TROPHY, (Tropæum), among the ancients, a monument of victory. As the term, so the custom is of Greek original. At first it only consisted of the trunk of a tree, lopt of its branches, fixed in the earth on an eminence, and adorned with the armour taken from the enemy, (Virgil.) Afterwards the trophies were pillars of brass or stone; but such were in disrepute among the Greeks, as serving to perpetuate contention, which ought to be buried in oblivion, (Plutarch.) They were accounted inviolable; none was to remove or destroy them: but, if consumed by length of time, it was thought an invidious act and a renewal of grudge to restore them. On every trophy there was an inscription, setting forth the cause of the war, and manner of the victory; with an account of the spoils with which they were adorned. Some of the spoils taken from the enemy were also hung up in the temples; and these too were called trophies and anathemata, because suspended or hung up in view.