Nike (mythology)

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Nike
Goddess Nike at Ephesus, Turkey.JPG
Stone carving of the goddess Nike at the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Ephesus
Goddess of victory
Abode Mount Olympus
Parents Pallas and Styx
Siblings Kratos, Bia, Zelus
Roman equivalent Victoria
Greek deities
series
Primordial deities
Titans and Olympians
Aquatic deities
Chthonic deities
Other deities
Personified concepts

In Greek mythology, Nike (Greek: Νίκη, "Victory", pronounced [nǐːkɛː]) was a goddess who personified victory, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. The Roman equivalent was Victoria. Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of Pallas (Titan) and Styx (Water),[1][2] and the sister of Kratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and Zelus (Zeal).[1]

Nike and her siblings were close companions of Zeus, the dominant deity of the Greek pantheon. 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. Nike flew around battlefields rewarding the victors with glory and fame.

Statuette of goddess Nike found in Vani, Georgia.

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 of Athena, and is thought to have stood in Athena's outstretched hand in the statue of Athena located in the Parthenon.[3] Nike is one of the most commonly portrayed figures on Greek coins.[4]

Names stemming from Nike include among others: Nicholas, Nicola, Nick, Nicolai, Nikolai, Nicolae, Nils, Klaas, Nicole, Ike, Niki, Nikita, Nika, Niketas, and Nico.

Contents

Contemporary[edit]

Statue of the Goddess Nike on the Titanic Engineers' Memorial, Southampton.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Goddessnike.com (2011 [last update]). "Goddess Nike - Who is Nike? The Winged Goddess of Victory". goddessnike.com. Retrieved 24 June 2011. 
  2. ^ "Styx is the goddess of the underworld river Styx (water is not Nike's mother)". Theoi.com. Retrieved 2011-11-15. 
  3. ^ "Nike: Greek goddess of victory". Theoi.com. Retrieved 2011-11-15. 
  4. ^ Sayles, Wayne G. (2007). Ancient Coin Collecting II. Krause Publications. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-89689-516-4. 
  5. ^ Winner's medal for the 1948 Olympic Games in London, Olympic.org. Accessed 5 August 2011.
  6. ^ "Picture of 2004 Athens Games Medal". Retrieved 2010-01-28. 

External links[edit]