Winged Victory of Samothrace
The Winged Victory of Samothrace, or the Niké of Samothrace, is a votive monument originally found on the island of Samothrace, north of the Aegean Sea. It is a masterpiece of Greek sculpture from the Hellenistic era, dating from the beginning of the 2nd century BC. It is composed of a statue representing the goddess Niké (Victory), whose head and arms are missing and its base is in the shape of a ship's bow.
Winged Victory of Samothrace
Nike of Samothrace: the conserved parts of the statue, after Benndorf, 1880
Tetradrachm of Demetrios Poliorcetes (293–292 BC). Obverse: Nike before the ship; reverse: Poseidon.
Model of the Victory of Samothrace after Benndorf and Hauser, 1880.
Samothrace is a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea. It is a municipality within the Evros regional unit of Thrace. The island is 17 km (11 mi) long, 178 km2 (69 sq mi) in size and has a population of 2,596. Its main industries are fishing and tourism. Resources on the island include granite and basalt. Samothrace is one of the most rugged Greek islands, with Mt. Saos and its highest peak Fengari rising to 1,611 m (5,285 ft). The Winged Victory of Samothrace statue, which is now displayed at the Louvre in Paris, originates from the island.
View of the Chora (Samothraki)
Samothrace (from NNE)
Sanctuary of the Great Gods, Paleopolis
Samothrace, with Mount Fengari in the background