Mary Mitson
Laurie Olson-Horswill
English 216
10-23-2017
The Winged Victory of Samothrace
In the 19th century, an amateur archaeologist named Charles Champoiseau came across one part of a sanctuary that was hidden under ruble, while on that day he did not find the sanctuary; he did find a niche on the mountainside. In this niche was something that would create frenzy with archeologists everywhere. In this niche, Charles found a timeless tribute to the goddess Nike; it was a Sculpture by the name of The Winged Victory of Samothrace. In order to fully understand the importance of The Winged Victory of Samothrace we will need to learn about the island of Samothrace, the artisanship of the sculpture, and most importantly, the goddess Nike and her
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Most of the sculptures depicting her were constructed out of wood and encased in ivory and gold. There was a large emphasis of her bird like wings and wet thin draperies. While we still don’t know what naval battle spurred the Creation of The Winged Victory of Samothrace, we do know that the victory was mighty. It was so mighty, that rightly I assumed to know that the sculpture felt the Goddess Nike’s presents was with them. With great honor and thanks to the goddess The Winged Victory of Samothrace was born. The sculpture, carved from Parian marble, depicts the winged Nike. She stands tall to be over ten and a half feet; her wet and opaque drapery layered around her body as if the wind was only slightly present. She was set to pose ever so dramatically, her wings where stretched out behind her, She Stands confident and proud on the prow of a ship that was carved from gray marble from Lartos. The base of the ship even showed evidence suggesting that there may have been an artificial pool that the sculpture created. This pool could be filled with water so that ship may appear to be weightless and floating. While her head and arms are still lost to us, she is a truly the perfect representation of the Hellenistic times in which she was brought to
The Iliad alone would never have been a reliable source without archaeological evidence to verify the actuality of a Trojan war. Therefore archaeologists have been working on the site known as hissarlik since the 1800’s to uncover truths about the myth. Frank Calv...
The durability of clay has brought forth an immense abundance of Greek pottery, a craft mastered by Athenian artists. Archeologists have found hundreds of varieties in creation, shape, function, style, and artwork in Archaic vases. The museum has been blessed with one of these priceless artifacts; it is the duty of this establishment to accumulate as much data as possible surrounding the vase. In first identifying technique, dimensions, and condition, as well as describing shape, ornament, and figural scenery, one may then begin to analyze the vase. This serves the general purpose of understanding where the artifact stands in Greek culture and history. Through the examination and research of figural scenes, it is then possible to compare these to other scenes and styles of the same and other painters. Finally, one can then hypothesize where, why, and how this piece was used.
The Nike Adjusting Her Sandal was added to the Temple of Athena Nike in 410 BCE after the completion of the the entire Acropolis. The intricate carvings and elaborate nature of this piece illustrate a tremendous amount of skill on behalf of the unknown artist. In this sense, even though Pericles had died by the time the relief was carved, the sculpture was still a continuation his desire to show Athens’ power, strength, and wealth through elaborate construction and ornamentation. However, the Nike Adjusting Her Sandal’s historical significance goes beyond a desire to show skill. The relief was carved during the Athenian’s battle against Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. Athens had already suffered several defeats which placed the fate of their empire in jeopardy. Thusly, the low relief carvings on the parapet of The Temple of Athena Nike was a sort of political propaganda. The parapet’s various depictions of Nike symbolized victory, and thusly, served as a method of reminding the Athenians of their past victories along with the fact that the goddess of victory was on their side—lifting their spirits and encouraging them to fight on. The second aspect of the Nike Adjusting Her Sandal that makes the piece so significant in the world of art history, is the fact that it hints at the presence of a new artistic era. The Acropolis’ reconstruction was in the height of the Classical Period in Greece. During this time, the Greek believed that mathematics manifested itself in beauty. Thusly, all the art produced was obsessed with idealizing bodies through the canon of proportion. A perfect example of this is Polykleitos’ Doryphoros, which set the standard for Greek art in the era due to its perfection of the human form and serene appearance through a relaxed
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The Trojan War and its characters are detailed in the writings of Homer, Vergil, Dante and many others. It is a fantastical tale of a decade-long siege of a powerful city by a massive pan-hellenic force. However, even though it has proved to be such a rich source of inspiration for writers, poets and artists throughout history, it is debated whether it actually took place. Heinrich Schliemann famously said “I have gazed on the face of Agamemnon.” on discovering tombs with the bodies of Mycenaean chieftains in Turkey. The German businessman-turned-archaeologist claimed to have discovered the city of Troy at the hill now called Hisarlik – about three miles from the Dardanelles. However, his claims are still disputed today. Before tackling the question of whether the Trojan War actually occurred, we must ask in what form. What exactly do we mean by “the Trojan War”? There is no definitive version of the events in the war, as our knowledge of it comes from a myriad different sources. Then we should consider Schliemann’s discoveries, and the other archaeological evidence for the Trojan War. Finally, after we have defined “Trojan War” in context of archaeology and historical fact, we must then draw conclusions about the extent to which archaeology proves its historical authenticity.
"Nike." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition 1. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 6, 2009).
Focus Question 1- Why did the Australian Government decide to take the children and what led up to this?
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...ity in Classical Athens. New York, NY: Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA) in Collaboration with the National Archaeological Museum, Athens, 2008. Print.
Castriota, David. The Ara Pacis Augustae and the imagery of abundance in later Greek and early Roman imperial art. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1995. (P. 64)
That these ideals are embedded in their respective cultures is perhaps best evidenced by the small statuette Venus of Willendorf, by common archaeological consent the oldest kno...
The Nike of Samothrace captures the essence of the goddess in a dramatic pose. Her body leans forward as her robust wings heave upwards, creating a magnificent balance and sense of motion. Recovered in the Sanctuary of the Great Gods by a French explorer in 1863, the statue stands 8 feet tall. The deep lines and contrasting textures of the feathers, fabric, and skin allude to the elegance of past Greek style. Of all similar remains from ancient Greek art, this famous Hellenistic sculpture best reflects the sense of pride, honor, and victory associated with the goddess.
Tylor, Edward B.. The Winged Figures of The Assyrian and other Ancient Monuments. London: Society of Biblical Archaeology, 1890.