Nike is the Greek virgin goddess of Victory. She is the daughter of Pallas (the
younger Titan-the god of battle) and the goddess Styx (the Underworld River of
Hatred, Hades). Styx had sent her daughter Nike to the god Zeus as an ally to
fight against the Titans. Originally Nike was intertwined with the
identity of Athena. She essentially was Athena without wings. Gradually Nike
became a separate goddess representing victory, a goddess with wings. Often
Athena and Zeus are seen carrying small figures of Nike, indicating that she is
an attribute of both of them. Her physical persona of a winged goddess of
victory arose from a gradual development of several associations. These
associations were, life’s need for air, airborne birds with the spirit of life,
a winged flight was a victory over death and eventually Victory itself.
Nike has been depicted carrying a palm branch, a
wreath or a caduceus of Hermes (a staff with two entwined snakes and two wings
at the top). She is often seen erecting a trophy or recording a victory on a
shield, as well as hovering with outspread wings over the victor in
competitions. She became known as the mediator of success between the gods and
men, not only in war but in all kinds of human undertakings.
younger Titan-the god of battle) and the goddess Styx (the Underworld River of
Hatred, Hades). Styx had sent her daughter Nike to the god Zeus as an ally to
fight against the Titans. Originally Nike was intertwined with the
identity of Athena. She essentially was Athena without wings. Gradually Nike
became a separate goddess representing victory, a goddess with wings. Often
Athena and Zeus are seen carrying small figures of Nike, indicating that she is
an attribute of both of them. Her physical persona of a winged goddess of
victory arose from a gradual development of several associations. These
associations were, life’s need for air, airborne birds with the spirit of life,
a winged flight was a victory over death and eventually Victory itself.
Nike has been depicted carrying a palm branch, a
wreath or a caduceus of Hermes (a staff with two entwined snakes and two wings
at the top). She is often seen erecting a trophy or recording a victory on a
shield, as well as hovering with outspread wings over the victor in
competitions. She became known as the mediator of success between the gods and
men, not only in war but in all kinds of human undertakings.