Sunday, September 5, 2010

Rewarding Victories With Trophies

By Michal Finch

The word trophy came from the Greek term "tropaion," which is derived from the verb "trope." It means "to rout." Trophies were thought as marks of victory in war battles back in ancient Greece. People used to make them on the battlegrounds of successful battles, with the bases carved with the details of the fight and an inscription to the god they believed helped them win the battle.

For the Romans during ancient times, trophies weren't a homage to the victors and the gods on the battlefield. Instead, they were frequently placed on columns and arches. The Romans preferred these extremely large icons made in Rome.

Not a great deal is known about its history during the Middle Ages. However, it is believed that they were used as awards for sporting events in the late 1600s. The regular shapes used then were silver goblets and two-handled sterling cups.

Trophies are perhaps the ultimate symbol of success. The bigger the trophy, the higher the achievement. They are everywhere, from the largest of competitions, such as major sports competitions, to the humblest of matches, such as a Spelling Bee contest for elementary pupils.

Today, trophies come in assorted types and sizes. Although cups and chalices are still predominant, they now come in almost every shape imaginable, such as stars, human forms, abstract, and animal forms.

Rather than silver and gold, materials used today include steel, pewter, crystal, and plastic. They are a great deal less costly and can be mass created.

Trophies are not just given during sporting events. They are also awarded in acknowledgment of an individual or group accomplishment. The Hollywood major awards event The Academy Awards is a good example. Individual skills, such as acting, directing and producing, and group efforts, such as best film, cast, etc., are acknowledged with a trophy that is shaped like a human being.

It's not only a reward for a particular achievement in sports, acting, discovery or other skills. A trophy represents triumph and position. It doesn't just mean being able to defeat your adversaries in a game or contest or being the leader in your field of expertise. Being honored with a trophy also means being part of the trophy's legacy.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment