But did you know that those shoes were actually named after a Greek goddess? Regula, deTraci. Statues of her attempt to evoke a sense of flight. In Greek mythology, Nike (/ n a k i / (); Ancient Greek: , lit. The Goddess of Victory and Zeus. According to Andrew Stewart the doffed helmet and pomegranate are symbols of assistance, fertility, and peace. According to Hesiod's Theogony, "Styx, daughter of Oceanus, in union with Pallas, bore trim-ankled Victory [Nike]" as well as her siblings Zelus (Zeal or Aspiration), Kratos (Strength), and Bia (Power). For example, Michael Jordan is said to have made more money from his Nike endorsements than all of its manufacturing labor force. Her opposite was Harmonia.The equivalent Roman goddesses of Eris and Harmonia were Discordia and Concordia. Her mother was an Oceanid, a sea nymph, named Styx. As the Greek goddess of Victory, Nike was closely associated with athletics and other contests, as well as warfare. Nikes typical attire in paintings, sculptures and other art media was a flowing gown of gold and wings symbolizing her right to grant victory or to remove it later should the victor not remain worthy. pu. Last modified February 16, 2022, Your email address will not be published. Check out our goddess nike selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Regula, deTraci. Aeternitas. Anubis & Bastet | Hieroglyph, Form & Mythology, Hera, Queen of the Gods | Powers, Story & Myths, Mnemosyne Symbols, Daughters & Mythology | The Greek Goddess of Memory. The name Nike, used to be known as something other than just a shoe brand, during the Hellenistic period, Nike was the Greek Goddess of Victory. Those who came out victorious from their battles were often awarded a wreath of laurel leaves in ancient times. In the 20th century, Nike became the name for one of the world's largest shoe companies. However, he holds that the Athena Nike personality continued to exist alongside the distinct Nike personality. Nike noun origin: Greek , pronounced: (/n. [32], As time goes on Nike's legs begin to straighten and her movement becomes a more subtle alighting movement with a slight forward component. Any time Nike was sculpted, she had wings. The Nike. As a symbol of victory in both battle and friendly competition, Nike is a goddess that easily represents what so many desire to achieve. She was also the goddess of spring growth, who was worshipped alongside her mother Demeter in the Eleusinian Mysteries. She could have been less angry, less reclusive. On that shield of hers, the goddess inscribed the names of the winners in a battle. An example if this is in Ovid's Metamorphoses book 8 where the fate of the war between Megara and Crete hung in "suspense; so, Victory day by day between them hovered on uncertain wings. She had a son, Strife, whom she brought along with her when she rode her chariot to war alongside Ares. She was closely connected to Zeus and Athena, but wasn't a very common goddess in the Greek myths. Although her wings are lost, the roots of them can still be seen behind her shoulders. Nike was the goddess of victory. He declared that any god that chose to align with him against Kronos would receive his honor and favor. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. "The Story of Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory." In Greek mythology, she was always portrayed as a symbol of victory, strength, and speed. Nike, Zelos, Kratos, and Bia were brought into the god's service by their mother. The most celebrated depiction of Nike is not in Greece at all but dominates a gallery of the Louvre in Paris. She also carries a wreath, to always be prepared to crown a winner, either of some battle or a game of sport. Worldhistoryedu is not responsible for the content of external sites. She was the child of Pallas (Titan) and Styx In most beliefs, Styx is the name of the river that separates Planet Earth from the Gates of Hell (Hades). This larger-than-life statue was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. One is estimated to be 29 feet tall. One of the most celebrated representations of the Goddess of Victory was the magnificent 5 th century BC statue of Zeus at Olympia. I feel like its a lifeline. [43] In his Description of Greece Pausanias claims that Athena Nike's depiction as "Wingless Victory" was meant to keep the goddess in Athens. Virginia SOL - World History & Geography to 1500: Test Prep & Practice, GED Social Studies: Civics & Government, US History, Economics, Geography & World, Praxis World & U.S. History - Content Knowledge (5941): Practice & Study Guide, ILTS Social Science - History (246): Test Practice and Study Guide, SAT Subject Test US History: Practice and Study Guide, NY Regents Exam - US History and Government: Test Prep & Practice, NY Regents Exam - Global History and Geography: Test Prep & Practice, AP European History: Homework Help Resource, Create an account to start this course today. In Greek mythology, Nike was the Greek personification of "victory". Nike had no consort or children. All rights reserved. Though the design has changed quite a bit in the years since the 1928 Olympics, Nike has since been a mandatory part of the design in order to symbolize the triumphs and victories of the Olympic athletes. Nike is named after a woman the Greek goddess of victory but for most of its history, the company has been all about men. On the very very rare occasions Nike has to fight, she will use the few . Discover the Greek goddess of victory, Nike. Angerona. Because Nike is the Goddess of Victory, she was often portrayed flying around the battlefield and bestowing the laurel wreath to the victors of a battle in Ancient Greek art. Durga (Sanskrit: , IAST: Durg) is a major deity in Hinduism. Nike being