But if you survived the rewards were amazing, hence why so many were eager to go for it.

It started with the Romans and continued in later eras.

The mural crown became an ancient Roman military decoration. The corona muralis (Latin for “walled crown") was a golden crown, or a circle of gold intended to resemble a battlement, bestowed upon the soldier who first climbed the wall of a besieged city or fortress to successfully place the standard (flag) of the attacking army upon it.[3][4] The Roman mural crown was made of gold, and decorated with turrets,[5] as is the heraldic version. As it was among the highest order of military decorations, it was not awarded to a claimant until after a strict investigation.[6] The rostrata mural crown, composed of the rostra indicative of captured ships, was assigned as naval prize to the first in a boarding party, similar to the naval crown.