I. Lit., a sign and memorial of victory, a trophy; orig. a trunk of a tree, on which were fixed the arms, shields, helmets, etc., taken from the enemy; “afterwards made of stone and ornamented in the same manner,” Cic. Pis. 38, 92: “statuere,” id. Inv. 2, 23, 69: “devictis Hispanis tropaea in jugis constituit,” Sall. H. 4, 29 Dietsch: “in modum tropaeorum arma imposuit,” Tac. A. 2, 18 fin.: “sistere Romae tropaea de Parthis,” id. ib. 15, 18; Suet. Caes. 11; id. Claud. 1; id. Calig. 45; Verg. A. 11, 7; Val. Fl. 4, 379; Val. Max. 6, 1, ext. 3; 2, 2, 3.—
II. Transf.
A. A victory: “nova Cantemus Augusti tropaea Caesaris,” Hor. C. 2, 9, 19: “tulit e capto nota tropaea viro,” Ov. H. 9, 104; 17, 242; id. R. Am. 158: “victoria, quae cum Marathonio possit compararitropaeo,” Nep. Them. 5, 3; cf.: “nostra sunt tropaea, nostra monimenta, nostri triumphi,” Cic. Arch. 9, 21; Val. Max. 8, 14, ext. 1. —
B. A mark, token, sign, memorial, monument: “tropaeum necessitudinis atque hospitii,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 47, § 115: “Maecenatis erunt vera tropaea fides,” Prop. 3, 9 (4, 8), 34.