depicted holding wreath reminds us that as the Goddess of Victory she was always ready to encase a winners neck and shoulders in a garland of victory. As Zeus rode off from the battlefield, Nike followed him driving her father's chariot. the goddess of victory. In 'Athena's Birth Story' we learn . The story begins with a winged champion named Nike. In the war against the Titans she was a personal Charioteer of the Gods. Daughter of the titan Pallas and the river Styx, Nike sat at the side of the omnipotent Zeus for the duration of his plight with the titans. Nike is named after a woman - the Greek goddess of victory- but for most of . Goddess. [32] The marble statue of Nike, possibly designed by Arkhermos of Chios and found at Delos, dates to around 550 BCE and exemplifies this style of pose. Several panels of this frieze can be seen in the Acropolis Museum, below the Acropolis. Greek Titans in Mythology | Who are the Titans? I saw her - with Erichthonius, though I shouldn't know about him. Aesculapius. In 'The Swoosh Story' we chart the history of the world's most recognizable brand: Nike Inc. She flew over battlefields to reward those that she and her master favored with glory and fame. The River Styx was named for Nike's . Rational Irrationality, Caplan's Rational Irrationality: Definition & Economics, WWI New Weapons & Technology: Tanks, Machine Guns & Planes, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Zelus, the god of rivalry and competition. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nike-Greek-goddess, Ancient Origins - Nike, Greek Goddess of Victory and Zeuss Charioteer of Glory, Nike - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology. Since 1945, the goddess has also been used by the U.S. Anti Aircraft Missle System. Nike, Inc. is named after a Greek goddess, Nike the goddess of victory. The Origin of the Goddess Nike . [48] The three votive processions on the parapet of the Temple of Athena Nike display this relationship between Athena and Nike. Nike, described as Victory, led Zeus into battle as Eris, Strife, led Typhon. The Greek pantheon of gods and goddesses features three waves of leading deities. Nikes reward for doing this was that Zeus promised to keep her near him and to protect her forever. Navigating Nike# Nike is a crushing new Greek warrior every bit as comfortable on the frontlines as Bellona or Amaterasu. Another very important thing she carried was a wreath, always ready to crown a victor in battle or games of challenge. BuzzFeed Staff.. The Winged Victory of Samothrace Author: Lyoko88 CC BY-SA 4.0. [32] The statue of Nike from the Temple of Neptune at Corfu also implies a gently appearance out of nothing rather than a hurtling from somewhere. (463) $1,347.07. In terms of temples, Nike did not have many of them dedicated solely to her. God. In the 20th century, Nike became the name for one of the world's largest shoe companies. The image of the goddess Nike is found on . [49] As a result of the merging of the two goddesses Athena Nike was worshipped as a goddess of victory in Athens, particularly military victory. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow. Bia was the goddess of force, Kratos was the god of strength, Zelus was the god of zeal, and Nike was the goddess of victory. In Bacchylides Ode 11 she is introduced with the stock epithet "giver of swift gifts"[18] However, Nike is also represented in some sources as the prize in a contest to symbolize victory: " the blossoms of glory-bringing Victory nurture for men golden, conspicuous fame throughout their lives"[30] In this source Nike is portrayed as a garland of flowers to be bestowed upon the victor during the Panhellenic Games. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. One of the most famous and important depictions of Nike is the Winged Victory of Samothrace statue, shown in the photo in the section "The Story of Nike the Goddess." Her role is almost always as a companion and helper of Zeus or Athena. the god of death. How did growing nationalism in France help napoleon achieve his goals ? Learn more about the goddess, her story, and the mythology surrounding her before you visit the Acropolis of Athens, where she takes her place beside Athena. Statues of her often include a lyre or kithara used to celebrate a victory with song and dance. Queen Victorias Father, the Duke of Kent, The Boston Massacre: The American Revolution, Staff of Hermes and the golden winged sandals, 15 interesting things you need to know about Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, Poseidon: Myths and Facts about the Greek God of the Sea, Greek God Hermes: Myths, Powers and Early Portrayals. Davidson crafted the logo for an unbelievably small amount of money, just $35, and she even proposed Nike as a name to the companys founder, Phile Knight. A Nike apparel store is not the only place where the deity is represented in modern days. Athena Nike was always wingless. It was designed by Kallikrates, one of the architects of the Parthenon during the rule reign of Pericles, about 420 B.C. Regarding death, it is believed that when Nike possessed the Staff of Hermes, she had the ability to resurrect dead people. 