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Nike

The Greek Nike

Nike is often found on coins minted by the Greeks. She is shown with wings, and is often in the action of flying. She is frequently shown crowning the victor of a battle, a victorious team of horses or charioteer (Sicily), and also crowning a king's name. Usually a wreath is held in her hand, with which she crowns the victorious subject. Sometimes she is shown along side, erecting, or inscribing upon a trophy. She is nearly always shown with wings; a noteable exception is Athens, where they have a wingless Nike, in hopes she would not leave that city.

The origins of Nike

"And Styx the daughter of Okeanos was joined to Pallas and bare Zelos and trim-ankled Nike in the house. Also she brought forth Kratos and Bia, wonderful children." - Hesiod, Theogony

Styx and her children, including Nike, fought in the war against the Titans. The Titans being the elder deities replaced by the Greeks with the "family" of Zeus and company, comprised of twelve principal deities all living atop Mount Olympos.

Lysimachos and Nike

The silver coinage of Lysimachos, a former "general" under Alexander the Great, features Athena on the reverse, holding in her outstretched right hand the figure of Nike, who crowns the king's name with a wreath. These fine classical tetradrachms were struck in large quantities and high quality.

A prayer to Nike

"To Nike, Fumigation from Manna. O powerful Nike, by men desired, with adverse breasts to dreadful fury fired, thee I invoke, whose might alone can quell contending rage and molestation fell. ‘Tis thine in battle to confer the crown, the victor’s prize, the mark of sweet renown; for thou rulest all things, Nike divine! And glorious strife, and joyful shouts are thine. Come, mighty Goddess, and thy suppliant bless, with sparkling eyes, elated with success; may deeds illustrious thy protection claim, and find, led on by thee, immortal fame." - Orphic Hymn

Nike morphs into the Roman Victory

As the Romans came into power, the attributes of Nike became those of Victory. From that time onwards she has been known and worshipped as the Roman goddess of Victory.


Nike

The Greek Nike

Nike is often found on coins minted by the Greeks. She is shown with wings, and is often in the action of flying. She is frequently shown crowning the victor of a battle, a victorious team of horses or charioteer (Sicily), and also crowning a king's name. Usually a wreath is held in her hand, with which she crowns the victorious subject. Sometimes she is shown along side, erecting, or inscribing upon a trophy. She is nearly always shown with wings; a noteable exception is Athens, where they have a wingless Nike, in hopes she would not leave that city.

The origins of Nike

"And Styx the daughter of Okeanos was joined to Pallas and bore Zelos and trim-ankled Nike in the house. Also she brought forth Kratos and Bia, wonderful children." - Hesiod, Theogony

Styx and her children, including Nike, fought in the war against the Titans. The Titans being the elder deities replaced by the Greeks with the "family" of Zeus and company, comprised of twelve principal deities all living atop Mount Olympos.

Lysimachos and Nike

The silver coinage of Lysimachos, a former "general" under Alexander the Great, features Athena on the reverse, holding in her outstretched right hand the figure of Nike, who crowns the king's name with a wreath. These fine classical tetradrachms were struck in large quantities and high quality.

A prayer to Nike

"To Nike, Fumigation from Manna. O powerful Nike, by men desired, with adverse breasts to dreadful fury fired, thee I invoke, whose might alone can quell contending rage and molestation fell. ‘Tis thine in battle to confer the crown, the victor’s prize, the mark of sweet renown; for thou rulest all things, Nike divine! And glorious strife, and joyful shouts are thine. Come, mighty Goddess, and thy suppliant bless, with sparkling eyes, elated with success; may deeds illustrious thy protection claim, and find, led on by thee, immortal fame." - Orphic Hymn

Nike morphs into the Roman Victory

As the Romans came into power, the attributes of Nike became those of Victory. From that time onwards she has been known and worshipped as the Roman goddess of Victory.