Troy and USC

By the early twentieth century, the figure of the Trojan occupied a powerful place in American cultural imagination. Phrases such as “fighting like a Trojan” and “working like a Trojan” were widely used to describe perseverance, courage, and endurance in the face of adversity. These expressions, drawn from classical mythology but firmly embedded in everyday American discourse, helped transform Troy from an ancient city into a symbolic shorthand for moral strength and determination. It was within this cultural environment that the University of Southern California adopted the Trojan as its central institutional image.

USC’s association with the Trojan image emerged around 1912, a period when the university was striving to define itself as a serious academic institution on the national stage. Previously, the university's teams were called the Methodists or Wesleyans (reflecting the school's religious roots) and the school's Athletic Director, Warren Bovard, decided it was time for a change. At the time, classical symbolism was commonly employed by American universities during this era to convey legitimacy, tradition, and intellectual rigor. While the Trojan image is often attributed to sportswriter Owen Bird, the precise origins of its adoption remain uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the Trojan was not chosen as a mascot in the strict sense (USC’s official mascot is Traveler the horse) but rather as an image representing the character and values the university sought to project.

The Trojan image at USC drew directly on the cultural meaning already embedded in popular language. To “fight like a Trojan” suggested resilience under pressure; to “work like a Trojan” implied tireless effort and commitment. These associations aligned closely with the university’s aspirations for its students and athletic teams, particularly as USC sought recognition beyond the West Coast. By invoking the Trojan, the university positioned itself as an institution defined not simply by victory, but by perseverance, honor, and collective strength.

Over time, Trojan imagery became deeply integrated into USC’s visual and architectural identity. Symbols such as the Trojan Column and campus statues of Tommy Trojan and Hecuba reinforce classical associations, embedding the Trojan image into the physical landscape of the university. This process mirrors how museums, including the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, present ancient artifacts to connect the past with modern narratives. Just as Schliemann’s Trojan artifacts are displayed as evidence of both ancient history and modern interpretation, USC’s Trojan imagery reflects a deliberate reimagining of antiquity to serve contemporary institutional goals.

Today, the Trojan image continues to function as a unifying symbol at USC. It represents academic perseverance, school spirit, and resilience in the face of challenge—values that extend beyond athletics into student life and scholarship. Although the precise moment and individual responsible for adopting the Trojan image may remain ambiguous, its meaning has been shaped over more than a century of use. In this way, USC’s Trojan identity demonstrates how ancient symbols endure not because of historical certainty, but because of their continued relevance and adaptability in modern cultural contexts.