στέφανος στέφᾰνος, ὁ, στέφω properly, that which surrounds, στ. πολέμοιο the circling crowd of fight, Il.; of the wall round a town, Pind.; καλλίπαις στ. a circle of fair children, Eur. a crown, wreath, garland, chaplet, Hes., etc.: esp. at the public games, a crown of victory, Pind., Hdt., etc.:— these prize-crowns were mostly of leaves, of κότινος at the Olympic games, δάφνη at the Pythian, σέλινον at the Nemean, κισσός or πίτυς at the Isthmian. generally, the meed of victory, the prize, victory, like Lat. palma, Soph.; στέφανον προτιθέναι to propose a prize, Thuc. generally, a crown of glory, an honour, glory, Inscr. ap. Hdt.:— a crown as a badge of office or distinction, Dem.