I know how much she thought he must have hated her as a mother. Nikes typical attire in paintings, sculptures and other art media was a flowing gown of gold and wings symbolizing her right to grant victory or to remove it later should the victor not remain worthy. On both the north and south sides an array of winged Nikes are shown carrying offerings to Athena who sat seated at the west end of each stream of Nike. Is Nike named after the goddess of victory? She was also sculpted with Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom. Her role is almost always as a companion and helper of Zeus or Athena. Goddess associated with snakes and Medea. I think that Nike carries a caduceus since it is a symbol of messengers. the god of death. Nike was the ancient Greek goddess of victory--victory both in war and in peaceful competition. If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content. DeTraci Regula is a freelance writer who has specialized in Greek travel and tours for 18 years. She would remark about the logo: I never got tired of looking at it.. In 'The Swoosh Story' we chart the history of the world's most recognizable brand: Nike Inc. Greek Titans in Mythology | Who are the Titans? [12] In contrast to Harrison and Baudrillart's views, E.E. She also has a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate and experience leading university-level classes in several subjects. Nike had three siblings: Zelos . Nike, Inc. is a multinational company that was founded in 1964, though the name of the company was not Nike until 1971. Nike - Myths and Facts. [39], During the Classical period, statuettes of Nike were often placed in the hands of larger deities. [29] Typically, Nike is the one who bestows the victor with the prize. Nike being depicted holding wreath reminds us that as the Goddess of Victory she was always ready to encase a winners neck and shoulders in a garland of victory. Nike is seen with wings in most statues and paintings, with one of the most famous . 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 . This is why the Athenians called the temple of the goddess on the Acropolis, Parthenon (parthenos in Greek means virgin). [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). 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. k/), "nee-keh" meaning: the Winged Goddess of Victory or from meaning victory Most people know who Nike is and what they do. Where did the idea from Nike's Just Do It campaign come from? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Her opposite was Harmonia.The equivalent Roman goddesses of Eris and Harmonia were Discordia and Concordia. A Nike apparel store is not the only place where the deity is represented in modern days. Given her striking appearance and unique skills, Nike does not actually appear in many mythological stories. her most well known powers are: the ability to fly . Fragments of Nike's face, forearms, and wings are missing, however, pieces of her wings can still be seen attached to her shoulders. [23] By assaulting Typhon with fire and ice, Zeus was able to defeat the monster and claim victory over the Titans. Gddess and personification of eternity. There are many interesting facts and modern-day ties to Nike. [33] Richard Neer proposes that this posture with the running stance, wings, and flowing garments were meant to evoke the swift speed of the goddess. The story begins with a winged champion named Nike. 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", Olga, Palagia. In 'The Swoosh Story' we chart the history of the world's most recognizable brand: Nike Inc. In classical iconography, Nikeis depicted as a fit, young, winged women with a palm frond or blade. Nike became Zeus's charioteer. [12] Sikes postulates that the theory that Nike first originated from Athena arose from the confusion of the two goddesses at Athens where Athena Nike and Nike existed alongside each other. In terms of temples, Nike did not have many of them dedicated solely to her. In turn, the Olympians Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo, and Aphroditedefeated them and became the leading gods. The goddess Nike is all about winning, being number one. Also, What does Nike stand for? 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). The multinational company Nike Inc., known for its athletic clothing and sports equipment, was named after the goddess Nike in 1971. She served Zeus in the war against the Titans and afterward gave the victors of battles wreaths of laurel. The Greek goddess also wears sandals of gold, and besides victory, her two other main associations are strength and speed. But did you know that those shoes were actually named after a Greek goddess? Just 5 hours before the shipment was due to go out Johnson awoke with the name Nike. God of health and medicine. "Nike and Athena Nike. Goddess of the circle . [15] According to the Theogony Nike, Zelus, Kratos, and Bia "will not live apart from Zeus nor go except where the god goes before them, but they sit for ever beside heavy-booming Zeus. The 2 goddesses are similar in many aspects, for example, both goddesses are winged deities. Nike has been the symbol used since 1945 by Americas Anti Aircraft Missile System. She came to be regarded as the protecting goddess of the Senate, and her statue in the Curia Julia (originally set up by Augustus in memory of the Battle of Actium) was the cause of the final combat between Christianity and paganism toward the end of the 4th century. Anna Perenna. By now you are probably wondering what all this has to do with Nike. On the very very rare occasions Nike has to fight, she will use the few . ", Parkin, Andrew. It goes some way to explain her complicated origin. victory in all aspects of ones life, not just in war. The idea behind the [] Nike, Inc. is named after a Greek goddess, Nike the goddess of victory. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. "Art as a Trophy: the Nike of Paionios. Answer (1 of 9): The name originated with Nike's employee #1, Jeff Johnson. When she is pictured with the Staff of Hermes, this means that one of Nikes roles was to serve as a messenger from the gods. 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. She was also often seen with a cup or pitcher and a bowl from which a victory toast was consumed. Quite commonly, Nike is shown holding a palm branch, which was often used to symbolize the period of peace following a victory. As Zeus rode off from the battlefield, Nike followed him driving her father's chariot. [12], In Greek mythology Nike, the personification of victory, has two possible origin stories. Winged Victory Nike of Samothrace, Greek Goddess h 27,5 inch (70cm) - Hand patinated statue, Carrara marble cast, Made in Italy, Gift Idea. https://www.thoughtco.com/greek-mythology-nike-1525981 (accessed January 18, 2023). Davidson crafted the logo for an unbelievably small amount of money, just $35, and she even . It was designed by Kallikrates, one of the architects of the Parthenon during the rule reign of Pericles, about 420 B.C. Nike is most commonly symbolized by the laurel wreath. I want to tell her. Nike was the goddess of . Throughout her history, she has been allied with the most powerful gods in the Greek Pantheon. Athena Nike was always wingless. As the goddess of both wisdom and war, Athena was one of the most important deities in ancient Greek mythology. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. She had no love affairs and symbolized the eternal virginity. For the ancient Greeks, speed and strength were the two keys to victory in anything important - combat, wrestling, running, or boxing - so it made sense that she'd be connected to all of them. [28] In both these examples Nike is associated with victory in an athletic competition rather than only a military competition. The design was changed after Brazil won 3 out of 4 World Cups in a row because, as per FIFA regulations, the trophy was theirs to keep permanently. She is honored in the Temple of Athena Nikeand is said to have been present in the hand of Zeus in the Temple of Olympian Zeus. [10], Nike and Athena are both associated with victory, which has resulted in contestation over the origins of Nike. [39] The Nike of Corfu also has a hollowed out back which has resulted in Parkin, C. Vermeule, and D. Von Bothmer to hypothesize that the statue was originally mounted on another base or the statue was intended to fit into the hand of a larger deity. Don't think about it - just do it. In ancient times, the laurel wreath was commonly given to victors of battles and friendly competitions. Her siblings were Kratos (god of Strength), Bia (goddess of Force), and Zelus (god of Zeal). I want to tell her that he loved her more than anything. By classical times, she was the only goddess who still had them. Nike: The ancient Greeks worshiped a pantheon of gods and goddesses. Your email address will not be published. Although her wings are lost, the roots of them can still be seen behind her shoulders. "The Story of Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory." According to Pausanias, this Nike statue was roughly four cubits tall (about seventy-two inches). He is a graduate in Literature. Nike (shoe company) has been manufacturing sports equipment since 1978. Nike, in ancient Greek religion, the goddess of victory, daughter of the giant Pallas and of the infernal River Styx. What is the goddess Nike's powers? [7] Thus, the two goddesses merged into one to form the Athena Nike personality. 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. A Greek would say, "When we go to battle and win, we say it is Nike." According to Greek Mythology, The Nike was the winged goddess of victory. Stories about the goddess said that she would "swoop" in suddenly. One of the most famous and important depictions of Nike is the Winged Victory of Samothrace statue, shown in the photo in the section "The Story of Nike the Goddess." When the 1928 Olympic design was made, it featured Nike. Updates? Nike alone is often depicted in Greek art winged and carrying a symbol of victory, such as a wreath or palm frond. Nike was not just associated with the . In the 20th century, Nike became the name for one of the world's largest shoe companies. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); World History Edu 2023. OregonLive.com estimates the gift of 500 shares of Nike stock she received as a result of her . Nike has become a common symbol in the modern sports world. During the Titanomachy conflict, she was the chief charioteer. Aesculapius. "The Priestess of Athena Nike. 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. God of the Acis River in Sicily. 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. Corrections? Thirty per cent of sports footwear sales belong to Nike. All rights reserved. The straight lines of her garments imply weightiness and the pull of gravity during her gentle descent. Regardless of whether it is 2017 or 250BC, mankind has equated success and triumph with being regarded as #1 in some pursuit whether it be a sport or in our career. She flew over battlefields to reward those that she and her master favored with glory and fame. This trophy was known as the Jules Rimet Trophy, named after the third FIFA president. Regula, deTraci. No-one was particularly taken with the name, but time was the of the essence. [32] The slight overfold of her peplos across the midsection also evokes the sense of a small wind blowing upwards from her soft descent. Unearthed in 1863, it is now an acquisition of the Louvre, in Paris. Their children, the Titans (Prometheus who gave fire to man is probably . The Nike. According to Andrew Stewart the doffed helmet and pomegranate are symbols of assistance, fertility, and peace. An error occurred trying to load this video. His original idea for the brand name supposedly was Dimension 6. In Greek Mythology, Nike was the Goddess of speed, strength and victory. Nike is named after a woman - the Greek goddess of victory- but for most of . She can pop up in plenty other instances too. Only once Hephaestus tried to annoy her erotically, but the goddess resisted bravely. According to Sikes, Nike was worshipped as a facet of Athena because Athena was Athens's patron goddess and thus held greater power in her own city and acropolis. Nike's resilience and determination made her recognizable throughout her time, eventually naming her a Goddess. The Story of Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory. Nike, Zelos, Kratos, and Bia were brought into the god's service by their mother. Nike cannot Apple these blessings on herself, and only her teammates. Nike is also depicted in literature as a goddess who judges the excellence of gods and mortals in competition. [32] The statue of Nike from the Temple of Neptune at Corfu also implies a gently appearance out of nothing rather than a hurtling from somewhere. This led to customers associating their purchases with the prospect of achieving greatness. [32], As time goes on Nike's legs begin to straighten and her movement becomes a more subtle alighting movement with a slight forward component. Nike noun origin: Greek , pronounced: (/n. But, by far, her large wings are her greatest attribute. Nike himself. All these details suggest Nike is appearing and making a graceful descent to the earth rather than dashing sideways into view. According to myth, Nike's mother Styx brought her children to Zeus when the god was assembling allies for the battle against the Titans. Her left arm is raised and once held her himation, or outer robe, as it blew out behind her in the wind. His explanation was that the Athenians removed the goddess's wings to prevent her from ever leaving Athens. Answer (1 of 3): Is Nike related to Athena? Hyperion in Greek Mythology: God of Light | Who is Hyperion? Eris was the Greek goddess of chaos, strife and discord.She was the daughter of Zeus and Hera; according to other myths, she was the daughter of Nyx (dark night) alone. 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