in the Roman antiquity, a lesser triumph, allowed to commanders for victories won without the effusion of blood; or for defeating a mean and inconsiderable enemy. The show generally began at the Alban mountain, whence the general with his retinue OVATION

retinue made his entry into the city on foot, with many flutes or pipes sounding in concert as he passed along, and wearing a garland or myrtle as a token of peace. The term ovation, according to Servius, is derived from ovus, a "sheep;" because on this occasion the conqueror sacrificed a sheep, as in a triumph he sacrificed a bull. The senate, knights, and principal plebeians, assisted at the procession; which concluded at the Capitol, where rams were sacrificed to Jupiter. The first ovation was granted to Publius Posthumius the consul, for his victory over the Sabines in the 253d year of Rome.