Does the NC state seal have a horn of plenty in it?

ASK THE HORT AGENT

Question Does the North Carolina state seal have a Horn of Plenty in it?

Answer If you have ever sit on the shoulder of the road and stared at the side of a North Carolina Highway patrol car, then you are probably more familiar with North Carolina’s state seal than most residents. It does contain a Horn of Plenty which is also called a cornucopia. The Latin word “cornu” means horn and “copia” means plenty.

The Horn of Plenty predates North Carolina. In Roman times, Greek legend explained the cornucopia. The Greek god Zeus was not popular as a child. He was raised in a cave by a goat named Amalthea until he was an adult. While playing with Amalthea one day, he accidentally broke off one of her horns. As an apology, Zeus promised the goat that the horn would always be full of whatever fruit she desired.

Romans commonly used cornucopias as symbols of abundance. Over time, cornucopias were recognized around the world as symbols of bountiful harvests. In the US, attention to agricultural harvests comes in the form of a holiday. Thanksgiving has been the holiday designated for US citizens to proclaim their appreciation. The placement of a Horn of Plenty as a centerpiece at a Thanksgiving meal serves as a reminder of abundance during a time of thankfulness.

The keys to agricultural abundance are good land, good farmers and good research. The United States leads the world in agricultural production because we have the best land, farmers and scientists. When it comes to diversity of agricultural products, North Carolina is second only to one state. Ironically, the most diverse state doesn’t have a cornucopia in their state seal.

Whether you’re staring at a cornucopia on a Thanksgiving table or a highway patrol car, I hope you are thankful for the bounty we enjoy in this country.
Visit http://www.decorate-redecorate.com/thanksgiving-cornucopia.html, for info on making your own Horn of Plenty. If you don’t have internet access, then call me at 910-893-7533 or email me at gpierce@harnett.org

Some Roman politicians didn’t want Zeus’s image to be tarnished in any way. Therefore, they started another version of the cornucopia legend which said Amalthea broke off her own horn and offered it to Zeus as a sign of reverence. Out of gratitude, Zeus later set the goat’s image in the sky. This image is known as the constellation of Capricorn. I guess Roman politicians started the political tradition of letting the boss break a horn off a goat and then tell the people the goat broke its own horn off and in turn got something it didn’t ask for (or need).

Gary L. Pierce

Horticulture Extension Agent