Trophies In History: How Awards and Trophies Have Changed In History
Since the dawn of civilization, there have been celebrations of life and accomplishment. To mark these celebrations, we make trophies.
The history of trophies is a long way, dating back to ancient civilizations like the Greeks. They have come in many sizes and their traditions inspire the modern making of them today.
Let's travel along with the history of trophies and see how far we have come.
Understanding the History of Trophies
The concept of trophies is a wide idea. A trophy could take any form and could represent any achievement you can think of. Over the course of history, trophies had a number of different styles.
While we know well the styles of modern trophies, from trophy cups to plaques. Older trophies had a wider variety of shapes, often due to the area's resources and the event.
The Trophies Through the Ages
This past century has seen a rise in popularity with awards. Every sporting championship has one, dozens of awards come at annual awards festivals like the Oscars or the Emmys.
What kind of awards did we give away beyond this last century? What kind of events showcased them and what kind of impact did they have?
Let's start from the beginning.
- Ancient Examples
As with many things in western civilization, it starts with the Ancient Greeks.
Following a major battle, returning troops would build monumental trophies out of the discarded weapons and armour of defeated enemies. They would build this structure to resemble a warrior and dedicate it to the gods.
The Olympic Games are one of the most famous competitions in world history. The award given to the winner was a simple twisted olive branch crown.
While this crown seems too simple to be prestigious, there were no prizes to the runner ups and the athlete who wore it became a symbol of status.
Rome continued many of these traditions. As well, the Romans had a love for large decorative columns and statues.
- The Middle Ages
While the period is often known for its plagues, brutal kings, and knights, it was also the birthplace of the trophy cup.
This is the period of many tournaments and sporting events, from jousting to archery. They were often important pieces of culture that kept people united against dangers abroad.
Today we still use a lot of their trophy designs, such as the chalice trophy cup.
- Modern Day Trophies
The modern era of awards takes a lot of ideas from the past, and the spirit of competition has always been a powerful motivator to award those who achieve greatness.
While there are no monuments made out of fallen enemy arms and armour, the military has a great number of medals for bravery and combat expertise.
The Olympic Games continue to this day. While the runner ups get their own trophy, the prestige of the gold medal is still felt in the same vein as the olive branch crown of old.
The Stanley cup and others carry on the history of the chalice awards. Sporting championships the world over unite people in the spirit of competition.
The Recognition of Our Successes
It doesn't take a lot for people to find a good use for a well-made trophy. With so many competitions, rankings, and moments to award, trophies always find a place in our society.
When you are looking for well-made trophies for any occasion, we here at Trophies Plus Medals are here to help. We have a massive array of options with plenty of customization. Contact us today for more information!
