Daughter of the Titan Pallas and the river Styx, Nike was the goddess of victory, often depicted with wings and a palm of victory in her hand. Romans called her Victoria.Nike's very name means Victory and She was a goddess who personified triumph within ancient Greek culture. A companion to Athena, ancient statuary sometimes depicts them together, and ancient writings attribute some of Athena's characteristics to Nike.Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of Pallas (Titan) and the river Styx (Water), and the sister of Cratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and of Zelus (Rivalry).
Nike and her siblings were attendants of Zeus when his cult gained the position of the dominant deity of the Greek pantheon. The roles of older deities were changed in new myths.According to classical myth, Styx brought them to Zeus when the god was assembling allies for the Titan War against the older deities. Nike assumed the role of the divine charioteer, a role in which she is often portrayed in Classical Greek art.
Nike is seen with wings in most statues and paintings. Most other winged deities in the Greek pantheon had shed their wings by Classical times.Worship of the goddess Nike included procesions, libations, or sacrifices that were performed to elicit Her favour.
Petitions in the form of prayers could be presented to the priestesses officiating in the temples, who would communicate these to the goddess at the sacred oracles. If an answer was received from the goddess it would be presented to the petitioner by the priestess.The Athenians dedicated a statue to Nike at Delphi and the statue of Zeus at Olympia reportedly depicted Nike as well.
Children:
Nike and her siblings were attendants of Zeus when his cult gained the position of the dominant deity of the Greek pantheon. The roles of older deities were changed in new myths.According to classical myth, Styx brought them to Zeus when the god was assembling allies for the Titan War against the older deities. Nike assumed the role of the divine charioteer, a role in which she is often portrayed in Classical Greek art.
Nike is seen with wings in most statues and paintings. Most other winged deities in the Greek pantheon had shed their wings by Classical times.Worship of the goddess Nike included procesions, libations, or sacrifices that were performed to elicit Her favour.
Petitions in the form of prayers could be presented to the priestesses officiating in the temples, who would communicate these to the goddess at the sacred oracles. If an answer was received from the goddess it would be presented to the petitioner by the priestess.The Athenians dedicated a statue to Nike at Delphi and the statue of Zeus at Olympia reportedly depicted Nike as well.
Children:
