In 1863, archaeologist Charles Champoiseau, returning from Greece, brought more than two hundred fragments of marble sculpture to Paris. Of these, thanks to the efforts of restorers, the winged goddess Nike, Victory, was revived in 1884. Even without a head and arms, with a right wing made of plaster (an exact copy of the left one), she captivated art connoisseurs with her beauty and has since been considered one of the pearls of the Louvre.
It was installed on the top landing of the Daru marble staircase. “This staircase... was wonderful in itself, but its main miracle was that all of it, in all the harmony and severity of its ascent, in all the festive, bright alternation of light and shadow on the polished planes of its steps, served only as a pedestal standing on on the top platform of the figure, Ariadna Efron, daughter of Marina Tsvetaeva, described in her memoirs the impression of meeting Nika. “It was the statue of the Samothrace victory... This victory was so huge that it was easy, having realized only its base - the harmonious bow of a trireme ship made of stone blocks - to go around it without looking up.
Headless and armless, grossly mutilated by Christian barbarism, beaten and gouged by the millennia that had passed over her, the jubilant goddess stopped in her run to sound the trumpet of victory, and three hundred years BC the raging wind covered her young, triumphant body with folds of clothing, wet and heavy from the spray of the surf. , fluttered in her widely and strongly outstretched wings, ruffling their marble feathers..."
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The Samothrace statue was named after the island where Champoiseau found it. Samothraki (Samothraki), located in the northern part of the Aegean Sea, shared the fate of many Greek islands: its history is intertwined with legends. According to one of them, “Earth Shaker,” the god of the seas Poseidon chose Samothrace as his abode. On Mount Fengari, the highest in the Aegean Sea (1611 m), the god sat watching the battle under the walls of Troy, Homer says.
Poseidon just doesn’t let anyone onto his island - the unpredictable north wind and sea currents can suddenly turn over ships and drag them to the bottom, and sailing to Samothrace cannot be called safe. Maybe that's why its inhabitants always sought protection from higher powers. Since ancient times, the Kabirs, the mysterious Great Gods who were not part of the greek pantheon. It is known that they granted protection to those initiated into the Samothrace Mysteries, especially at sea, and revealed the mysteries of death and rebirth.
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The Samothrace sanctuary especially flourished in the Hellenistic era - then almost all the cities of Greece gathered for religious festivals, bringing with them rich gifts, and there were countless people who sought to join the sacraments of Kabirov.
The Nike of Samothrace, sculpted by the sculptor Pythocritus, supposedly in 190-180 BC, was also given as a gift to the Cabirs - the inhabitants of the island of Rhodes thanked them for their victory in the naval battle.
A furious wind, a furious dance of waves that captures the horizon - the element of the sea threatens with death those who are afraid of it. And only the one who rushes against the winds and waves, who, in the midst of raging water, finds support and solid ground within himself, - at the most difficult moment, will be rewarded with the happiness of hearing the victorious sound of a bugle and the sound of mighty wings over the waves, and to discern the Samothrace Victory behind the veil of salty spray , descending onto the bow of the ship. Nika is nearby while the battle lasts, while the tension internal forces The abilities necessary to win are born within us. But it flies away from where only the laurels of past achievements remain. You cannot hold back the Winged Victory, but its appearance is all the more desirable! This is exactly how the architect Pythocritus depicted the goddess at the moment of his desired appearance.
For more than a hundred years, the Nike of Samothrace has stood in the Louvre. Like a masterpiece of ancient art, a jewel in museum collection. Resisting the destructive course of time, perhaps in the hope that someone will look at her differently and, as before, ask her to grant victory.
to the magazine "Man Without Borders"
Nike of Samothrace – Greek marble sculpture winged goddess Victory (the sculptor is unknown, but there is an assumption that it could be Pythocritus from Rhodes). One of the most famous masterpieces Louvre. The statue was installed on a high cliff on the small island of Samothrace. On a partially preserved inscription at the base of the sculpture there is the word "Rhodhios" (Rhodes), which presumably may indicate that it was erected to honor the naval victory won by Rhodes, which at that time was the most powerful naval power in the Aegean.
How the statue was found
Numerous fragments of the Nike statue were discovered by the French consul and amateur archaeologist Charles Champoiseau on the island of Samothrace in 1863. They were carefully collected, but the head and hands were never found. But the goddess is so graceful, and the forms of the human body are so expressive, that you simply forget about the absence of arms and head.
