Winged Victory of Samothrace

• The Winged Victory of Samothrace, also called the Nike of Samothrace, is a sculpture from Ancient Greece created in Parian Marble of the Goddess Nike.
• It is considered by historians to be one of the greatest masterpieces of Ancient Greece and a cultural icon. The original is located in the Louvre Museum, with copies in Museums and Galleries around the world.

History

• It is dated to c.190 BCE, and is thought to represent a Naval Victory by the Rhodian Navy.
• The statue originally stood in the Sanctuary of the Great Gods in Samothrace, where a plastic copy now stands.
• Its sculptor, date and reason for its creation remain uncertain.

The Louvre

• Discovered in 1863 by the French Consul in Adrianopolis, it was sent to Paris, where it entered the collection of the Louvre Museum in 1884.
• It is one of the most important exhibits in the Louvre, and is displayed at the top of the Daru staircase.