The Roman House at Hopkins | Household Gods

Hercules with Cornucopia and Cloak

By Laura Hutchison

The thick beard and heavy musculature of this Hercules statuette allude to his mature age. The figure carries a cornucopia, an ancient symbol of bounty, in the crux of his left arm. Deities found in lararia, such as Hercules, Isis-Tyche, Ceres, and Harpokrates, are often shown carrying a cornucopia—a sign of their role as guarantors of a family’s prosperity. During the Roman Imperial period, Hercules was celebrated both as one of the mythical founders of Rome and as a guardian of households, shops and civic spaces.