Only in 1950, a fragment of the once beautiful and strong right hand was discovered, which many of the researchers consider to belong to Nike (it is displayed in a separate display case). Others disagree with them. However, despite the absence of arms and head, the expressiveness of the forms of the human body is such that you are immediately imbued with their plastic beauty, a bewitching combination of strength and grace, and you forget about the missing parts.
History of the statue
The sculpture of the Nike of Samothrace is carved from golden Parian marble; the name of the master, the time and the reason for its creation have not been precisely established to this day. For a long time it was believed that it was this statue of Nike blowing a trumpet that was reproduced on the coin and that it was made in honor of the victory won in 306 BC. e. The ships of the Macedonian commander Demetrius Poliorcetes defeated the fleet of the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy.
In memory of this glorious victory, the Greeks erected a marble statue of a winged goddess, who went down in history under the name Nike of Samothrace, on a high rock at the entrance to the harbor of the island of Samothrace. The pedestal of the goddess was made in the form of the bow of a warship, huge white wings rose behind Nika’s back, and the goddess herself, exposing her strong torso to the gusts of the oncoming wind, selflessly blew a large signal trumpet. Over time, many factors have cast doubt on this hypothesis.
Description of the sculpture of Nike of Samothrace
Furious waves crashed with a roar on the rock at Nika’s feet, heavy gusts of wind sought to press her outstretched wings... The folds of the goddess’s clothes wrap around her legs in heavy masses, flow around her hips, visually conveying the resistance that Nika overcomes when she spreads her wings. If the goddess had not struggled with the wind, she might have seemed too large and heavy, but due to her body directed forward, thanks to the violent movement, her powerful proportions lose their heaviness, acquiring a charming slenderness. Filled with anxious tension and impulse, leaning forward a little, against the wind, the goddess seemed to be preparing to fly over the sea. This is in fact the goddess of Victory, sweeping away everything in her path.
Now the sculpture of Nike of Samothrace is exhibited in the Louvre, at the turn of the wide staircase. She stands on a stone, like on the bow of a ship, in flowing marble robes. You must approach the statue slowly, without taking your eyes off it, and walk around it to the right and left. If possible, you should return to it in the evening and admire the sculpture again. Under the light of powerful spotlights, the marble begins to glow and acquires amazing transparency. Perhaps no other work of ancient sculpture makes a stronger impression. The Nike statue seems to be a wonderful symbol of man's aspiration to the future. This impression is enhanced by the fact that the sculpture is wonderfully displayed. The statue stands alone on the landing, against the backdrop of an ascetically bare wall. Wide steps rise up to it. The static and monotony of a dead stone is opposed by the reverent movement of a stone that came to life under the hand of an unknown ancient master.
People standing near the statue seem small in front of it: Nika “floats” above them and at the same time is directed towards them. She announces victory and herself is its personification.
Nike in Greek mythology
According to Greek mythology, Nike was an ally of Zeus. She was always presented with wings and certainly in a pose of movement, which evoked a feeling of victory and confidence.
In ancient times, the sculpture adorned the Samothrace Sanctuary of the gods - the Kabiri, about whose origin nothing is known. They were not part of the Olympus pantheon. These are ancient deities of ancient Greek and earlier mythology. These great gods had the power to relieve troubles and dangers. At the same time, these gods were considered formidable deities who punished misdeeds. It was in Samothrace that the Kabiri were revered as patrons of navigation. According to myths, the Kabirs granted victories in naval battles by sending Nike to the ship as a harbinger of a successful outcome. And the sailors, in gratitude, donated statues to thank the deities.
To this day she blows her victorious horn, and no centuries-old storms can drown out the silent noise of her wings.
The Winged Nike of Samothrace is a marble Hellenistic sculpture greek goddess victory, which was created around the 2nd century BC. Since 1884, it has been exhibited at the Louvre and is one of the most famous sculptures in the world.
Experts believe the statue " greatest masterpiece Hellenistic sculpture”, because numerous studies have proven that Nike is an ancient Greek original, and not a later Roman copy. It is impossible to dispute the value of this magnificent masterpiece of sculptural art, because it allows us to appreciate the unique level of development of sculpture in Ancient Greece.
Triumph and grace in every detail
The winged statue was most likely dedicated to the Battle of Salamis in 306 BC as a monument to a military triumph. However, for much of the 20th century, the prevailing theory was based on the work of Hermann Thiersch and Karl Lehmann, who considered Nike to be a Rhodian monument commemorating the victories at Side and Monessos in 190 BC.
