bavarikon4UDescription
Goddess Nike is descending from Mount Olympus. She is a messenger delivering to human beings a victory granted by a deity. Nike is the personification of an abstract concept, like it is characteristic for the Greek mental universe. It goes without saying that as a goddess, Nike is youthful and beautiful. This is why she has an unruly head of hair that is typical of young women, and her movements are marked by charm and grace. Her large, fine feathered wings tell us that she is a messenger of the gods. Nike can get to a victor at any place on Earth. Her garment is pressed to her legs, which illustrates the fast movement of the goddess. Originally she was holding a narrow band, a victory ribbon, which the winner of an athletic or musical contest put on.
The terracotta statuette does not have a base. As a hovering figurine she was made with holes for hanging up. Individual parts, such as the wings, parts of her garment, arms and head were made with moulds and then assembled. This procedure allowed for producing clay figurines of outstanding quality in series. Remains of the white prime coat and traces of the paint have been preserved. Based on the design the figurine can be dated to the period between 370 and 330 BC.
A clay figurine like this could be donated to a deity – as thanks for a victory gained or along with a plea for successful future achievements.