Statue of Athene Athene is my best guest. Open to correcti… Flickr

The story of Nike, the Winged Victory of Samothrace: where was the statue found, when and how it was made, its meaning and its location today at the Louvre.. These statues show the goddess in flight, her drapery blown by the wind, with her wings stretched behind her balanced by her extended arms in front. Nike of Samothrace most likely appeared similarly, but on a much larger scale.

One of the most celebrated works of Hellenistic art is without doubt the Nike of Samothrace, on display at the Louvre since 1884 CE. The white Parian marble statue represents the personification of winged victory. In a sense, the impact of the 2.75 m high statue is even greater now because the head and both arms of the goddess are missing. The masterly rendering of the wavy drapes of her.. The statue was one of many marble pieces that adorned the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, an ancient temple complex on the island of Samothrace. This seaside shrine was dedicated to the Mystery religion, or secret cult, of the Great Mother. The historical context of the Winged Victory is from the Hellenistic era, when the Greeks honored the Gods with monuments.