Small Nike Statue of Winged Victory

The Louvre Museum, Paris, 190 B.C.

The Nike of Samothrace statue was discovered in 1863 on an island in the Aegan Sea called Samothrace by a French exedition. The Goddess Nike represented victory according to Greek mythology. She was the daughter of Styx and the Pallas the warrior-giant. Nike and her sister's were attendants of Zeus. Orginally viewed as an aspect of the goddess Pallas Athena, she slowly became a goddess in her own right; however, she is often depicted as an aspect of Athena, Zeus and Ares.

When joined with these Gods, she is a small, wingless figure who is carried by one of the Gods of Olympus. On her own, she is depicted with wings and often shown hovering over the victor in battle or athletic competition. The Nike Statue found in the Louvre is one of the masterpiece sculptures of the Hellenistic period, lovingly recreated for your home.