Winged Nike of Samothrace
This image of the Greek goddess Nike demonstrates, in a powerful and impressive manner, the level of technical skill achieved by Hellenistic sculptors. The Nike of Samothrace is quite literally a tour de force of intricate carving and dynamic movement, an image of Victory captured for eternity. For the ancient Greeks, the goddess Nike represented the personification of victory. ... And while she now commands attention in the Louvre as a free-standing statue, originally the Nike was part of scene that included a ships prow. ... Today, in many ways the Nike celebrates the victory of beauty, as she symbolizes the ideals of perfection to which the ancient Hellenistic artists aspired.