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 arms. 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 after 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 is different from all buildings Ancient Greece, destroying everything construction principles 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 oldest building to this day it remains one of the most beautiful attractions of Athens, visible 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.”
Nika, Nika - in Greek mythology personification of victory, daughter of the oceanid Styx and Pallant, son of the titan Cria (Hesiod, Theogony, 383). During the Titanomachy, she left her father and, together with her mother, joined the Olympian gods. As the winged goddess of victory, Nike accompanied Zeus in his fight against the titans and giants; she also accompanies Pallas Athena, the representative of the world's highest all-conquering power. As a symbol of a successful result, a happy outcome, Nike 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. Among 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 sculpture depicting Nike was taken to Rome and received the Latin name Victoria. The golden statue, captured by the Romans, previously belonged to the Greek king Pyrrhus. By order of Emperor Octavian Augustus, it was placed in the Senate building. Nike was depicted standing on a ball, which symbolized the Earth. In her right hand, which the girl holds outstretched, there is a wreath, left hand occupied by a palm branch.
For 4 centuries, senators, before a meeting, approached the altar that stood near the statue and made sacrifices of wine and fragrant oils. The sculpture miraculously survived the fire started by Emperor Nero. The Romans considered her the guardian of the empire; she embodied the power and destiny of the Roman Empire. By order of the Christian emperors, the statue of the pagan goddess was removed from the Senate. True to tradition, the Romans regretted this and saw a sign of the inevitable death of Rome.
In ancient times, there was a tradition of decorating the bows of ships with the image of Nike. This tradition continued later.
The outstanding ancient sculptor Phidias invested the Thunderer in right hand goddess figurine. Gold and ivory. The legs of the throne are decorated with the image of Nike. It is not surprising that even the main deities of Olympus were to a certain extent dependent on Nike and tried to enlist her support.
The goddess was especially revered by Alexander the Great; the commander built altars to her during his victorious campaigns at different stages. Later kings also liked to decorate their monuments with this wonderful winged girl.
The sanctuary of Nike Apteros was built in Athens. The goddess was depicted as wingless. According to Pausanias' historical account, the Athenians deliberately made the fickle wingless victory so that she would take up permanent residence in their city. The temple dedicated to Nike was created by the architect Callicrates after the victory in Greco-Persian wars. She was depicted in the hand of Zeus or Athena.
Nika (mythology) Nika (mythology)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)
- Give this to the Countess... if you see her.“She is very sick,” said Pierre.
- So she’s still here? - said Prince Andrei. - And Prince Kuragin? – he asked quickly.
- He left a long time ago. She was dying...
“I’m very sorry about her illness,” said Prince Andrei. – He grinned coldly, evilly, unpleasantly, like his father.
- But Mr. Kuragin, therefore, did not deign to give Countess Rostov his hand? - said Prince Andrei. He snorted several times.
“He couldn’t get married because he was married,” said Pierre.
Prince Andrei laughed unpleasantly, again resembling his father.
- Where is he now, your brother-in-law, may I know? - he said.
- He went to Peter... “however, I don’t know,” said Pierre.
“Well, it’s all the same,” said Prince Andrei. “Tell Countess Rostova that she was and is completely free, and that I wish her all the best.”
Pierre picked up a bunch of papers. Prince Andrei, as if remembering whether he needed to say something else or waiting to see if Pierre would say something, looked at him with a fixed gaze.
“Listen, do you remember our argument in St. Petersburg,” said Pierre, remember about...
“I remember,” Prince Andrei hastily answered, “I said that fallen woman I need to forgive, but I didn’t say that I could forgive. I can't.
“Is it possible to compare this?...” said Pierre. Prince Andrei interrupted him. He shouted sharply:
- Yes, asking for her hand again, being generous, and the like?... Yes, this is very noble, but I am not able to go sur les brisees de monsieur [follow in the footsteps of this gentleman]. “If you want to be my friend, don’t ever talk to me about this... about all this.” Well, goodbye. So you will convey...
Pierre left and went to the old prince and princess Marya.
The old man seemed more animated than usual. Princess Marya was the same as always, but because of her sympathy for her brother, Pierre saw in her joy that her brother’s wedding was upset. Looking at them, Pierre realized what contempt and malice they all had against the Rostovs, he realized that it was impossible in their presence to even mention the name of the one who could exchange Prince Andrei for anyone.
At dinner the conversation turned to war, the approach of which was already becoming obvious. Prince Andrei talked and argued incessantly, first with his father, then with Desalles, the Swiss teacher, and seemed more animated than usual, with that animation whose moral reason Pierre knew so well.
