Where does the phrase Pyrrhic victory come from?
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Where does the phrase Pyrrhic victory come from?
The Origins of ‘Pyrrhic Victory’ We define Pyrrhic victory as “a victory that is not worth winning because so much is lost to achieve it.” The word comes from the name of Pyrrhus, a long-ago king of Epirus, who suffered heavy losses in defeating the Romans at Asculum in Apulia in 279 B.C.E.
Is Pyrrhic victory Greek history?
The original Pyrrhic victory came courtesy of Pyrrhus of Epirus, a Greek king who was undone by his costly battles against the Romans. Pyrrhus first invaded Italy in 280 B.C. after allying himself with Tarentum, a Greek-speaking city that resented the Roman Republic’s increased domination over their homeland.
Was Vietnam a pyrrhic victory?
If pyrrhic victory had an antonym, it would describe a loss with dramatic yet unanticipated benefits, a victory disguised as defeat. This essay’s central assertion is the Vietnam War was a geopolitical victory for the United States. The war was a victory disguised as defeat.
What is another word for pyrrhic?
What is another word for pyrrhic?
| hollow | worthless |
|---|---|
| empty | futile |
| meaningless | useless |
| fruitless | pointless |
| unavailing | vain |
Was ww2 a Pyrrhic victory?
Also classified as a Pyrrhic victory is World War II on the Eastern Front, where the Soviet Union triumphed over Nazi Germany but lost more than 25 million people in the war, including 11 million troops killed compared to 4 million German and other Axis battle deaths.
Are Alexander and Pyrrhus related?
Early life. In c. 319 BC, Pyrrhus was born to prince Aeacides of Epirus, and Phthia, a Thessalian noblewoman, the daughter of the Thessalian general Menon. Aeacides was a cousin of Olympias, making Pyrrhus a second cousin to Alexander the Great.
What does pyrrhic mean?
Pyrrhic. adjective. Pyr·rhic | \ ˈpir-ik \ Definition of Pyrrhic (Entry 2 of 2) : achieved at excessive cost a Pyrrhic victory also : costly to the point of negating or outweighing expected benefits a great but Pyrrhic act of ingenuity.
How do you use pyrrhic?
Pyrrhic in a Sentence 🔉
- Though the new mayor should have been happy to have won the pyrrhic election, the damage on his reputation made the win seem worthless.
- The president-elect’s pyrrhic victory did so much damage to his party that many members wished for a loss.
