WMC 2014 > Tournament > Cups
The following is an incomplete but illustrative list of the trophies that honour those half-gods who have been proven to be courageous and worthy of them while playing on the field...or doing random other things that deserve some kind of reward. The prizes are sorted after their first certain appearance during a tournament, so the order is intended to be chronological, but not necessarily accurate thus far. Remember, a passionate fan's corner equals any victory in a sports game.
It's on! And you've got more than enough time to prepare.
Note: The trophies marked with a * won't appear in the WMC 2014. If you have any images of a trophy that may help completing our list, please send them to us! Suggestions and criticism is welcome as well. You can contact us via orgawinckelmanncup2014[äd]gmail.com!
WINCKELMANN CUP
Since 1991 Winning condition: Well, d'uh. After being held hostage by the Austrians for several years, the cup mysteriously went to Germany for a good while. Some day, Switzerland decided that it would be safer to keep it in one of its top secret vaults, yet just before it was about to transform to cheese (that's the state in which everything ends up in Switzerland), it was finally released in the wilderness, freed from the almost unbearable burden that is known as the German language. The original trophy was abducted by a higher power around the millenial turn, leaving behind neither witnesses nor clues to trace its whereabouts. It was replaced by a monumental pea conserve which was succeeded by an Athena stele in 2001. The current tropaeum ligneum is awarded since 2006 and already travelled through many different European countries (after the cup had resided in Berlin for 7 consecutive years, Team Spartacus probably felt a little sorry - and rightly so), including Wales, Italy and the Czech Republic. |
USCHI CUP
Since 1991 Winning condition: The most attractive male players Endowed in Arloff near Bonn by a local hostess named Uschi to honour the most masculine team in an appropriate manner. Among the laureates have been players from Wales, Italy, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Wales got it two times, hitherto indicating that Zeus prefers Welsh women over others whenever he is in need of a son who can accomplish seemingly impossible tasks, for some inexplicable reason. |
COPPA ARCHAEOL
Since 1997 Winning condition: Getting the bottom position on the ladder The history of this handsome award goes back to protopedifolic times, aka the late 1980s. Intended as the main prize's logical counterpart, its main purpose is to evoke the olympic spirit that the WMC attempts to convey. According to legend it was once meant to distinguish the best German team exclusively (thankfully, just a legend). The ladies from Andromeda Weyertal (Cologne) gained this trophy in 2011 and 2012 but the folks of the DASV have managed to win it last year - neglecting several physical laws of nature. |
ATHENA STELE*
2001-2005 Winning condition: former main prize (stele with depiction of Athena and list of winners ) Following the loss of the main prize's trophy whose appearance served as a namesake for this one and the short intermezzo which relied on pea conserves, the Hephaistoi of Göttingen forged this object out of nothing but the remains of J. J. Winckelmann's skull. 500 underpaid research assistants were needed to carefully assemble each part. It was an incredibly demanding and painful task - but, oh boy, the final result speaks for itself. The titulus honorarius carries the names of former winners from 2001 to 2005 on its back and didn't get updated after the third victory of the angry football slaves from Spartacus Berlin (to prevent them from rioting, obviously). |
NEBRA DISC
Since 2005 Winning condition: Special prize given to the proximate tournament host In the first years it was common to let the winners host the next tournament. In compliance with Ancient Roman tradition, an optimus munerarius for the following year is appointed by the senatus populusque archaeologicorum during the award ceremony. Currently, the sky disc graces the sacred temple of Küpperstift in Cologne. |
WILLEM CUP
Since 2006 Winning condition: The most attractive female players The WMC's role in the fight for woman's equality in football has been underestimated ever since the tournament came into existence, but it will take some time until renowned historians acknowledge this fact (one wonders, do they ever acknowledge archaeological evidence at all?), even though it's blatantly obvious to anyone who took part in the tournament at one time or another. Well, football history books won't be rewritten any time soon, but the drop dead beautiful she-wolves from Hamburg and Cologne are nonetheless proud of their well-deserved trophies, and both got it twice. Bottom line: Archaeology is sexy (in Cologne and Hamburg at least), whereas chemistry, philosophy, law, political science and maths are intolerant and backward-looking |
