TROPHY

(Yunanca köken — orijinale bakınız.) A monument consisting of some of the arms of slain enemies, hung upon the trunk of a tree, or a stone pillar, by a victorious army in token of its victory and the flight of the enemy; whence its name. Trophies were always dedicated to some deity, and especially to Jupiter, whence it was deemed sacrilegious for any one to injure or demolish them; while at the same time it was esteemed an equal crime to repair them when decayed. This custom was common to all the Greeks, except the Maced on i ans, who were forbidden to raise trophies by a law of one of their ancient kings. Perhaps the most celebrated trophies of ancient times were those of Marius at Rome, which were of marble, and were restored by Cajsar after their destruction by Sylla, contrary to all the usages of the times. (See as to Roman trophies, Mem. de IAc. des Inscr. xxiv. 32.) [s. 1278]