Ancient Greek goddess Nike. Nike - goddess of victory Ancient Greek goddess Nike

As a henchwoman of victory, she accompanies Athena Parthenos, the representative of the world's highest all-conquering power. In Roman mythology, she corresponds to the goddess Victoria.

As a symbol of a successful result, a happy outcome, Nika participates in all military enterprises, in gymnastic and musical competitions, in all religious celebrations celebrated on the occasion of success. She is always depicted winged or in a pose of rapid movement above the ground; her attributes are a headband and a wreath, and later also a palm tree; next - weapons and trophy. For sculptors, Nike either participates in the festival during a sacrifice, or is a messenger of victory, with the attribute of Hermes - a staff. She either affectionately nods her head to the winner, then hovers over him, crowning his head, then leads his chariot, then slaughters a sacrificial animal, then makes a trophy out of enemy weapons (on the balustrade of the Temple of Athena Nike in Athens). The statue of Nike accompanied the statues of Olympian Zeus and Athena Parthenos.

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• // Small Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 4 volumes - St. Petersburg. , 1907-1909.

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Excerpt characterizing Nick (mythology)

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It is perhaps difficult today to meet a person who knows nothing about ancient Greek mythology and the gods mentioned in it. We encounter the inhabitants of Olympus on the pages of books, in cartoons and in full-length films. Today the heroine of our story will be the winged goddess Nike. We invite you to get to know this inhabitant of Ancient Olympus better.

Goddess Nike: description

In ancient Greek mythology, her name sounds the same as "Nike". She represents the goddess of victory and is the daughter of the Titan Pallant and the monstrous creature Styx, personifying primal horror. Nike was raised together with one of the most revered goddesses of war and wisdom in ancient Greek mythology - Athena. She was an ally of the great Zeus in his fight against giants and titans. Nike accompanies Athena everywhere, helping her in her affairs. By the way, in Roman mythology Victoria corresponds to her.

What does Nika symbolize?

This goddess is the personification of a happy outcome and a positive result in any matter. Nika takes part not only in military operations, but also in sports, musical and religious events organized on the occasion of success. We can say that Nike rather symbolized the very fact of a complete victory, rather than any actions and steps that led to it.

Goddess image

Most often, this heroine of ancient Greek mythology is depicted with wings and in a pose of rapid movement above the surface of the earth. Nika's integral attributes are a headband and a wreath. Later they were joined by a palm tree, as well as a trophy and weapons. Sculptors, as a rule, depicted this goddess as a participant in a festival or sacrifice ritual, or as a messenger of victory. She most often has an attribute of Hermes - a staff. The goddess of victory, Nike, either appears tenderly nodding her head to the winner, or hovers weightlessly over him, as if crowning his head, or controls his chariot, or slaughters an animal during a sacrifice, or constructs a trophy from the weapons of a defeated enemy. Her sculptures are almost always accompanied by sculptures of the great Zeus and Pallas Athena. In them Nika is depicted in the hand of more significant

An asteroid discovered in 1891 was named in honor of Nika. Also the XXXIII Orphic hymn is dedicated to the winged goddess of victory. In addition, her name was taken as the basis for creating the name of the American sports brand Nike.

Temple of Nike Apteros

The structure is located on a steep hill on the right side of the central entrance (Propylaea). Here, local residents worshiped the goddess in the hope that she would contribute to a positive outcome in the long war against the Spartans and their allies.

Unlike the Acropolis itself, which could only be entered through the central entrance, the sanctuary of the winged goddess was accessible. This temple was built by a famous ancient Roman architect named Callicrates between 427 and 424 BC. Previously, this site was the site of a sanctuary of Athena, which was destroyed by the Persians around 480 BC. The building is an amphiprostyle - a type of temple in Ancient Greece, with four columns arranged in a single row on both the front and rear facades. The stylobate of the structure consists of three steps. The friezes are decorated with sculptural reliefs depicting Zeus, Poseidon and Athena, as well as scenes of military battles. The originals of the surviving fragments of these decorations are today stored in the Greek temple, but only copies can be seen.