Based on this theory, the creator of the sculpture was most likely the Rhodian sculptor Pitocritus. However, in recent years this theory is increasingly being criticized, and scientists cannot say unequivocally who created such an expressive and realistic statue.
The 244 cm tall statue was created not only to honor the goddess Nike, but also as a triumphal monument to the great naval battle. The statue incredibly accurately conveys the dynamics and sense of triumph, and also depicts the finest elements of fabric and drapery, as if the goddess is descending onto the shore from the bow of a docked ship.
Modern scholars believe that Nike occupied a niche above the theater, and also suggest that it accompanied the altar, which was located within sight of the monument to the ship of Demetrius I Poliorketes (337-283 BC). An elegant sculpture made in gray and white Tasian and Parian marble. This figure was originally part temple complex Samothrace, dedicated to the Great Gods Megala Theo. The figure of a woman stands on a rostral pedestal of gray marble, representing the prow of a ship, and symbolizes the goddess who descends from heaven onto the triumphal fleet. The hands of the statue were never discovered during the excavations, but it is believed that originally one hand of the statue was raised in a triumphant gesture of victory, and the other covered its mouth, holding back a joyful cry of glee.
This work is notable for its compelling depiction of poses that exhibit violent movements and sudden static. The viewer is especially struck by how the sculptor managed to convey in stone the draped clothes of the figure, reflecting the gusts of a light sea breeze. The Nike of Samothrace is perceived as a symbolic image of the triumphant spirit and the divine, instantly approaching a person with a feeling of limitless power.
The stylistic depiction of wings is still a topic of scientific discussion, since the feather pattern is not similar either to the wings of birds in nature, or to the wings in Greek art. As with the weapon, the figure's head was never found, but other fragments have since been found: in 1950, a team led by Karl Lehmann discovered Winged Nike's missing right hand. It turned out that the hand without fingers had escaped the archaeologists' field of vision and was all this time under a large rock, next to which the statue originally stood. Two fingers were found separately and were later connected to the hand. Now Nika’s hand, like the statue itself, is kept in the Louvre and is exhibited in a separate glass pavilion, next to the sculpture.
One more interesting feature statues - one side of the figure is made of better quality and carefully worked out. This suggests that they planned to install the statue half-turned, thus revealing only one side of it to the audience. The partially preserved inscription on the base of the statue includes the word "Rhodios". This indicates that the statue was commissioned to celebrate the naval victory of Rhodes, then the most powerful maritime state in the Aegean Sea.
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The history of the creation and search for an ancient masterpiece
Although the sculptor is still unknown, Paul McKendrick suggests that this creation was by Pitocritus of Lindos. When fragments of sculpture were first discovered on the island of Samothrace and a report published in 1863, it was suggested that the Nike was erected by the Macedonian general Demetrius Poliorketes after his naval victory in Cyprus between 295 and 289 BC.
The Archaeological Museum of Samothrace continues to maintain its opinion regarding the correctness of these dates and circumstances. However, evidence regarding the age of the statue was questioned by the Rhodes commission, since the closest artistic parallel to the Nike of Samothrace are the figures depicted on Macedonian coins. The Samothrace Temple was an important sanctuary for the Hellenistic Macedonian kings. The most likely battle commemorated by this monument is perhaps the Battle of Kos in 255 BC, in which Antigonus II of Gontatas of Macedon defeated the fleet of Ptolemy II of Egypt.
In April 1863, the Nike was discovered by the then French consul in Adrianopolis and amateur archaeologist Charles Champoiseau (1830-1909), who sent all the found fragments of the masterpiece to Paris in the same year. The statue was assembled from individual fragments found during excavations. Only 20 years later, in 1883, the statue was exhibited in the Louvre and located where it would visually dominate - above the central staircase of the Daru. A plaster copy of the Winged Nike was installed in the original place of discovery - in the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on Samothrace.
In the fall of 1939, the Winged Nike was removed from its pedestal in anticipation of the outbreak of World War II. All museums in Paris were closed on August 25. The works of art were packaged for removal outside of Paris to places considered safer. During the Great Patriotic War the statue was protected at the Château de Valency along with the Venus de Milo and works by Michelangelo.
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Restoration 2013
In 2013, restoration and restoration efforts were undertaken to improve appearance sculptures. This was the first detailed study individual parts sculptures using modern equipment. The restoration aimed to restore the marble to its original shade, which had changed significantly over time. The sculpture was removed from its pedestal and moved to the next room, which had previously been converted into a restoration workshop. The base was dismantled block by block and also placed in the workshop.
Scientific research was carried out based on modern methods- UV, infrared, X-ray spectroscopy, etc. All scientific manipulations were carried out before cleaning the surface of the marble. These efforts were intended to accommodate the goals of the original restoration completed in 1883. The surface of the base was cleaned and then reassembled, and some of the marble spaces were repaired. Once the restoration was complete, the statue was reunited with its base and returned to its original position at the head of the Daru staircase in the Louvre.
Despite significant damage and incompleteness, the Nike is considered one of the greatest surviving masterpieces of sculpture from the Hellenistic era and the entire Greco-Roman period. The statue demonstrates the superb skill of the sculptor, who depicts realistic forms and movements, which still makes a strong impression on critics and artists around the world. Today, Winged Nike is considered one of the greatest treasures Louvre.
November 23rd, 2011 , 08:28 am
The magnificent Nike of Samothrace, an ancient Greek marble sculpture of the goddess of Victory is one of the most valuable exhibits Louvre. It was found on the island of Samothrace on the territory of the Cabiri sanctuary in April 1863 by the French consul and amateur archaeologist Charles Champoiseau. That same year she was sent to France. Currently, the Nike of Samothrace is located on the Daru staircase of the Denon gallery in the Louvre. The statue is made of Parian marble, the ship is made of gray Larthian marble (Rhodes), the right wing is a plaster reconstruction. The head and arms of the statue are missing.
The Winged Nike is one of the most beautiful statues of the Hellenistic era. The sculpture of the goddess of victory was erected on the island of Samothrace in memory of the naval victory of the Greeks over the fleet of the Syrian king. The figure of the goddess stood on a high cliff above the sea on a pedestal in the shape of the bow of a warship. The powerful and majestic Nika, in clothes fluttering in the wind, is presented in an unstoppable movement forward. The confident step of the goddess and the proud flapping of her wings give rise to a feeling of triumphant victory.
She is different, depending on where you look at her from, but always - flying, winged Nike. Unfortunately, the head and hands of the statue were not found. But how wonderful is what, fortunately, was found! The master makes you feel the strong sea wind blowing towards Nike, strong gusts who is excited by the folds of the goddess’s clothing, outline the beautiful shapes of her figure and make the edge of her cloak swirl. Sea element, strong wind, the vast expanses are embodied in the plastic forms of the statue.
In order to get a good and correct look at the Nike of Samothrace, you need to approach it slowly and, without taking your eyes off, walk around it to the right and left. If time permits, you should return to it in the evening and admire it again. Under the influence of strong spotlights, marble begins to glow and acquires amazing transparency.
None of the works of ancient sculpture makes a stronger impression. Nika seems to be a wonderful symbol of a person’s aspiration for the future. This impression is enhanced by the fact that the statue is beautifully displayed. She stands alone on the landing, against the backdrop of an ascetically bare wall. Wide, calm steps rise up to it measuredly. People around Nika seem small. The goddess hovers above them and at the same time is directed towards them. She announces victory and is herself its inspired personification.
How did he portray ancient sculptor goddess of victory? Winged Nike seemed to have just landed on the bow of the ship and was still full of impetuous movement. It is especially felt when looking at the statue on the right. The light fabric rises on the high chest, and a little lower it almost fits the body, emphasizing its slimness. Around the hips, the folds of the chiton begin to round, run over each other and, finally, frantically rush along the leg set back. They are echoed by wings and a fluttering cloak. Another moment, and Nika will fly again - you experience the same feeling when the music gradually begins to increase and freezes at a very high note. When you stand right in front of Nika, the impression changes. There is more peace and balance in the statue, but the dynamics do not disappear - the fresh wind throws back the unruly folds of clothing and sways them. Nika is ready to flap her mighty wings at any moment.
Nike of Samothrace
Location: Paris, Louvre
Time of creation: around 190 BC.
Location of discovery: Samothrace Island (northern Aegean Sea)
Material: statue – Parian marble, ship – gray Latros marble
Statue height: 2.45 m.
Height with ship: 3.28 m
Nike of Samothrace on a pedestal in the Louvre, France, Paris (Bob Hall / flickr.com) Yann Caradec / flickr.com B.Hbers / flickr.com Roger W / flickr.com Thomas Ulrich / flickr.com Henri Sivonen / flickr.com Sharon Mollerus / flickr.com Alf Melin / flickr.com
In April 1863, a marble sculpture of the Greek goddess of victory with wings, Nike of Samothrace, was found on the island of Samothrace.
