Welcome to Nike is Now. Our project explores the world of ancient Greek culture, architecture, and archaeology. Nike is Now also explores and illuminates the Greek goddess Nike, her temples, her cults, her influences, and her powers, from ancient times to modern. Nike, the Greek personification of victory; the equivalent to the Roman personification Victoria. In Greek literature, Nike is first mentioned by Hesiod (ca. 700 BCE) as daughter of the Titans Pallas and Styx.

She is the youngest sister of Zelos ('Rivalry'), Kratos ('Strength') and Bia ('Force'). In Hesiod's Theogony, Nike battles the Titans alongside the Olympian gods and is rewarded for her loyalty with honor and glory. In specific victory odes, Pindar (ca. 480 BCE) and Bacchylides (ca. 475 BCE) represent Nike as one who judges aretē ('excellence') and both bestows and proclaims victory. Her spheres of influence are those of war, sport, poetry, and art – wherever there is agōn ('competition'). Nike signals victory in all.

In ancient Greek art, Nike is enormously popular. She is almost always shown with wings and in a stance or position that communicates her powerful, energetic, and ephemeral nature.



In vase painting, she shows up early as a messenger of the gods and, in the Archaic period (ca. 650-480 BCE), is often indistinguishable from other winged heralds, such as Iris.

In the Classical period (ca. 480-400 BCE), she is very fashionable and is often shown dedicating armor and weapons, pouring libations over altars, or bestowing garlands on athletes and warriors. She is sometimes a charioteer in more complex figural schemes, often for Athena.

She is present in numismatic iconography - on coins - from the beginning of the fifth century BCE. In sculpture, she shows up as an akroterion (roof sculpture) in the beginning of the sixth century BCE; her status as a favorite akroterion type in the Classical period, either alone or in veritable flocks, is unrivaled.  

Our website shows how Nike's influence began, the affect this popular goddess had on the hearts and minds of the ancient Greeks, and the continued use of her power and imagery in our contemporary, fast-paced, competitive society. Nike transformed the world of ancient Greek art. Our educational articles by a team of archaeologists, historians, and other academics, raise her profile, help people worldwide understand where she
 came from, and how she remains such an important part of our lives.


Nike and her origins has a thrilling story to tell - a nuanced, unexpected view of Nike that will capture the imagination of the adventurous, the skeptical, and the curious.

When is Nike? Nike is Now!