Welcome to the Louvre – Home of  the Winged Goddess

The Winged Victory of Samothrace graces the Louvre in Paris and is my favorite sculpture next to Michelangelo’s The Pieta. She is elegant, powerful, mysterious, and absolutely beautiful up close. Yes, the Louvre is home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, probably the most famous piece of art in the world. However, the winged goddess of victory standing on the prow of her ship overlooking the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on the island of Samothrace was a must-see. In Greek mythology, the Nike was the Goddess of victory, she was shown as being a winged figure who would fly down from Mount Olympus. She is a marble Hellenistic sculpture that was created around the 2nd century BC.

The eight-foot sculpture is positioned just outside the Grand Gallery which houses all the Italian Renaissance paintings.  She is perfectly positioned atop a large staircase, which provides a perfect vantage point for viewing. Climbing the staircase only adds to the majestic feeling of the sculpture.

Chad Shoults