This find was assigned to the French consul, as well as an amateur in archeology, Charles Champoiseau. Under his patronage, the sculpture was immediately transported to Paris, and in 1884 it took pride of place in the Louvre on the Daru staircase.
A plaster copy of the statue is kept in the Samothrace Museum in the Sanctuary of the Great Gods. This museum is located on the sculpture excavations.
“Nike of Samothrace” is an absolute masterpiece of Hellenic art, which has been preserved despite all the damage and the absence of the head and arms. The author of this work is unknown, although it is believed that he was from Rhodes.
The statue itself was created in 220-190. BC Champoise, in his first article about the sculpture, hypothesized that it was created on the orders of the Macedonian military leader Demetrius I Poliorcetes immediately after the victory in the battle at sea off the coast of Cyprus in 295-289. BC This hypothesis was supported by the Museum of Archeology in Samothrace and is inclined towards it to this day.
Not long ago, an analysis of ceramics from the latest excavations was carried out, which showed that the pedestal was created around 200 BC, but a group of archaeologists considers the true period to be 250-180 BC. BC This is due to some similarities between the Nike sculpture and the statues of the Pergamon Altar, which was created around 170 BC.
At the foot of the sculpture, fragments of an inscription containing the word “Rhodhios” (Rhodes) have been preserved. This is what drives the vision that the Nike of Samothrace was created after a naval battle in order to perpetuate the great coastal state in the Aegean - Rhodes. Therefore, the conclusion suggests itself that the Nike of Samothrace was erected before 288 BC.
According to the latest data from archaeologists, the statue was part of the altar and was attached to the stern of the monument ship of Demetrius I Poliorcetes and was located in the recess of the amphitheater. The statue is erected on a cross-shaped base made of Lartos marble gray. The author who created the figure made it seem to the beholder that the goddess was descending from heaven to the victorious flotilla.
The Nike was created from Parian marble and kept in the Sanctuary of the Great Gods. Missing right hand The maiden held a wreath or forge in her hands and was raised as on ancient coins.
Sculpture of the Nike of Samothrace in our time
The pedestal was restored from the remains of marble in 1879 and transported to Paris. In the same year, a statue was erected on it.
The right wing of the statue is a copy of the original left wing, made of plaster. Many individual parts were excavated, for example, in 1950, the brush of Nike of Samothrace was discovered and in at the moment it is also in the Louvre. However, the head and other remains of the hands were never found.
The author created the statue with ideal forms and very harmonious. Critics and art lovers admire her to this day. Special attention is given to the naturalness of the figure, because when contemplating it, one gets the impression that the clothes on her seem to be developing from a strong sea wind.
Soon the goddess Nike became an icon of painting and artists turned to her more than once for inspiration. For example, Abbott Henderson Thayer created the world famous plagiarism painting “Virgin”. In mid-1908, the “Manifesto of Futurism” was published, in which its author Filippo Tommaso Marinetti contrasted mechanics and movement with the inanimate pictorial image of Nike: “... the roaring engine of the car works as if on grapeshot - it is much more beautiful than the sculpture of the goddess Nike.”
The best asset of the Aegean
The Nike of Samothrace is one of the most valuable original statues in the Louvre. Now it is located on the Daru staircase, or rather, at its turn, and in this place the description of inspiration in the movements of the statue is most clearly conveyed.
Nike of Samothrace in the Louvre (Yann Caradec / flickr.com)
Most people who have seen the statue consider its appearance to be supernatural and mysterious and attribute this to the absence of such important elements as the head and hands. Many times scientists considered different variations of the reconstruction of the statue and came to the conclusion that perfect image Nick will acquire when turning three quarters to the left.
Lookalikes of the Nike statue can be seen all over the world. The most famous of them is located in Las Vegas in front of the entrance to the Caesar's Palace casino. Even the famous Rolls-Royce brand made a female figure on its radiator in Nicky's likeness. The first football World Cup, which was played by FIFA in 1930, is made in the image of the statue.
Reproductions of the Nike of Samothrace can be seen on the roofs of buildings designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. He was very fond of the statue of the goddess Nike and therefore even his most famous works, such as Ward Willits House, Darwin D. Martin House and Storer House, are crowned with her figure.