OVATION (

See also:

• LAT

Lat. ovatio)  , a minor form of Roman " triumph." It was awarded either when the campaign, though victorious, had not. been important enough for the higher honour; when the war was not entirely put an end to; when it had been waged with unworthy foes; or when the general was not of rank sufficient to give him the right to a triumph . The ceremonial was on the whole similar in the two cases, but in an ovation the general walked or more commonly rode on horseback, wore a simple magisterial robe, carried no sceptre and wore a wreath of myrtle instead of laurel . Instead of a bull, a sheep was sacrificed at the conclusion of the ceremony . The word is not, however, derived from ovis, sheep, but probably means " shouting " (cp. auto) as a sign of rejoicing .