Temple of Athena Nike, the Greek goddess of victory

Who was Goddess Nike?

In Greek mythology, Nike was the goddess of victory. The daughter of Titan Pallas as Styx, she and her siblings were close companions of Zeus. She has often been depicted in art as a miniature sculpture in the hand of Athena and Zeus.

Sculptures of Nike were extremely common in Ancient Greece. They were used to symbolize or commemorate victories in war and competitions. She is often depicted with wings and also appears on Greek coins.

Who is Goddess Athena?

Athena was a Greek goddess and the daughter of Zeus. She was worshiped as the goddess of warfare, wisdom, crafts, and cooking. She was also the patron goddess of the city of Athens. Her symbol, the owl, signified wisdom, making her an enduring icon of intellect and strength.

Are Athena and Athena Nike the same?

Pallas Athena is the representation of the goddess as a warrior, while Athena Nike is the representation of the goddess as victorious in war. Nike, often referred to as Winged Victory, was an attribute of Athena. In mythological stories, she largely appears as a companion and helper of Zeus or Athena.

Gods & Battle on Frieze

The temple of Athena Nike featured a continuous Ionic frieze. On the eastern side, it showcased a gathering of gods, while on the southern wall, a battle between Greeks and Persians was depicted. The remaining sides referred to battles between Greeks and other warriors. It is assumed that the pediments featured sculptures that showcased the epic battle of Gigantomachy between the gods of Mount Olympus and the Giants and Amazonomachy, a battle between the Greeks and the Amazons.

Reliefs of Goddess Nike

Around 410 BC a parapet was added around it to act as a guardrail and prevent people from falling from the steep bastion. The outside of the parapet was elaborately decorated using carved relief sculptures. Unlike the friezes, these reliefs don't depict a story, but rather shows Nike in a variety of activities and all in procession. Of these, the most famous one is that of Nike Adjusting Her Sandal. Both Nike Adjusting Her Sandal and parts of the frieze can be admired today at the Acropolis Museum.

Statue of Athena Nike

As a temple, dedicated to Nike, it housed a statue of Athena Nike in the cella or naos, the inner chamber of a temple. According to the Greek writer Pausanias, the statue was made using wood, and was shown holding a helmet in her left hand, and a pomogranate (the symbol of fertility) in her right. Nike, who usually had wings, was decpicted without any, helping it gain its name, Athena Apteros (without wings). It is believed that statue of Athena had no wings, so that she could never leave Athens.