Winged Victory of Samothrace
conceptThe monumental marble sculpture of Nike alighting on a ship's prow, created around 190 BC and now the most visited sculpture in the Louvre after the Venus de Milo.
The Myth
The Winged Victory of Samothrace depicts Nike, the goddess of victory, landing on the prow of a warship. Carved from Parian marble around 190 BC, it was erected in the sanctuary of the Great Gods on the island of Samothrace, possibly by the Rhodians to celebrate a naval victory. The figure stands over 5 metres tall including its base. Nike's wings are spread in triumph, her drapery pressed against her body by sea wind, revealing her form beneath. The sculpture was discovered in 1863 by Charles Champoiseau, the French vice-consul, and shipped to Paris in fragments. The right wing is a plaster reconstruction; the head and arms have never been found. The statue was placed at the top of the Daru Staircase in the Louvre, where its dramatic position recreates the impact of seeing victory descend from the sky — the same effect the original achieved in its hilltop sanctuary overlooking the Aegean.
Parents
Nike (goddess)
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Nike sportswear brand was named directly after this goddess, and the "swoosh" logo represents her wing. Phil Knight paid a design student $35 for the swoosh in 1971 — making it the cheapest licensing of a 2,200-year-old goddess in commercial history. Nike, Inc. is now worth over $100 billion, meaning the winged goddess of Samothrace is arguably the most commercially valuable figure in Greek mythology, beating out every hero, god, and monster.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
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