Cornucopia

The Cornucopia is giant, golden (silver in the film) horn shaped like a cone with a curved tail. In each year's Hunger Games, the tributes launch into the arena and start off in a circular formation, equidistant to the Cornucopia. The mouth is at least 20 feet high and is filled with items that could help the tributes survive in the Games such as weapons, clothing, fire starters, supplies, containers, water, food, blankets, and medicine. The closer an object is to the Cornucopia, the more valuable it is. In an unidentified Hunger Games, the Cornucopia was filled with only spiked maces with which the tributes had to bludgeon each other to death with. However, both forms of media have this in common: the Cornucopia is the death of many tributes due to the large amount of desirable items. In the 74th Hunger Games the cornucopia was used for the feast that was held, possibly because every tribute knew where it was located.

In the 75th Hunger Games, the Cornucopia was stocked with only weapons. Typically, the Cornucopia is the site of a bloodbath at the beginning of each set of Games because of the bounty available. The bloodbath is where many of the tributes die. In the 74th Hunger Games, 11 tributes died in the book (12 in the film). Most of them were killed by the Career Tributes, who wanted the space and weapons. Instead of battling it out, many of the tributes instead flee, only grabbing what they can. The Cornucopia was also used for shelter, like in the 74th Hunger Games where the Careers camped out. In the final battle of the 74th Hunger Games, wolf muttations chased Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and Cato to the Cornucopia, where Cato eventually fell to the mutts and was finished off by Katniss.

Before the Games begin, each tribute is taken to their own private Launch Room beneath the Cornucopia along with their stylist, where they are prepped before entering the arena.

Hiding place
The Cornucopia is sometimes used as a hiding place during the Games.
 * In the start of the 74th Hunger Games, the boy from District 4 hid inside the Cornucopia during the blood bath. However, when he tried to run into the forest after gathering some gear, he was quickly killed by Cato.
 * During the Feast, Foxface hid inside the Cornucopia. She then ran out, grabbed the backpack with #5 on and ran into the forest.
 * When Katniss, Peeta and Cato tried to escape from the muttations, they climbed up on the Cornucopia, out of the mutt's reach.

Contents

 * Weapons
 * Backpacks
 * Food
 * Tools
 * Tents
 * Water bottles (empty or filled)
 * Ammunition
 * Sleeping bags
 * Traps (nets, snares, etc.)
 * Clothing
 * Medicines

Film portrayal
There are some differences in how the Cornucopia is portrayed in the film:
 * It is silver and shaped more like a cubic horn, showing the modern side of the Capitol. This design also allows Katniss, Peeta and Cato to climb to the top of it easily.
 * In the film, Katniss and Peeta prepare to eat the nightlock while they are at the Cornucopia instead of by the lake. This also changes their pickup location by hovercraft.

Trivia

 * In Greek mythology, the first cornucopia was formed from a horn pulled off ' head by . It could be filled with whichever food the holder desired, simply by willing.