JABBA THE CUP
Since 2007 Winning Condition: The best fans The best fan's corner has been prized ever since the cup in Kiel. It appears like the loudest and most creative supporters have usually been from Germany – considering that German archaeologists of all people ought to be wary enough of the past, that's kind of remarkable and a little frightening too, isn't it? |
WINCKY CUP
Since 2007 Winning Condition: The smallest team Another trophy which was newly created in 2007 is meant to savour the smallest team. No surprise the award reserved for underdogs looks so tiny and fragile you can barely see it without a microscope (a visual representation can be found on the left). |
FED CUP GOETTINGEN
Since 2007 Winning Condition: The best amateur team The trinity of awards newly created in Kiel is perfected by the brave Euergeten vom Schwarzen Stern Göttingen: The trophy aspired quickly to become one of the most desired and fiercely embattled awards, with the Teutonic hordes turning out to be rather professional at that. Speaking of professional, see „Jabba the Cup“ for the damning implications this particular winning streak might signify for German archaeologists and the rest of the world, unless it's just Kiel having suffered from a justified minority complex in 2007. |
GAY AWARD*
2007 Winning condition: Special award for the most homosexual name The Leipziger Latène Lovers were handed over this award in 2007 thanks to their unusual name that clearly was beyond some classical archaeologists' comprehension. In the following year they showed up with pink jerseys and pink toilet paper. Even someone with a reputation of being as flamboyant as Rudolph Valentino would have ended up rather confused after having witnessed this spectacle. |
BEST PLAYER
Since 2008 Winning condition: Neglecting your archaeological studies in favour of pursuing a sports career You're frustrated because everyone, EVERYONE!!!!1111!!! in your team sucks - besides yourself, right? No problem, here's an award to commend the best individual players, regardless if male or female. |
BEST GOALIE
Since 2008 Winning condition: Award for the best goalie Those tall players who are good at standing between two poles, awkwardly jumping and stretching their arms from time to time and being able to think of nothing but left and right for at least 30 minutes, those downright enviable players have a chance to win this prize all too effortlessly, at least that's what one is inclined to think whenever there's a chance to watch these ineffable towers of fear at work. |
FROG CUP*
Since 2008 Winning condition: Special award for the oldest players Before Gerousia became a regular participant of the WMC in Kemmern, the committee awarded Martin Gojda („We aren't football fans, we're geriatric holligans!“) with a special award for his auctoritas as the oldest active combatant. |
DEMOLITION TROPHY
Since 2009 Winning condition: Award for the best tent camp Many participants occupy tents that could best be described as impressive, creative our adventurous. The credit for the introduction of this award goes to Bamberg. If all three qualities are evident in the construction of your team's papiliones or tabernacula, congratulations! Let's hope the sky won't fall on your head, by Toutatis! |
TROUBLESHOOTER AWARD
Since 2009 Winning condition: Award for a successful arrival against all odds The team whose journey resembled the plot of a random book by Jules Verne in the most striking way (or certain books by H. G. Wells, J. R. R. Tolkien, Pierre Boulle, Douglas Adams and Hunter S. Thompson for that matter...or, um, the Odyssey). |
KIEL'S NORTH CUP
Since 2010 Winning Condition: Being a team from a place close to the geographical North Pole (except from Kiel) The so called North Cup has ignited some controversy, since there's no award yet which explicitly honours the team that had to undertake the longest journey. It's safe to assume that Eurocentrism played a role as well. |
SOLIDARITY PRIZE
Since 2011 Winning condition: The team that has proven to be most solidary toward the host As the tournament continued to grow, so did the hosts' need for voluntary helpers. Since the cup in Berlin the legiones adiutrices get the recognition and love they were all secretly longing for their whole life. |
LIGHTHOUSE CUP*
Since 2012 Winning Condition: Special award for the youngest player The 5-year-old Knut, not to be confused with the late, then 6-year-old polar bear from Berlin, caused Gießen to hand over this award to the youngest participant. |
LOCAL CUP
Since 2013 Winning Condition: For the team that best uphelds the local traditions The newest award is a sacrifice to the genius loci, for doing the things that are typical in the host's region, or adapting to its common stereotypes in an exceptional way. No wonder it was created in Munich, where the evolutionary adaptability was investigated, measured and rated by finding out the best team at stemming beer mugs. |
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