Nike of Samothrace
A monumental winged marble sculpture of Nike, the goddess of victory, carved around 190 BCE and displayed at the Louvre since 1884
The Meaning of Nike of Samothrace
The Winged Victory of Samothrace was discovered in 1863 by Charles Champoiseau, the French vice-consul, on the island of Samothrace in the northern Aegean. The statue depicts Nike, the divine personification of victory, alighting on the prow of a warship. Her wings are spread wide, her drapery pressed against her body by an invisible wind, creating one of the most dynamic compositions in all of ancient art. The sculpture was carved from Parian marble and originally stood in an open-air sanctuary overlooking a theatre on Samothrace, probably commemorating a naval victory. Scholars have proposed various patrons, including the Rhodians after their defeat of Antiochus III around 190 BCE. The figure stands nearly three metres tall and originally occupied a reflecting pool that enhanced the illusion of a ship cutting through waves. Despite missing her head and arms, the Nike of Samothrace remains one of the supreme achievements of Hellenistic sculpture, commanding the grand staircase of the Louvre.
Parents
None recorded
Symbols
Fun Fact
The modern sportswear brand Nike takes both its name and its swoosh logo from this ancient Greek goddess of victory
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
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