Winged Victory of Samothrace
The Winged Victory of Samothrace, or the Nike of Samothrace, is a votive monument originally found on the island of Samothrace, north of the Aegean Sea. It is a masterpiece of Greek sculpture from the Hellenistic era, dating from the beginning of the 2nd century BC (190 BC). It is composed of a statue representing the goddess Niké (Victory), whose head and arms are missing and its base is in the shape of a ship's bow.
| The Winged Victory of Samothrace The Winged Nike The Nike of Samothrace Victoire de Samothrace | |
|---|---|
| Year | c. 200–190 BC 2223–2224 years ago |
| Type | Parian marble |
| Dimensions | 244 cm (96 in) |
| Location | Louvre, Paris |
The total height of the monument is 5.57 meters (18 ft, 3 in) including the socle; the statue alone measures 2.75 meters (9 ft). The sculpture is one of a small number of major Hellenistic statues surviving in the original, rather than Roman copies. Winged Victory has been exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris, at the top of the main staircase, since 1884.
Greece is seeking the return of the sculpture.