Goddess Nika of Samothrace is a beautiful girl who is portrayed in flight above the ground, with a bandage and a wreath in her hands. This statue was found on the island of Samothrace, on the site of the Kabirsky sanctuary, in 1863. According to historians, it was installed in honor of the victory over the troops of the king of Syria on one of the steep rocks, making the plinth of the ship's nose.
Who is the goddess Nick?
The goddess Nika is the goddess of victory, the daughter of Titan Pallant and Styx, the Akkadians believed that she was brought up with the daughter of Zeus Athena Pallada. During the war of the Thunderer with the Titans, Nick helped the supreme ruler of Olympus, because all the gods swore by the waters of her mother Styx. Statue of Nicky Greeks had in the hand of Zeus or Athena, emphasizing that her help needed both gods and people. Nick is called the youngest goddess of the Greek pantheon, her name is not mentioned by Homer, and in the poetry of Geosida, which was created in the 7th century BC, only her pedigree is indicated.
The most popular goddess Nika was, thanks to the great warrior Alexander of Macedon, who set temples in her honor and brought generous sacrifices. The commander introduced the tradition of decorating the winner with the laurel wreath of Nicky, which has survived until now. And the ancient rulers of Greece revered for the honor of depicting near their statues the patroness of success.
What does the goddess Nick look like?
The statuette of the goddess, who was found on the island of Samothrace, rose above the sea. As scientists have calculated, this beautiful girl trumpeted into the horn, informing about the victory. A beautiful figure in a leap forward, wings testifying to the triumph. Later it was depicted with a wreath or a weapon and a branch of a palm tree, sometimes with the staff of Hermes, the messenger of the gods. There is a legend that when Nika, the goddess of victory, informed of success, trumpets played, and in our days sura is accompanied by the awarding of the winners of the competition with a laurel wreath.
What did the goddess Nick protect?
Since ancient times, the winged girl patronized warriors, the goddess of war Nick was considered an assistant to all famous warriors. When she went over to the side of Zeus, he made her his constant companion, so the ancient Greeks prayed for victory over the enemy to those closest to Thunderbolts. It was called the harbinger of victory, astrologers believe that it is patronizing Aquarius , therefore among the representatives of this sign are many outstanding figures.
And they were sure that the goddess Nika is the patroness:
- competitions in sports;
- competitions of musicians;
- religious ceremonies, which were held, for the sake of successful achievements.
The Goddess of Nick in Greece
It is known that the temple of Nicky Ateros was located in Athens, the statue was preserved without hands and head, so the idea of her face is only the fiction of sculptors. There is a version, supposedly the Athenians portrayed the forerunner of victory without wings, so that they could not leave in battle the best warriors of Greece. What did Nika patronize - the Greek goddess? The Greeks called it the symbol:
- success and all-conquering beginning;
- courage, spirit, kindness;
- honesty and justice;
- support those who need a victory not for the sake of self-interest.
Roman goddess Nika
The Romans called the forerunner of victory otherwise, the ancient goddess Nika was called Victoria. For many centuries it was the embodiment of the power of the Roman Empire, so in the Senate stood her statue, which was taken out of Greece. Before the senators brought her victims - oil and wine. After the statue of Nicky Victoria became the only one that survived after the fire, arranged by Nero, she was called the virgin keeper of the empire. It was believed that the goddess takes the fate of Rome and protects him.
The goddess Nika is a myth
The story of the goddess Nicky, preserved until today, says that this winged girl decided to support Zeus in the war with the Titans, which lasted for many generations, only with her help, the Thunderer managed to overthrow the ruler of Kronos. After the accession to Olympus, Zeus never parted with Nika, always listening to her opinion. In the texts of antiquity, the friendship of the forerunner of victory with Athena Pallada is mentioned, because they grew up side by side and trusted each other.
The goddess Nika is a legend about courage and ability to overcome the enemy even in desperate situations, a symbol of victory of the strongest in spirit. Therefore, in her honor was named the popular Russian film prize, the first ceremony of which was held in 1987. Any award became known only from 2 ceremonies. A well-known company Nike has created a slogan based on this name, as a symbol of success and movement as fast as the wings of victory.