Achelous Defeated by Hercules. The Origin of the Cornucopia. (Allegory of Fruitfulness)

According to Ovid's account, the horn was transformed into the cornucopia, the "horn of plenty," which became an enduring emblem of abundance and fruitfulness.

The painting illustrates the mythological contest between the river god Achelous and the hero Hercules, in which Hercules defeats Achelous and breaks off one of his horns. According to Ovid's account, the horn was transformed into the cornucopia, the "horn of plenty," which became an enduring emblem of abundance and fruitfulness.

Jordaens frames the scene as an allegory of fruitfulness, drawing on the classical tradition in which the cornucopia symbolizes the bountiful gifts of nature. The presence of Hercules, the victor who unwittingly gives rise to this symbol of plenty, links heroic triumph to the generative power of the earth. The work thus operates on two intertwined levels: a narrative depiction of a specific mythological episode and a broader allegorical celebration of natural abundance.

By presenting the origin of the cornucopia within a richly populated mythological tableau, Jordaens invites the viewer to read the painting as a meditation on how strength and struggle can yield prosperity, with the horn overflowing with nature's produce serving as the central visual emblem of that meaning.