Capitalising on Victory: a qualitative analysis of the symbolic purposes behind Greek and Roman trophies

Abstract

A common tradition in Ancient Greece and Rome was celebrating victory in battle by raising a trophy. Initially of temporary nature, permanent versions of these mannequin-esque trophies were eventually constructed to commemorate especially important victories. These permanent trophies were laden with different symbolic purposes and meanings, conferred upon them by the agents behind their construction. Greek and Roman victory trophies were similar while also being a world apart. These public monuments were raised by individuals and collectives alike, with intentions and functions varying based on a myriad of factors. In my dissertation, I explore the symbolic purposes and usages of the victory trophies through the theoretical lenses of collective memory and symbolic capital. When navigating the storied field of Classical Archaeology there exists a plethora of theoretical frameworks to choose from. Employing my selected theoretical frameworks to investigate the trophies will allow for potent and nuanced analyses. Using qualitative case studies, I aim to identify notable differences or similarities in the trophies’ symbolic purposes based on whether they were raised by Greeks or Romans.