Nike (mythology)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article discusses the Greek Goddess. For the sports apparel and equipment company, see Nike, Inc.
| Greek deities series |
|
|---|---|
| Primordial deities | |
| Titans and Olympians | |
| Aquatic deities | |
| Chthonic deities | |
| Other deities | |
| Personified concepts | |
In Greek mythology, Nike (Greek Νίκη, pronounced /'nike/ "NEE-keh", meaning "Victory") , was a goddess who personified triumph. She was a daughter of Pallas (Warrior) and Styx (Hatred), and the sister of Cratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and Zelus (Rivalry). Nike and her siblings were all attendants of Zeus. According to myth, Styx brought them to Zeus when the god was assembling allies for the coming Titan War. Nike assumed the role of the gods' personal charioteer, a role often portrayed in classical art. Her Roman counterpart is Victoria.
Nike's wings supposedly symbolized the fleeting nature of victory, she is seen with wings in statues and paintings.
[edit] Worship
Nike was often worshipped in conjunction with Athena the goddess of wisdom , with whom she was particularly closely associated after the Greek victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. The great statue of Athena Parthenos in the Parthenon in Athens is thought to have depicted Nike standing in the hand. The Parthenon complex included a Temple of Athena Nike, built around 410 BC. The Athenians also dedicated a statue to Nike at Delphi. The statue of Zeus at Olympia reportedly also depicted Nike. On occasions, Athena was depicted with Nike's attributes. According to Pausanias, the statue of Athena Nike depicted a wingless Nike ("Nike Apteros"), supposedly so that the statue could never leave the city of Athens. This temple has also provided a famous surviving depiction of the goddess, Nike unfastening her sandal("Nike Slancio"), which was originally part of the temple parapet and is now on display in the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Nike is also in the hand of Zeus in the temple of Zeus in Athens.
