Pyrrhussejr
Pyrrhussejr er et udtryk for en dyrekøbt sejr. En sejr med tab, der er større end fjendens. Udtrykket stammer fra kong Pyrrhus af Epirus. Pyrrhus vandt over romerne i Heraclea i 280 f.Kr. og Asculum i år 279 f.Kr. Men sejren kostede ham størstedelen af hans hær, mens romerne fik erstattet deres tab med nye rekrutter. Hvortil Pyrrhus konstaterede: "Sådan en sejr til og jeg er fortabt."
Udtrykket er tæt forbundet med et militært slag, men udtrykket bruges også som forretning, politik, lov eller sport til at beskrive enhver kamp, som ødelægger sejrherren. Fx "Fodboldholdet vandt en pyrrhussejr; de vandt kampen, men deres stjernespillere blev skadet."
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Title: The pyrrhic victory of the Mulligan guards in Maine
Abstract: Illustration shows James G. Blaine dressed as a knight, the plumes of his helmet labeled "Speakership Record, Mulligan Letters, [and] Credit Mobilier", he holds papers labeled "Aggressive Cash Campaign", and rests his left hand on the head of W.W. Phelps who is holding a sword and a battered shield labeled "Blaines Magnetism". Whitelaw Reid, wearing a paper hat, carries a standard that states "Moral Ideas," (crossed out) "Soap and Success!" Stephen B. Elkins presents a "Report" to John A. Logan and Blaine that states "Great Victory in Maine! Blaine Vindicated! Cost $265,000". Charles A. Dana sits in the lower right corner pouring "Personal Animosity" into cannonballs labeled "Personal Animosity, Spite, Mud Bombs, [and] Malice". Frederick Douglass holds a sign labeled "Mulligan Guards Blaine's Record" that appears to have drawn considerable enemy fire. On the left, "A.M. Clapp" turns his empty pockets inside out and George M. Robeson looks at an empty cash barrel. In the background, there is action at the "Whiskey Arsenal, Fort Cleveland, Polls, [and] Fort St. John", and casualties on the battlefield. Physical description: 1 print : chromolithograph.
Notes: Illus. from Puck, v. 16, no. 393, (1884 September 17), centerfold.; Caption: "Another victory like this and our money's gone!"; J. Keppler.; Copyright 1884 by Keppler & Schwarzmann.; Title from item.