"O powerful Nike, by men desired, with adverse breasts to dreadful fury fired, thee I invoke, whose might alone can quell contending rage and molestation fell. ‘Tis thine in battle to confer the crown, the victor's prize, the mark of sweet renown; for thou rulest all things."
Orphic Hymn 33 to Nike

Nike is the winged goddess of Victory, Speed and Strength, able to race and fly at great speed. Nike flew around battlefields, rewarding the worthy victors with glory and fame, symbolized by a wreath of laurel leaves. She also appears carrying a palm branch, a wreath, or the staff of Hermes.

She was represented in statues and paintings as a woman with wings, dressed in billowing robes, with a wreath and/or a palm branch in her outstretched hand. She is also often shown with the staff of Hermes, which represents her role as the messenger of Victory.

Nike is also portrayed erecting a trophy, or, frequently, hovering with outspread wings over the victor in a competition

The Romans called her Victoria.

Oddly enough, even though Nike is one of the oldest ancient Greek goddesses, predating even the mighty Olympians, she doesn't figure prominently in many myths.

Nike is often found in the company of the goddess of Wisdom and War, