VICTORY – GODDESS NIKE! #blogchatterA2Z
Nike was the Greek personification of battle, apart from
other things, closely connected to Zeus and his daughter, Athena. According to
the writer, Hesiod, she was the daughter of the river Styx and the Titan Pallas,
and lived in Mount Olympus with her brothers, Zelus, Kratos and Bia who personified
Rivalry, Strength and Force.
The Theogony of Hesiod (730 – 700 BC) describes the
battle of Zeus against Kronos and the Titans. According to his account, Zeus
summoned all the gods, vowing that those who aligned with him against Kronos would
always enjoy his favour. The first one to rush to his side was Styx, along with
her children, including Nike. Zeus was aware of the advantages that the strength
of the family would add to his side. He invited them to stay with him at Mount
Olympus by his side forever. In the battle that ensued, Nike was by Zeus’ side,
for which she received numerous honours after they won.
Zeus and Nike - Pinterest
Nike was also of immense help to Zeus in his fight
against the several snake-headed giant Typhon who stole Zeus’ thunderbolts.
According to Nonnus in his Dionysiaca, Typhon proceeded to attack the heavens
and the seas. Nike approached Zeus and exhorted him to fight the giant to
protect his children, especially his daughters, Athena and Artemis. Through guile,
Zeus had managed to retrieve his thunderbolts, which incensed Typhon, who
continued his relentless battle.
Zeus used the clouds as his armour and went into battle,
Nike by his side. She held her shield in front of Zeus, ensuring that victory
was his. When the battle ended, Zeus rode off the battlefield in his golden
chariot, with Nike driving “her father’s team with the heavenly whip”.
Nike, the winged goddess - Cedric Ferris
In all the battles that followed, Nike always accompanied Zeus as his charioteer, aiding him towards victory with her ability to foresee victories and lead him towards them.
Nike was also invoked by Greek playwrights like Euripedes
(5th century BC) known for his tragic plays and the comedic
playwright Menander (4th century BC) who appealed to her at the end
of their plays, maybe to ensure victory to their heroes. She was also mentioned
by the Greek poets Pindar and Bacchylides (5th century BC) as the
giver of victory in athletic contests. Bacchylides called Nike the “giver of sweet
gifts” who stood by Zeus to judge “the achievement of excellence” for both gods
and men.
Nike is often depicted as a long-robed, winged goddess who
moves swiftly with strength and determination. Her symbol appears to be the
laurel wreath. The laurel wreath was often presented to winners in battle and
in friendly contests. Her main weakness was her fierce desire to always win, to
keep up her title as goddess of victory.
There is a cult in
various places in Greece where she is commemorated even today.
Trivia:
Phonetic Pronunciation: Nike -
Nike is also known as the Goddess of Speed. This is why the
company, which was originally founded on January 25th, 1964, called ‘Blue
Ribbon Sports’ was later renamed Nike, Inc. on May 30th, 1971.
What a fascinating story of Goddess Nike
ReplyDeleteWhile I knew that the company's name was from a Greek Goddess, it was interesting to read the story behind it.
ReplyDelete