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The Conversation USA

What's a laureate? A classicist explains the word's roots in Ancient Greek victors winning crowns of laurel leaves

  • Written by Joel Christensen, Professor of Classical Studies, Brandeis University
imageLaurel was an ancient symbol of medicine, the arts and the end of war.naphtalina/E+ via Getty Images

When the Nobel Prizes are handed out each year, honorees each receive a medal and monetary prize. Even in the absence of these material goods, the honor of being a Nobel laureate persists as part of someone’s name or title, like a heroic...

Read more: What's a laureate? A classicist explains the word's roots in Ancient Greek victors winning crowns...

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