Combat. She would remark about the logo: I never got tired of looking at it.. Copy. Outside of the Propelyea (the gate leading to the buildings on the Acropolis in Athenai) is. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. The goddess Nike came to be an everlasting symbol . [32], By the mid Classical period and the start of the Hellenistic period, statues of Nike begin to portray her with legs almost completely straight in an alighting pose meant to evoke an appearance out of nothing rather than a hurtling into view. "[26] However, Nike's role of judging excellence is not limited to strictly military prowess. We're all familiar with the Nike logo. https://www.thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-nike-1525981 (accessed January 18, 2023). 2 / 8. Other portrayals also show Nike playing an instrument such as a lyre, as well as kithara, in a symbol of celebrating victory but peacefully, over music and singing. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Since 1928, the Olympics Medal has sported Nike on the obverse side bearing her wreath of victory and the shield upon which the victors name is inscribed. Her opposite was Harmonia.The equivalent Roman goddesses of Eris and Harmonia were Discordia and Concordia. For the swoosh symbol that appears on the side of each Nike shoe, Nike employee Carolyn Davis was paid $35 for the design. (463) $1,347.07. Although Pluto is no longer considered a planet by some planetary experts, in 2013 Styx was recognized as a moon of Pluto. On the foundations of a timeless, simple, and memorable logo, Nike builds an identity impossible to forget. Pausanias noted that there was an altar solely to Nike in Olympia next to the altar of Zeus Purifier. [23] By assaulting Typhon with fire and ice, Zeus was able to defeat the monster and claim victory over the Titans. She served Zeus in the war against the Titans and afterward gave the victors of battles wreaths of laurel. 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. When dealing with 30,000 students and 70,000 islanders, it is inevitable that I cannot remember people's names and faces. All rights reserved. Despite her immense power, she was depicted as highly competitive with both mortals and other gods. ", Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license, http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0199.tlg001.perseus-eng1:11, https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-html/, http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0013.tlg008.perseus-eng1:1, File:Zeus Typhon Staatliche Antikensammlungen 596.jpg, http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/textdoc=Ov.+Met.+8.12&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0028, File:Nike of Paionios, Olympia Archaeological Museum (16309967616).jpg, http://www.kansalliskirjasto.fi/fi/search?keyword=yleistieto%20tiedotus%20lehdistokuvat_muistiin_painettua.html#11, https://www.bartleby.com/library/prose/3952.html, File:Temple of Athena Nik from Propylaea, Acropolis, Athens, Greece.jpg, A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, Online version at the Perseus Digital Library, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nike_(mythology)&oldid=1131965626, This page was last edited on 6 January 2023, at 16:53. [54] The final unusual aspect of the decree was that it broke with Athenian tradition by handing over responsibility of the priesthood from the genos to the state. Swoosh creator: Carolyn Davidson, who invented the Nike swoosh logo in 1971, is pictured in 2003. Her three sibling deities represented the corresponding concepts of strength, force, and zeal. In Greek mythology, Nike was the winged daughter of Pallas and the river Styx. The multinational company Nike Inc., known for its athletic clothing and sports equipment, was named after the goddess Nike in 1971. Goddess. No, Nike the Goddess of Victory was never married. The lines of the sign denote speed and motion, while the word swoosh itself mimics the sound you can hear from your favorite NBA player as he zig-zags around on his way to score the next best three points. Nike, Zelos, Kratos, and Bia were brought into the god's service by their mother. She had no love affairs and symbolized the eternal virginity. The goddess is standing with both legs straight and together. Answer (1 of 3): Is Nike related to Athena? He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera.The Greeks were ambivalent towards him. Astronomers named the moon after Nikes mother, Styx. The primordial gods were the first to emerge from ChaosGaia, the Earth Mother; Kronos, the spirit of Time; Uranus, the sky and Thalassa, the spirit of the sea, among them. Also known as Winged Goddess, Nike is most often pictured as having wings. No-one was particularly taken with the name, but time was the of the essence. Nike