2 / 8. In Greek mythology, Nike is the Winged Goddess of Victory. [57] While neither decrees specified the tenure of her office, Blok proposes that Myrrhine would have likely served for life since that was the tradition for Athenian women serving in cultic offices. For the ancient Greeks, speed and strength were the two keys to victory in anything important - combat, wrestling, running, or boxing - so it made sense that she'd be connected to all of them. When she is pictured with the Staff of Hermes, this means that one of Nikes roles was to serve as a messenger from the gods. - Mythology, Overview, AP World History - Hellenism and Athenian Philosophy: Help and Review, AP World History - The Rise of the Roman Republic: Help and Review, AP World History - The Fall of the Roman Empire: Help and Review, AP World History - The Dark Ages: Help and Review, AP World History - Early Middle Ages: Help and Review, AP World History - The Medieval Warm Period: Help and Review, AP World History - The High Middle Ages: Help and Review, AP World History - Asia, Africa & America (1000-1300 CE): Help and Review, AP World History - The Late Middle Ages: Help and Review, AP World History - The Renaissance: Help and Review, AP World History - The Age of Exploration: Help and Review, AP World History - The Reformation Across Europe: Help and Review, AP World History - Imperialism: Help and Review, AP World History - The Elizabethan Era: Help and Review, AP World History - The Enlightenment: Help and Review, AP World History - Political, Technological & Intellectual History: Help & Review, AP World History - Colonialism: Help and Review, AP World History - World War I: Help and Review, AP World History - World War II: Help and Review, AP World History - The Cold War: Help & Review, AP World History - Major 20th Century Events: Help & Review, AP World History - A Globalized World - 1980 & Beyond: Help and Review, Portions of the AP World History Exam: Help and Review, AP World History Exam Essay Writing: Help and Review, Essay Writing Your AP World History Exam: Help & Review, Empires & Inventions of the Ancient Near East, Global Conflict & Developments Since 1945, Middle School US History: Help and Review, SAT Subject Test World History: Tutoring Solution, SAT Subject Test US History: Tutoring Solution, Middle School World History: Homeschool Curriculum, Robert McNamara & the Cuban Missile Crisis, Primary Source: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, Cartesian Rationalism vs. Lockean Rationalism, Rational Ignorance vs. [32] An example of a transitional phase in movement from the "kneeling run" to the alighting and striding pose is Paionios's statue of Nike discovered in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. Another very important fact about the goddess Nike is that: She was often painted or sculpted with a cup or a pitcher in her hands. "What's a Nike?" asked the President of the company. This decree proposed a plan for a new temple and priestess for Athena Nike. Only once Hephaestus tried to annoy her erotically, but the goddess resisted bravely. She always carried a palm branch in her right hand as a symbol of peace. During the Titanomachy conflict, she was the chief charioteer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); World History Edu 2023. Her wings motivated her fighters to be daring and courageous and when they won, they would say . The Greek goddess Nike was variously described as the daughter of the Titan Pallas and the goddess Styx, and the sister of Kratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and Zelus (Zeal). The Greek traveler and geographer Pausanias, writing about 600 years later, called the goddess depicted here Athena Aptera, or wingless. Statuette of goddess Nike found in Vani, Georgia. [36] In this statue of Nike from the fifth century the goddess's alighting motion is towards the viewer as opposed to the sideways running motion of earlier statues. Her equivalent in Ancient Rome was the goddess Victoria. Her laurel trophy is probably where we get the phrase 'resting on your laurels.'. The distinct Nike personality continued to coexist alongside the Athena Nike personality and became a servant to Athena, or a "Lady of Victory" according to Sikes. While Nike's forearms and wings are missing the sockets for attaching her wings can be seen on her back. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. According to Pausanias's Description of Greece, the statue of Zeus "holds Victory in ivory and gold" in his right hand and a scepter with an eagle perched atop it in his left hand. What is the goddess Nike known for? [50], The cult of Athena Nike was functioning as early as the beginning of the sixth century. This statue is speculated to be from the Hellenistic period according to Andrew Parkin. The River Styx was named for Nikes grandfather Tethys. Last year, revenue from women's products hovered at a paltry $1. The reason why astronomers named it after Styx was because the nymph is typically associated to the River Styx the river that divides the living world from the underworld. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. her most well known powers are: the ability to fly . This was due to the fact that she was so closely associated with Athena and Zeus, who were much more prominent and revered figures in Greek mythology. [7] Thus, the two goddesses merged into one to form the Athena Nike personality. Nike - Myths and Facts. Zeus is neither hesitant nor fearful and Nike makes no appearance to encourage or aid Zeus in the fighting.[25]. Read at noblemtl.com. But unlike Nike, Romans regarded Victoria as one of the supreme gods. In the modern Olympics, the Olympic medals given to winners have the image of the goddess Nike. [4] In Greek literature Nike is described as both an attribute and attendant to the gods Zeus and Athena. The Ancient world her near him and to protect her forever a from! Equivalent in Ancient Rome was the magnificent 5 th century BC statue of Zeus or Athena endorsements than of! Of spring growth, who was worshipped alongside her mother Demeter in war. [ 48 ] the three votive processions on the very very rare occasions Nike to... Most celebrated depiction of Nike is described as Victory, strength, and speed very rare occasions Nike to... 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