Nike (mythology)

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This article is about the Greek Goddess. For sports apparel and equipment company, see Nike, Inc..

In Greek mythology, Nike (Greek Νίκη pronounced [níːkɛː], meaning Victory), was a goddess who personified triumph throughout the ages of the ancient Greek culture. Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of Pallas (Titan) and Styx (Water), and the sister of Kratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and of Zelus (Rivalry). Nike and her siblings all became described as attendants of Zeus when his cult gained the position of the dominant deity of the Greek pantheon and the roles of older deities were changed in new myths. According to classical (later) myth, Styx brought them to Zeus when the god was assembling allies for the Titan War against the older deities. Nike assumed the role of the divine charioteer, a role in which she often is portrayed in Classical Greek art. Her Roman counterpart is Victoria. Nike is seen with wings in most statues and paintings. Most other winged deities in the Greek pantheon had shed their wings by Classical times. Nike is the goddess of strength, speed, and victory. Nike was a very close acquaintance with Athenes goddess of war^[1]

1 Worship
2 Miscellaneous
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Worship

Second century AD copy of the head of Nike - original by Paionios, 5th century BC.

Nike acroterion from the Temple of Artemis, Epidaurus, late 4th century BC.

Reconstruction of Nike standing in the hand of the gigantic statue of Athena in the Parthenon.

Temples also were used as banks and could store coins for safekeeping. The great statue of Athena Parthenos in the Parthenon in Athens is thought to have depicted Nike standing in the hand of the gigantic statue. This Nike statue was made of solid gold, which was (along with the gold plating of the Parthenos statue) the Athenian state's official gold deposit in the form of a "sacred treasury".

The Parthenon complex also included a Temple of Athena Nike, built around 420 BC. The Athenians dedicated a statue to Nike at Delphi also. The statue of Zeus at Olympia reportedly depicted Nike as well. On occasions, Athena was depicted with Nike's attributes. According to Pausanias, the statue of Athena Nike depicted a wingless Nike ("Nike Apteros"), supposedly so that the statue could never leave the city of Athens.

The Temple of Athena Nike has provided one of the most famous surviving depiction of the goddess, Nike unfastening her sandal ("Nike Slancio"), which originally was part of the temple parapet. This statue is now on display in the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Another Nike statue, the headless Winged Victory of Samothrace, is featured in the Louvre. Nike also is depicted standing in the hand of another statue of Athena in the temple of Zeus in Malaki. A figure of Nike with a vessel was the design of the first FIFA World Cup trophy known also like Jules Rimet trophy.

Since 1928 Summer Olympics the obverse face of every Olympic medal Nike's figure appears holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right.