Myrtle Crown, Oval Garland

Latin: Ovalis Corona

A garland given to those who were victorious at the Julian games, instituted by the Thebans in memory of their hero Jolaus near his tomb and, consequently, considered a mournful garland. The Romans bestowed the same sort of garland on their generals for what was termed a lesser triumph, whereby they had vanquished their enemies without bloodshed or surprised some place of importance without striking a blow; and also upon those who had subdued slaves or pirates, not reckoned worthy of Roman valour, and therefore undeserving a triumph.

The circumstances by which it was distinguished from the more imposing solemnity (Triumphus) were the following: The general did not enter the city in a chariot drawn by four horses, but on foot; he was not arrayed in the gorgeous gold embroidered robe, but in the simple toga praetexta of a magistrate ; his brows were encircled with a wreath not of laurel but of myrtle; he bore no sceptre in his hand; the procession was not heralded by trumpets, headed by the senate and thronged with victorious troops, but was enlivened by a crowd of flute players, attended chiefly by knights and plebeians frequently without soldiers; and the ceremonies were concluded by the sacrifice not of a bull but of a sheep.

See Crown