alone is often depicted in Greek art winged and carrying a symbol of victory, such as a wreath or palm frond. Still, Nike maintained her close relationship with Zeus after the war ended, and Zeus invited Nike and her siblings to stay in Olympus with him. [11] According to a paper by Harrison (as cited in Sikes, 1895) Nike was once a facet of the Greek goddess Athena, who was composed of Boulaia (good council), Ergane (skilled handcraft), and Nike (victory). Ancient Greeks worshiped Nike because they believed she could make them never to die and was able to grant to humans strength and the speed needed to be victorious in any task they undertook. Nike was mainly known for her overwhelmingly positive traits, but she had an overwhelming desire to always win due to her title as the goddess of victory. Nike, described as Victory, led Zeus into battle as Eris, Strife, led Typhon. God. Nike's resilience and determination made her recognizable throughout her time, eventually naming her a Goddess. 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). She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Cincinnati. Nike was the goddess of victory. [32] This slight forward and downward motion is illustrated in the Capitoline Nike (460 BCE) from Magna Grecia. He wanted a logo that encouraged movement. Additionally, both of her feet are placed side by side in a standing pose rather than a striding pose. As Zeus rode off from the battlefield, Nike followed him driving her father's chariot. What is the goddess Nike's powers? Nike noun origin: Greek , pronounced: (/n. Every Olympic coin since 1928 has had an obverse with Nike - a palm frond in her right hand and a wreath of laurel in her left. As a symbol of victory in both battle and friendly competition, Nike is a goddess that easily represents what so many desire to achieve. the goddess of victory. According to some ancient Greek texts, Nike was regarded as the daughter of. [50], The cult of Athena Nike was functioning as early as the beginning of the sixth century. Of these, Nike was the most popular. The Winged Victory of Samothrace Author: Lyoko88 CC BY-SA 4.0. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Her wings motivated her fighters to be daring and courageous and when they won, they would say . All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Zeus escaped as a child, and when he grew older, he fed his father a mixture of wine and mustard to cause him to throw up, releasing all of Zeus' siblings. The 2 goddesses are similar in many aspects, for example, both goddesses are winged deities. Just 5 hours before the shipment was due to go out Johnson awoke with the name Nike. It was designed by Kallikrates, one of the architects of the Parthenon during the rule reign of Pericles, about 420 B.C. [40] Pheidias's cult statue of Athena from the Parthenon in Athens also held a smaller Nike statuette in one hand and a spear in the other. Nike is named after a woman the Greek goddess of victory but for most of its history, the company has been all about men. Nike was depicted as a winged goddess sometimes holding a . Thus, a break in custom to transfer religious authority from the genos to the state was exceptional for Athens during that time as it transformed the cult of Athena Nike into a polis-cult, a cult funded and overseen by the Athenian city-state. To fit with her existence as the goddess of victory, the meaning of Nike's name translates to "victory" in Ancient Greek. She represented ultimate success and triumph. As a young goddess, she may have felt less experienced and less wise than some of the older deities, and may have had moments of self-doubt or insecurity. MuseumShopPompeii. Nike and her three sisters, Zelus (Zeal/power), Bia(Force) and Kralas (Strength) were brought by Styx to Zeus to assist him in the great Titan battle whose ultimate goal was to gain control of Mount Olympus. Nike is the Goddess of Speed, Strength and Victory in Greek Mythology. In most sources, Nike is the daughter of Pallas, the god of battle and warcraft, and Styx, the goddess of the underworld and the River Styx, but in the Homeric Hymn to Ares, she is described as the daughter of Ares, the god of war and courage. 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. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. As the Greek goddess of Victory, Nike was closely associated with athletics and other contests, as well as warfare. Anna Perenna. 