Cornucopia (heraldry)
The cornucopia is a common figure in heraldry , and it denotes two types of representation.
One type is a form associated with the symbol of good fortune and prosperity , especially belief in abundance. Here the cornucopia is a funnel-shaped basket, similar to the pointed casing of a snail, from which wealth is poured. In heraldry, for example, it occurs in the coats of arms of Peru and Panama . The preferred color is gold or silver. The cornucopia can also be held by heraldic figures. In addition to the representation in the coat of arms , one in the upper coat of arms , as in the coat of arms of Venezuela , and next to the coat of arms is possible.
In the other case it is the buffalo horns , which are also assigned the name cornucopia. This is explained by the erroneous view that elephant teeth, trunks and snouts are called open horns of plenty or trumpets, because the open horn shape emerged around the 15th century.
The aim is always to use these horns in pairs. With the above, you limit yourself to one.
literature
- ↑ Gert Oswald : Lexicon of Heraldry. VEB Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig 1984.
