several hours. 
  • When it is dry, use the plastic knife to carve out the styrofoam. 
  • Once the styrofoam is mostly gone, pull out the tinfoil. Some small pieces maybe attached to the inside of the cornucopia. You may need to pick off the small pieces. 
  • Enjoy your cornucopia. 
Cornucopia Supplies

Directions:

  • Cut of about 1/5 of the tip of the styrofoam cone. 
  • Use a plastic knife to shape the end of the cone into a cornucopia. Make a small curling tip for the cornucopia. 
DYI Cornucopia
DYI Cornucopia

Need More Help? Want to Learn more? Watch the Video

Still Looking for More? Check out these Websites: 

https://www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/cornucopia.html

 

https://agamerica.com/blog/thankful-for-ag-the-history-of-cornucopia/

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