Pyrrhic victory Museum title: The Victory That Cost T oo Much

Type of proper name: anthroponym. Source: history and politics. Why precedent: Pyrrhus is not just a king: his name symbolises a victory that costs too much. Historical or cultural background: In 280–279 BC King Pyrrhus of Epirus fought the Romans in Italy . He won the battles, but his army lost many of its best soldiers and officers. According to the ancient writer Plutarch, Pyrrhus said that another victory like this would destroy him completely . Linguistic explanation: Modern figurative meaning: a victory that costs so much that it is almost the same as a defeat. Structural type: idiom (noun phrase). Cultural associations: the high price of success, loss hidden behind victory , war and politics. Modern example: The company won the lawsuit, but the legal costs almost ruined it. It was a real Pyrrhic victory.