The Cornucopia
The Cornucopia AKA "The Horn of Plenty" is an ancient European symbol of abundance. It may have found its origins in goats or Aurochs horns. The Modern image is known from the myth of Infant Zeus being cared for by Amalthea a nourishing Goat goddess. Who broke off one of her horns which provided unlimited nourishment. However the image of the Cornucopia is much older appearing in a 13K year old stone carving in France alongside a goddess figure. Or the Thousands year old depiction of the god Svetovid. Indicating that it is much older than it first appears. Other goddesses such as Abundantia and Fortuna are also depicted with the Cornucopia and the symbol has grown a life of its own. Being depicted in all manners of forms including as a coat of arms. Medieval Monks would often depict Mother Earth with a Cornucopia in Illuminations, The personification of Summer often holds one, and in America it is one of the symbols of Thanksgiving. A time of gratitude for kin and the time of plenty. -TLK
The Cornucopia AKA "The Horn of Plenty" is an ancient European symbol of abundance. It may have found its origins in goats or Aurochs horns. The Modern image is known from the myth of Infant Zeus being cared for by Amalthea a nourishing Goat goddess. Who broke off one of her horns which provided unlimited nourishment. However the image of the Cornucopia is much older appearing in a 13K year old stone carving in France alongside a goddess figure. Or the Thousands year old depiction of the god Svetovid. Indicating that it is much older than it first appears. Other goddesses such as Abundantia and Fortuna are also depicted with the Cornucopia and the symbol has grown a life of its own. Being depicted in all manners of forms including as a coat of arms. Medieval Monks would often depict Mother Earth with a Cornucopia in Illuminations, The personification of Summer often holds one, and in America it is one of the symbols of Thanksgiving. A time of gratitude for kin and the time of plenty. -TLK
Santa and the Cornucopia
One of the hallmarks of Santa Claus' attire and equipment is that of the endless sack of toys. Depicted in much of modern media as basically a pocket universe of infinite toys. This can be traced to older depictions of endless items of folklore such as the gifts of the Wild Hunt and Deities. But most notably with Sinterklaas and the Cornucopia. As Sinterklaas covered up several gods with fertility aspects including Wild Men Gods, Thor, Wodan, Krampus and Fro. These aspects of Fertility and Sun gods resulted in him attributed the Cornucopia with which he would give gifts of sweets, fruit, and even toys. Over time this imagery of the endless sustenance of the Cornucopia became the image of Santa's endless sack of toys as one of several figures that fed into the modern Santa Claus myth.-TLK
One of the hallmarks of Santa Claus' attire and equipment is that of the endless sack of toys. Depicted in much of modern media as basically a pocket universe of infinite toys. This can be traced to older depictions of endless items of folklore such as the gifts of the Wild Hunt and Deities. But most notably with Sinterklaas and the Cornucopia. As Sinterklaas covered up several gods with fertility aspects including Wild Men Gods, Thor, Wodan, Krampus and Fro. These aspects of Fertility and Sun gods resulted in him attributed the Cornucopia with which he would give gifts of sweets, fruit, and even toys. Over time this imagery of the endless sustenance of the Cornucopia became the image of Santa's endless sack of toys as one of several figures that fed into the modern Santa Claus myth.-TLK
Rings
When we hear the word ring the first thing we think of are the modern finger rings used for wedding bands and membership rings. But especially in Northern Europe a "Ring" would actually refer to the Torc like arm bands that were often given as gifts or used for oaths. Draupnir which is owned by Odin was far more likely to be an arm ring that a finger ring as it is often depicted, and there is also the famous ring of Andvari AKA The Ring of the Nibelung horde. Which was cursed when Loki stole it, eventually resulting in the Dwarf Fafnir turning into a dragon in order to protect his horde especially the cursed ring that brought doom to everyone who held it. This tale of rings of power that bring doom has fed into modern media such as the Chronicles of Narnia where Eustace turns into a dragon after putting on an arm ring from a dragons horde, while Tolkien used it is inspiration for the ring of power in his masterworks. Though in the latter it takes the form of a more modern finger ring style.-TLK
When we hear the word ring the first thing we think of are the modern finger rings used for wedding bands and membership rings. But especially in Northern Europe a "Ring" would actually refer to the Torc like arm bands that were often given as gifts or used for oaths. Draupnir which is owned by Odin was far more likely to be an arm ring that a finger ring as it is often depicted, and there is also the famous ring of Andvari AKA The Ring of the Nibelung horde. Which was cursed when Loki stole it, eventually resulting in the Dwarf Fafnir turning into a dragon in order to protect his horde especially the cursed ring that brought doom to everyone who held it. This tale of rings of power that bring doom has fed into modern media such as the Chronicles of Narnia where Eustace turns into a dragon after putting on an arm ring from a dragons horde, while Tolkien used it is inspiration for the ring of power in his masterworks. Though in the latter it takes the form of a more modern finger ring style.-TLK