Trophies have been used to signify some sort of victory since ancient times. In fact, the modern word "trophy" originated from the Greek word tropaion, which is derived from the verb meaning "to rout." In ancient Greece, the first trophies reflected wartime victories. These were erected on the battlefield where the enemy had been defeated. These first battlefield trophies were fabricated from captured arms and standards and were placed on a large stake or hung on a tree. They were made to resemble the figure of a warrior, and were inscribed with details of the battle and dedicated to a god or gods. Naval trophies followed the same pattern of construction. They were constructed of entire ships (or what remained of them), and laid out on the nearest beach to the conquest. The deliberate destruction of one if these wartime trophies was considered a sacrilege since it was given in thanks and tribute to a god.
The ancient Romans kept their trophies closer to home. Instead of a tribute to the victors and gods in the vicinity of the victory, the Romans had their commemorative trophies constructed in Rome. These trophies were often magnificent, and included columns and arches atop a foundation. Outside Rome, there are huge stone memorials that were originally crowned with sculpted stone trophies...remnants of these trophies from long ago.
There is little knowledge about awards of trophies given during the Middle Ages. During that period of history, mankind was involved in more than recognition for excellence. But, the good news is that trophies were no longer awarded for bloodshed for victories in war and battles.
In the late 1600’s in the New World, trophies began to be given to winners of sporting events. These most often took the form of chalices, or two-handled cups. An exquisite example of this is a small two-handled sterling cup in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, that was given to the winner of a short horse race between two towns in New England about 1699. It’s called the Kyp Cup as it was fabricated by silversmith Jesse Kyp. Chalices were primarily associated with sporting events, and were typically made in silver. They were awarded in horse racing, boating and early automobile racing. As we arrive to today, sporting awards still often take the form of a cup, including the Davis Cup, a major tennis trophy first awarded in 1900, the Stanley Cup, given to National Hockey League champs (1894), and the World Cup, given since 1967 to top male and female alpine skiers, to name a few.
Today, trophies take many forms and are awarded as symbols of excellence and achievement in everything from athletics to corporate sales. Materials have changed as well, with the use of synthetics, lucite and crystal to create trophies with a lasting meaning. With the advent of computer technology, there’s unlimited creativity in the world of trophies, and their form and beauty will continue to evolve.
also see: trophies, custom pins and corporate awards