That same evening, Pierre went to the Rostovs to fulfill his assignment. Natasha was in bed, the count was at the club, and Pierre, having handed over the letters to Sonya, went to Marya Dmitrievna, who was interested in finding out how Prince Andrei received the news. Ten minutes later Sonya entered Marya Dmitrievna’s room.
“Natasha definitely wants to see Count Pyotr Kirillovich,” she said.
- Well, how about taking him to her? “Your place is not tidy,” said Marya Dmitrievna.
“No, she got dressed and went into the living room,” said Sonya.
Marya Dmitrievna just shrugged.
The main gods in Ancient Hellas were recognized as those who belonged to the younger generation of celestials. Once upon a time, it took away power over the world from the older generation, who personified the main universal forces and elements (see about this in the article The Origin of the Gods of Ancient Greece). The gods of the older generation are usually called titans. Having defeated the Titans, the younger gods, led by Zeus, settled on Mount Olympus. The ancient Greeks honored the 12 Olympian gods. Their list usually included Zeus, Hera, Athena, Hephaestus, Apollo, Artemis, Poseidon, Ares, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hermes, Hestia. Hades is also close to the Olympian gods, but he does not live on Olympus, but in his underground kingdom.
Gods of Ancient Greece. Video
God Poseidon (Neptune). Antique statue of the 2nd century. according to R.H.
Olympian goddess Artemis. Statue in the Louvre
Statue of Virgin Athena in the Parthenon. Ancient Greek sculptor Phidias
Venus (Aphrodite) de Milo. Statue approx. 130-100 BC.
Eros Earthly and Heavenly. Artist G. Baglione, 1602
Hymen- companion of Aphrodite, god of marriage. After his name, wedding hymns were also called hymens in Ancient Greece.
- daughter of Demeter, kidnapped by the god Hades. Inconsolable mother after long search found Persephone in the underworld. Hades, who made her his wife, agreed that she should spend part of the year on earth with her mother, and the other with him in the bowels of the earth. Persephone was the personification of grain, which, being “dead” sown into the ground, then “comes to life” and comes out of it into the light.
The abduction of Persephone. Antique jug, ca. 330-320 BC.
Amphitrite- wife of Poseidon, one of the Nereids
Proteus- one of sea deities Greeks Son of Poseidon, who had the gift of predicting the future and changing his appearance
Triton- son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, messenger depths of the sea blowing a conch shell. By appearance- a mixture of man, horse and fish. Close to the eastern god Dagon.
Eirene- goddess of peace, standing at the throne of Zeus on Olympus. In Ancient Rome - the goddess Pax.
Nika- goddess of victory. Constant companion of Zeus. In Roman mythology - Victoria
Dike- in Ancient Greece - the personification of divine truth, a goddess hostile to deception
Tyukhe- goddess of luck and good fortune. For the Romans - Fortuna
Morpheus – ancient greek god dreams, son of the god of sleep Hypnos
Plutos– god of wealth
Phobos(“Fear”) – son and companion of Ares
Deimos(“Horror”) – son and companion of Ares
Enyo- among the ancient Greeks - the goddess of frantic war, who arouses rage in the fighters and brings confusion into the battle. In Ancient Rome - Bellona
Titans
Titans are the second generation of gods of Ancient Greece, generated by natural elements. The first Titans were six sons and six daughters, descended from the connection of Gaia-Earth with Uranus-Sky. Six sons: Cronus (Time among the Romans - Saturn), Ocean (father of all rivers), Hyperion, Kay, Kriy, Iapetus. Six daughters: Tethys(Water), Theia(Shine), Rhea(Mother Mountain?), Themis (Justice), Mnemosyne(Memory), Phoebe.
Uranus and Gaia. Ancient Roman mosaic 200-250 AD.
In addition to the Titans, Gaia gave birth to Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires from her marriage with Uranus.
Cyclops- three giants with a large, round, fiery eye in the middle of their forehead. In ancient times - personifications of clouds from which lightning flashes
Hecatoncheires- “hundred-handed” giants, against whose terrible strength nothing can resist. Incarnations of terrible earthquakes and floods.
The Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires were so strong that Uranus himself was horrified by their power. He tied them up and threw them deep into the earth, where they are still rampaging, causing volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The presence of these giants in the belly of the earth began to cause terrible suffering. Gaia persuaded her youngest son, Cronus, to take revenge on his father, Uranus, by castrating him.