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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. In 'The Swoosh Story' we chart the history of the world's most recognizable brand: Nike Inc. The Romans called her Victoria. Nike is known to have many positive characteristics that make her a revered figure in mythology, but she is especially known for her speed and strength. Nike is believed to have a shield that she carries while hovering about in battles. Goddess. She also has a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate and experience leading university-level classes in several subjects. Hathor | Egyptian Goddess, Story, Facts & Symbols. [7] Her origin story in Greek mythology is also slightly ambiguous, with the Theogony claiming Nike to be the daughter of Styx and Pallas[8] while the Homeric Hymns describe Ares as being Nike's father. She did have three brothers - Zelos (rivalry),Kratos(strength) and Bia (force). God of the Acis River in Sicily. The devotion to Nike among the ancient Greeks, who believed she could strengthen their human capabilities, can be further felt through the domination of her figure on different Greek coins. The story begins with a winged champion named Nike. Goddess who relieved people from pain and sorrow. Baudrillart, in another paper (as cited in Sikes, 1895), shares a similar view that Nike was once a part of Athena and separated from her around the 5th century. 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. In Greek Mythology, Nike was the Goddess of speed, strength and victory. She appears with Zeus on statues in places such as the Temple of Zeus in Attica and on the west portico of the Temple of Athena in Athens. All Rights Reserved. In keeping with Zeuss promise to make Nike to live forever as the Goddess of speed, strength and victory, people of all ages have the opportunity to wear Nike shoes. Don't think about it - just do it. When she found one, she gave him fame and honor with a wreath of laurel leaves. Her Roman equivalent was Victoria. But every single image depicts the range of products Unilever manufactures. Who thought of the name Nike? More colors. It goes some way to explain her complicated origin. Greek Mythology Gods & Goddesses | What is Greek Mythology? Nike is the Greek goddess of victory, daughter of the Titans Pallas and Styx. To reward her for the efforts, as soon as he comes to power, Zeus agrees to keep Nike always close to him, offering an eternal protection. Nike had no consort or children. ThoughtCo. It is thought to have been created on the island of Samothrace after a victory in a sea battle. The Nike logo is undoubtedly a simple design, composed only of two curved lines, but over the years those lines have generated billions for its owners. I know how much she thought he must have hated her as a mother. And, through her Roman incarnation, she has entered our language as more than the name of a competitive running shoe and an anti-aircraft missile. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war but can also personify sheer brutality and bloodlust, in contrast to his sister, the armored Athena, whose martial functions include . Check out our goddess nike selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. [41] Nike typically appears without wings in Greek sculpture when she is being represented as an attribute of another deity, such as Athena. Nike's right arm is outstretched at an angle while her left arm is bent so that her hand rests upon her upper thigh. Aeternitas. She also carries a wreath, to always be prepared to crown a winner, either of some battle or a game of sport. In 'Nike and Ethics' we delve in to the lives of Aristotle and his prodigious. The oldest Nike sculpture known to exist believed to date back to 550 BCE and is located on the Greek island of Delos. This was symbolized by a wreath of bay leaves, a . Known as Winged Victory, or the Winged Victory of Samothrace, it presents the goddess standing on the prow of a boat. In 1971, a Portland State University student named Carolyn Davidson would come up with probably one of the most recognizable logos of our times, the "Swoosh" logo of the U.S. athletic shoe and apparel company Nike. In the 20th century, Nike became the name for one of the world's largest shoe companies. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-nike-1525981. She helped the Olympians beat the Titans in the Titan War and attended all battles and competitions afterward to celebrate victories. pu. It's considered one of the most erotic carvings on the Acropolis. The latter, discovered on Samothrace in 1863 and now in the Louvre Museum, Paris, was probably erected by Rhodians about 190 bce to commemorate a sea battle. Quite commonly, Nike is shown holding a palm branch, which was often used to symbolize the period of peace following a victory. 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. One more beautiful depiction of Nike lurks in the ancient city of Ephesus, in Turkey, where the athletic apparel logo can easily be noticed on Nikes stone carving as well. In some Indo-European languages, the name came from Neik which means to attack or to start something strongly. . 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