Abundantia, also known as Abundita or Copia in ancient Roman religion, was a celestial personification of wealth and prosperity.
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The name Abundantia means “plenty” or “riches.” Abundantia was the goddess of wealth, plenty, prosperity, fortune, treasures, and success. She may have survived in Roman Gaul and medieval France in some form. Abundantia would carry a cornucopia full with food and coins. She would occasionally leave some of her grain or money as a present at someone’s residence.
Related article: Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Rome
Ovid, the Augustan poet, assigns Abundantia a place in the tale of Acheloüs, the river deity, one of whose horns Hercules cut from his forehead. The Naiads took the horn and changed it into the cornucopia that Abundantia was given. The Gallic goddess Rosmerta may have had a functional equivalency to Abundantia, but the two are never formally associated in inscriptions.
Featured image: Statue depicting Abundantia by Antonio Tarsia, San Zanipolo, Venice
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