Like most of the Acropolis structures, the Temple of Nike was built from Pentelicon marble. A few years after its completion, the building was surrounded by a parapet in order to protect people from possible falls from a high cliff. Inside the temple there was a statue of Nike. In one hand she held a helmet (a symbol of war), and in the other a pomegranate (a sign of fertility). Unlike most accepted depictions, the statue did not have wings. This was done on purpose - so that victory would never leave the city walls. Actually, that’s why the building was called the temple of Nike Asperos, that is, wingless victory.

Nike of Samothrace

This sculpture is another image of the Olympian goddess that has come down to us from ancient times. Its fragments, more than 200 pieces, were brought to Paris from Greece by archaeologist Charles Champoiseau in 1863. Thanks to the painstaking work and efforts of restorers, a magnificent statue was revived from them. Despite the fact that the goddess Nike was deprived of arms and head, as well as one wing (which was ultimately made of plaster), she captivated all art connoisseurs and has been one of the most valuable exhibits of the Louvre for many decades.

The ancient Greek goddess Nike is the personification of victory. Nike is the daughter of the goddess of the underground river Styx and the titan Pallas. Nike, in accordance with Arcadian legends, was raised together with the goddess of just war and wisdom, Athena.

Goddess Nike in the mythology of Ancient Greece

In accordance with the myths of Ancient Greece, Nike fought on the side of the latter in the battle with the Titans against the Olympians (the Olympians are the young generation of gods, descendants of Rhea and Kronus), for which she was exalted by the almighty thunderer Zeus himself. Ancient Greek sculptors and artists associated the image of the goddess of victory with Zeus; quite often one could see an image of the Thunderer holding Nike in his hands, or a statue of the goddess next to the statue of Zeus.

In ancient times, there was a custom to install the figure of the goddess of victory Nike on the bow of the ship. This promised the sailors good luck on their journey.

Attributes of the Goddess of Victory

The main attributes of the goddess of victory are a palm branch (among the ancient Greeks a symbol of primacy), a victorious wreath, a trophy and weapons.

Initially, the goddess Nike was a symbol of the happy outcome of military battles; later she began to symbolize not only victory in battles, but also in various types of competitions. Statues of the goddess Nike were erected in honor of victories in wars, sports, artistic and musical competitions. She was depicted as a young girl descending from heaven, with large wings visible behind her shoulders. The wings symbolized that victory was far from permanent and the palm could end up in the hands of one or the other opponent.

Residents of ancient Athens portrayed Nike as devoid of wings, believing that the wingless goddess of victory would not be able to leave their city and would remain here forever. The ancient Athenians erected a temple on a rock ledge in honor of the goddess Nike.

Nike is the goddess of victory, the winged patroness of triumph and the eternal companion of battles. Daughter of a titan and the most influential oceanid among thousands of others. Nika was accompanied not only by bloody battles. Wars on the battlefield, Olympic participants and people of art equally needed her patronage. She was always present where the spirit of competition and inevitable victory was in the air. The beautiful goddess Nike will be discussed in our article today.

Story

According to the legend, the parents of the goddess Nike were the fearless giant Pallas and the unpredictable oceanid Styx, the mistress of the river of the same name. Her name personified the monster and was the embodiment of primitive horror. Once, during the battle of the Olympian gods with the titans, Styx quickly went over to the side of the gods and asked for help from her children Kratos (strength), Zelos (anger), Bia (violence) and Nike (triumph). It was Nike who sided with Zeus, ensuring his victory and omnipotence. In gratitude, he elevated her to Olympus, making her a devoted companion and right hand. Even the greatest ancient Greek sculptor Phidias, when creating his famous creation, Olympian Zeus, placed a figurine of the goddess in the thunderer’s hand. Many manuscripts mentioned that Nike spent her childhood with the daughter of Zeus, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and just war.

What did the goddess patronize?

The goddess Nike, carrying victory on her wings, patronized any battles and competitions. Olympics, music and drama competitions, military battles - every warrior or contestant hoped for Nika’s grace, because she was a symbol of successful results and triumph.

Image

The goddess Nike has always been represented in a state of flight. Her gaze is directed upward, and her wings are spread wide. This gave the fighters a feeling of victory and confidence. Often the patroness of triumph held in her hands a weapon of battle taken from the enemy and an olive wreath. Later she began to be depicted with the staff of Hermes. It was believed that the deities are similar, both of them are messengers of the gods and harbingers of fateful events. Also, the face of the deity was often visualized accepting gifts from the winners or hovering above their chariot.

The most famous sculptural image of the goddess is the statue of the Nike of Samothrace. The marble masterpiece has survived to this day, partially preserved, without the head and hands. The beautiful and majestic figure of the goddess towered on the rocky shore of the island of Samothrace, washed by the sea. During long studies, it was established that the goddess Nike stood on a pedestal resembling the stern of a ship and blew a horn, proclaiming a solemn victory. A great admirer of the goddess, who carries victory on her wings, was the commander Alexander the Great. He dedicated every battle to her, built temples and did not skimp on gifts. It was Macedonian who initiated the tradition of awarding the winner with an olive wreath in honor of the goddess.

Goddess Nike in Greece

Among the ancient Greeks, it was customary to call the goddess Nike. The temple of Nike Apteros was located next to the temple of her eternal companion and friend Athena, in the city of the same name. There is a legend that the Athenians considered victory too unpredictable; at any moment it could fly to the side of the enemy, so they took Nike’s wings and worshiped the now wingless deity.

Goddess Nike in Rome

The Romans removed the face of the deity from the very heart of conquered Greece. They named her Victoria and erected a statue in their Senate. Each meeting began with the offering of gifts to the deity - oil and wine. During the Great Roman Fire under Nero, the statue of Nike Victoria survived and remained towering over the ashes of the Senate. After this, the goddess Nike began to be called the guardian of the Roman Empire.

Goddess these days

To this day, mentions and statues of the goddess Nike have been preserved (you can see the photo in the article). Her image is often present on pennants and banners, and her name is in anthems. Even the popular sportswear company Nike is named as part of it. Such ancient sculptural images as the Nike of Samothrace have also been preserved. In 1879, the statue was transported to the Louvre art museum in Paris, where it still adorns the Daru staircase. Despite the fact that the remains of the hands and head were never found, 23 fragments of the statue were discovered during excavations. After much research, it was determined that these were parts of the pedestal - the stern of the ship. All of them are also kept in the Louvre.

And today this sculpture of the goddess of victory Nike is considered mysterious and enigmatic. Many legends circulate around its true form and its true creator, whose work even modern critics have dubbed genius. Some believe that Nike’s right hand held the cup, others argue that the goddess blew a horn, proclaiming the victory of Rhodes, while others prefer to think that both hands did not exist at all. A huge number of attempts have been made to recreate the original form of the sculpture, but all of them failed. For the goddess, bringing victory, lost her solemn and light appearance.

In the very heart of the Acropolis is the temple of the goddess Nike, which art critics consider beautiful and strange at the same time. It differs from all the buildings of Ancient Greece, destroying all the building principles of that time. This is a temple erected in honor of Nika the Wingless. Inside the sanctuary stands majestically the figure of the goddess Nike in warrior garb. In her hands she holds a shield and a sword, and her head is covered with a golden helmet.

The temple of the goddess Nike has gone through several reconstructions, so it is missing a roof and several columns. However, this ancient building remains to this day one of the most beautiful attractions of Athens, which can be seen from all corners of the city.

Soon the celestial goddess became an icon of painters. Great artists and creators turned to her for inspiration. For example, Abbott Henderson Thayer. Fascinated by the image of Nika, he created the famous plagiarism painting “Virgin”. Also in the first half of the 19th century, the writer Phillip Tommaso Marinetti published the “Futurist Manifesto”. Its creator contrasted mechanics and movement with a lifeless face. And it sounds like this: “... the roaring engine of the car works as if on grapeshot - it is much more beautiful than the sculpture of the goddess Nike.”

The Greek pantheon of gods is vast, and for every activity there is a patron. Coming to the temples, people desperately prayed to the gods for the satisfaction of their requests and desires, a better fate, well-being, talents and victories in battles. They came to ask the powerful Nike for the latter. She listened to the stories of the warriors and gave them her blessing.

History of creation

Greek mythology states that Nike was also called Nike. The meaning of the name of the goddess is deciphered as “victory”. The unusual origin of a representative of a superior race has endowed her with the ability to bring victory to the side on which she speaks.

In numerous images of Nike, she is placed on the palm or, thereby indicating the goddess’s need for support, both among immortals and among ordinary people. Nika is young. Her image is described in the works of Hesiod, dating back to the 7th century BC. The heroine's pedigree is presented in passing, without additional details.

He became the first to unquestioningly worship Nike. In her honor, the emperor built temples and made generous donations. This may have ensured his military glory and numerous victories in battle. Alexander the Great had the idea to decorate the head of the triumphant with a wreath of laurel, which was an attribute accompanying Nike.

The image of the goddess symbolized the successful completion of the war, victory in any competition and the triumphant ending of any activity. Nika patronized military, sports, musical events and even religious events organized in the name of the success of the cause.

Nike was depicted with wings, allowing her to move quickly. A headband and a wreath accompanied her to any event. Later, palm trees and weapons were added to the arsenal. A harbinger of victory, in sculptures and artistic depictions the heroine hovers over the triumphant or affectionately nods her head to him. She is sometimes described as a woman driving a chariot or a priestess performing a sacrifice.

In ancient Greek mythology

Based on myths and legends written by ancient Greek authors, Nike was considered the daughter of the titan Pallant and a monster named Styx. She had sisters - Strength, Envy and Power. Athena, the daughter of Zeus, took upon herself the upbringing of the girl, and she accompanied her everywhere. They were inseparable. This explains the fact that on the Acropolis in Athens there is a small temple dedicated to Nike - Apteros.

The mother of the goddess and her sisters, having learned about the struggle between the titans and giants, went over to the enemies. Nike took the side of Zeus. She drove the Thunderer's chariot, attracting good luck. The patroness helped musicians, actors, athletes - everyone who wanted to know the taste of victory. The winged girl easily flew from one army to another, without being constancy.

There are many works of art dedicated to the well-known mythical character. Her popularity was amazing, so a similar goddess appeared in Rome. They named her Victoria. The reason for the emergence of faith in this goddess was the transportation of the golden statue of Nike to Rome. Stolen from the Greek ruler Pyrrhus, it was installed in the Senate by order. The girl stood on a ball, which personified the Earth, and held in her hands a palm branch and a laurel wreath, which she awarded to her chosen ones. For four hundred years, senators, visiting a place of service, made sacrifices near the statue, leaving a cup of wine or oil.

Sailors who wanted a successful completion of the journey decorated the bows of their ships with the image of the goddess. The sculptor Phidias was among the first sculptors to depict Nike as a miniature winged maiden who fit in the palm of Zeus. The first sculpture dedicated to the goddess of victory and gaining worldwide popularity is the statue inside the temple of Apteros. The girl depicted is holding a helmet and a pomegranate in her hands, symbolizing prosperity and fertility. The statue did not have wings, which was against the tradition of depicting the goddess. The Athenians believed that by depriving her of her wing, they would triumph forever.

Another interesting work of the ancient sculptor was the Nike of Samothrace. The statue was brought to Paris after excavations. Archaeologists found 200 fragments of the sculpture, which, through the efforts of restorers, were put together. Charles Champoiseau found them in 1863. The craftsmen were unable to restore the sculpture: the statue was left without a head, arms and wings, which were later repeated in plaster by specialists of the 19th century. The statue is kept in the Louvre, the main museum of Paris, and continues to delight art critics with its aesthetics and sophistication.