Today trophies are awarded for a variety of reasons; from academic achievement, sporting events and to recognise employers or employees. A trophy is a sign of recognition for the recipient and something they can keep as a permanent reminder. They could be inexpensive, made from plastic and wood given to every participant in your child's soccer team, or they are able to also be considered a treasure to truly aspire to, such as for example an Olympic medal or a thing that has been passed down over many years, like the America's Cup, a sailing trophy.
The history of trophies extends back to ancient times. Produced from the French word 'trophee' in 1513, this means "a spoil or prize of war", trophies also date back again to ancient Greece. Through victory in battle the Greeks would create trophies from the captured arms, and hang these on a tree or stake on the battlefield. The details of the battle were written on the arms and dedicated to the gods. Trophies were created out of entire ships following naval battles, which were organized on the beach. In Rome trophies were formed of their architecture, memorials that included columns and archways. Records of cups awarded in the late 1600s exist, although there is little known concerning the existence of trophies given through the center Ages. A particular cup called the Kyp Cup was awarded in 1699 for a brief horse race between two New England towns.
The initial Olympic games in ancient Greece didn't award medals. Instead their trophies consisted of an olive branch made into a crown and only the winner was recognised. The first modern Olympic games held in 1896 awarded silver medals. Today, of course, medals are awarded in gold, silver and bronze.
There are plenty of famous sporting trophies awarded today. Go to the website of these include:
FIFA World Cup
The current trophy has been awarded since 1974, although the competition has been held since 1930. It's the world's most widely watched tournament and held within a host nation every four years. The senior men's teams from 32 nations compete over per month, a position they need to qualify for on the three years before it.
Davis Cup
A major tennis trophy, this was first awarded in 1900. With a century of tradition the cup was donated by a Harvard student named Dwight Filley Davis and crafted by Rowland Rhodes in New England. This beautiful silver trophy may be the only original major sporting cup to have lasted a century.
The Melbourne Cup
This stunning 18 carat gold trophy is recognised the world over, and is valued at $125,000. The race has been run since 1861 but today's design was created for the 1919 Melbourne Cup by James Steeth. Today the same processes are still used to generate it, where 34 individual pieces of gold are hand beaten over 200 hours.
Wimbledon
Two beautiful trophies are awarded at the oldest tennis tournament in the world, one which continues to be played on grass, the original tennis playing surface. The Gentlemen's singles winner is awarded a silver gilt cup that was first given in 1887. The winner of the Ladies singles receives a big silver dish know as the 'Venus Rosewater Dish', that is decorated with mythological figures.
Other famous cups are the Borg-Warner Trophy for the Indianapolis 500 champion; the Bledisloe Cup, an annual award for the winner of the Rugby Union between Australia and New Zealand; The Ashes, awarded to the winner of the cricket test series between Australian and England; the America's Cup for sailing and the AFL Premiership Cup.