Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Palma

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

PALMA (παλάμη). The palm of the hand; thence, from its resemblance, the broadest part or blade of an oar (ταρσός). Vitruv. x. 3. 6. Catull. 64. 7., and woodcuts s. PES and PRORETA.

2. (φοίνιξ). The palm tree (phoenix dactylifera), regarded amongst the ancients as an emblem of victory, in consequence of the great elasticity and power of resistance, without breaking, possessed by its wood. (Aul. Gell. iii. 6.) Hence it was frequently employed by sculptors and medalists to indicate the conquest of a province, as in the annexed example (Palma/2.1), from a medal of Trajan.

3. A palm branch, or, as we say, the palm of victory; for both the Greeks and Romans bestowed palm branches upon successful champions amongst the military combatants in the athletic games, or drivers in the race course (Liv. x. 49. Cic. Brut. 47. Hor. Od. iv. 2. 17.); hence, in works of art, wherever any object is seen with a palm branch upon it, or by its side, or a figure with one in the hand, it is implied that the object has been presented as a prize to some victor, and that the person so represented is himself the successful champion; as the annexed figure (Palma/3.1), from a statue representing a victorious driver in the Circus, who holds a palm branch in his right hand, and a purse of money containing the prize (brabeum, iselasticum) in his left.

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  Palma/2.1
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  Palma/3.1