Goddess Weathervane – Nike

The Winged Victory Weathervane featured here was one of our more complicated commissions. Our customer wanted a completed version of the famous marble sculpture of Nike in Paris’ Louvre Museum. Quite a challenge considering that the original sculpture is currently missing her arms and head! It was a rather daunting prospect to add such important appendages to a world renowned masterpiece and, at the same time, satisfy her aerodynamic requirements as a weathervane. However, we persevered, and our customer is well pleased.

Our Winged Victory of Samothrace is shown with optional gold leaf on her face, arms and feet. We also included laurel wreaths, which are typically made of interlocking branches and leaves of the Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis, Lauraceae), an aromatic broadleaf evergreen. In ancient Greece wreaths were awarded to victors, both in athletic competitions, including the ancient Olympics, and in poetic meets. The laurel wreath on her head and in her extended hand were gilded with palladium leaf. Our customer also requested that we make her with translucent glass eyes.

In Greek mythology, Nike personified victory, and was also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. Her Roman equivalent was Victoria. She is the goddess of strength, speed, and victory and was a very close acquaintance of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Justice. It is thought that Nike stood in Athena’s outstretched hand in the statue of Athena located in the Parthenon. Nike is one of the most commonly portrayed figures on Greek coins and her aforementioned association with strength, speed and victory has made her a well known athletic logo.

Please enjoy our Greek Mythology Gallery

Greek Mythology Gallery

Zeus Weathervane	Galloping Centaur Weathervane	Pegasus Weathervane
Armillary Sphere Weathervane	Moon Goddess Weathervane	Goddess Nike Weathevane
	Standing Centaur Weathervane