How did the Ancient Romans manage triumph? Did they let it get to their head? Such a weird question isn’t it?
No, because they actually had a process around it. The process was such, that a victorious general or commander could only enter his home city during a special parade. All the loot and plunder and slaves would be displayed amid great pomp and show.
Bringing up the end of the parade, would be the victorious commander, riding in a chariot.
However, he would not be alone. He would be accompanied in the chariot by an auriga, a slave.
This auriga’s only role during this lavish cavalcade? To continuously whisper the title phrase into the commander’s ears.
“Memento mori, memento mori, memento mori, memento mori…”
“Remember you are mortal, remember you are mortal, remember you are mortal, remember you are mortal…”
What a lesson to be reminded of, at the peak of one’s glory!
And then there are some who gloat, even without achieving any glory… <facepalm>