Cron did it with a sickle. From the drops of blood of Uranus that spilled, Gaia conceived and gave birth to three Erinyes - goddesses of vengeance with snakes on their heads instead of hair. The names of Erinny are Tisiphone (the killing avenger), Alecto (the tireless pursuer) and Megaera (the terrible). From that part of the seed and blood of castrated Uranus that fell not on the ground, but in the sea, the goddess of love Aphrodite was born.
Night-Nyukta, in anger at the lawlessness of Krona, gave birth to terrible creatures and deities Tanata (Death), Eridu(Discord) Apata(Deception), goddesses of violent death Ker, Hypnos(Dream-Nightmare), Nemesis(Revenge), Gerasa(Old age), Charona(carrier of the dead to the underworld).
Power over the world has now passed from Uranus to the Titans. They divided the universe among themselves. Kron became his father supreme god. The ocean gained power over a huge river, which, according to the ideas of the ancient Greeks, flows around the entire earth. Four other brothers of Cronos reigned in the four cardinal directions: Hyperion - in the East, Crius - in the south, Iapetus - in the West, Kay - in the North.
Four of the six elder titans married their sisters. From them came the younger generation of titans and elemental deities. From the marriage of Oceanus with his sister Tethys (Water), all the earth's rivers and Oceanid water nymphs were born. Titan Hyperion - (“high-walking”) took his sister Theia (Shine) as his wife. From them were born Helios (Sun), Selena(Moon) and Eos(Dawn). From Eos were born the stars and the four gods of the winds: Boreas(North wind), Note(South wind), Marshmallow(west wind) and Eurus(Eastern wind). The Titans Kay (Heavenly Axis?) and Phoebe gave birth to Leto (Night Silence, mother of Apollo and Artemis) and Asteria (Starlight). Cronus himself married Rhea (Mother Mountain, the personification of the productive power of mountains and forests). Their children are the Olympic gods Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus.
The Titan Crius married the daughter of Pontus Eurybia, and the Titan Iapetus married the oceanid Clymene, who gave birth to the Titans Atlas (he holds the sky on his shoulders), the arrogant Menoetius, the cunning Prometheus (“thinking first, foreseeing”) and the feeble-minded Epimetheus (“thinking after").
From these titans came others:
Hesperus- god of the evening and the evening star. His daughters from the night-Nyukta are the nymphs Hesperides, who guard on the western edge of the earth a garden with golden apples, once presented by Gaia-Earth to the goddess Hera at her marriage to Zeus
Ory- goddesses of parts of the day, seasons and periods of human life.
Charites- goddess of grace, fun and joy of life. There are three of them - Aglaya (“Rejoicing”), Euphrosyne (“Joy”) and Thalia (“Abundance”). A number of Greek writers have different names for charites. In Ancient Rome they corresponded to grace
Victoria, Roman goddess of victory and personification of victory
Victoria, Latin, Greek Nike is the Roman goddess of victory and the personification of victory. In the photo: The gilded figure of Victoria - the Goddess of Victory on top of the Victory Column, popularly called Golden Elsa (Goldelse).
IN ancient times the Romans considered her a divine force promoting victory (especially in war). Later she was elevated to the rank of goddess and giver of victory - on the model of the Greek Nike. The temple in her honor was built only at the beginning of the 3rd century. BC e. on the Palatine. The cult of Victoria acquired particular scope under the Empire, when the goddess was proclaimed the inseparable companion of the emperors. In addition to her, the Romans revered two more ancient goddesses of victory: one of them was called Pellonia (Casting [the enemy] to flight), the other was Vica Pota (Mighty Victorious).
Painting by Rubens "The Triumph of Victoria".
There are fewer statues of Victoria than there are reports of Roman victories. With few exceptions, these are mediocre works without much artistic ambition. Rare exceptions include her statues in the Brescia Museum and the Louvre in Paris, as well as the relief of the Arch of Emperor Diocletian in Florence. One of her statues stood in the Roman Senate from the time of Augustus until 394 (it was briefly removed from there only under the Emperor Gratian). In 394 she was publicly broken as a pagan idol. A random but deeply symbolic coincidence: a year later the Roman Empire was divided, and until the very end of history Ancient Rome military victories were no longer celebrated there.
In the photographs: Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in the chariot of the goddess Victoria.
Triumphal Column(Siegessäule) or Victory Column is a monument to German history and a landmark of Berlin in the center of the Tiergarten park on Big Star Square. Photo from 1900.