Where Is Nike of Paionios? Museum Location

Q: Where is the Nike of Paionios?

The statue is at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Greece. It was excavated from the sanctuary of Zeus in the 19th century.

Q: How big is the Nike of Paionios?

The marble figure stands 215 cm (7 ft 1 in) tall. Atop its nine-meter column, the complete monument dominated the sanctuary approach.

Q: How does it relate to the Winged Victory?

The Nike of Paionios pioneered the descending pose that the later Winged Victory of Samothrace would perfect. Both show Nike alighting from the sky.

Ancient Greek The Nike of Paionios depicts the goddess of victory descending from Olympus, her drapery swirling as she lands. Created around 420 BCE by the sculptor Paionios of Mende, the Parian marble figure stood atop a nine-meter column at Olympia, commemorating a military victory over Sparta. The dynamic pose anticipates the famous Winged Victory of Samothrace by two centuries.

Nike's robes cling to her body in the "wet drapery" style that would dominate Late Classical sculpture. The goddess appears to float down from heaven, an illusion enhanced by the eagle beneath her feet and billowing cape. An inscription on the base names both the sculptor and the dedicators, the Messenians and Naupactians, victorious over the Spartans.

The statue is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.

The statue is at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Greece. It was excavated from the sanctuary of Zeus in the 19th century.

The marble figure stands 215 cm (7 ft 1 in) tall. Atop its nine-meter column, the complete monument dominated the sanctuary approach.

The Messenians and Naupactians dedicated it after defeating Sparta in battle. The inscription survives, providing rare documentation of both artist and patron.

The Nike of Paionios pioneered the descending pose that the later Winged Victory of Samothrace would perfect. Both show Nike alighting from the sky.

Nike of Paionios

Details

Where to See It

The Artist

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