Origins of Trophies

Trophies stand for victory. They are not only a sign of success but also a sweet memory of achievement. It gives the beholder the drive to perform even better and encourages him or her. The trophies are thus created to represent the field of achievement of the person it will be presented to, like a trophy with the engraving of a car for an automobile racing event.

Historically, trophies denoted success against enemy troops and were built in the battlefield by the victor. The tradition began in Greece, where the weapons and arms of the defeated army were picked by victors and exhibited with battle description written on them. These were given to the deities for helping the army emerge victorious in the war. In fact the very term trophy is a derivative of the Greek word ‘tropaion’ which means ‘defeat’.

Romans had a different method of raising trophies to their successes. They erected tall pillars and columns that contained a sculpted trophy at the top for everyone to see and admire their victory. After sometime, the kings and emperors started distributing cups to the best performing athletes in the kingdom.

It takes a lot of effort to design a suitable trophy. Like any other artistic task, it entails considerable market study, needs assessment and comprehensive study of materials which can be used. Since trophies are souvenirs that are cherished by winners for a long time, they have to be not just stylish but also quite sturdy.

Nowadays, trophies are awarded for signifying all kinds of achievements, be it in sports, professional career or even for academic excellence. Trophies are found in a number of sizes and styles with various types of inscriptions. Over the years the traditional metal on a wooden stand design has morphed into glass, fibre, gold or silver frame, or crystal trophy. A number of stores sell trophies that are available in various shapes and styles, giving buyers a vast range to select from. The vast range of trophies available in the market has made the task of purchasing the right trophy a lot easier than it used to be.