Grappling with definitions
Lauren Kinnee · 2018
This brief chapter addresses the most fundamental problem behind any examination of the trophy: how modern scholarship can meaningfully define the term in order to best study the ancient phenomenon. The chapter involves a discussion of basic tenets set forth by modern scholars, particularly in comparison with those of ancient authors. I argue that both Greek and Roman trophies are best defined by contemporary written and visual evidence, rather than by anachronistic texts from antiquity – such as Roman references to Greek practice – or even modern scholarship. The resulting definition is based primarily on contemporary textual descriptions of the trophy and representations or objects that match these descriptions. Ultimately, I call for a more conservative, yet flexible definition of the trophy than has been presented previously.