From Ancient Drinking Vessel to Modern Olympic Trophy: The Semiotic Metamorphosis of the "Spyridon Louis/Ioannis Lambros" Cup

Christina Mitsopoulou On March 30, 1896, the frontpage of the journal Hestia (Εστία) was graced with a facsimile drawing of a black-figured ancient drinking vase (skyphos), ornated on both sides by a scene of two nude runners and a draped referee (Anonymous 1896, p. 1). The caption read (Fig. 1): ΤΟ ΔΩΡΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΜΑΡΑΘΩΝΟΔΡΟΜΟΥ = THE PRESENT FOR THE MARATHON RUNNER Ancient vase donated by Mr. I. P. Lambros The vase, dated erroneously to the 4th century BC, was reportedly discovered in a tomb in ...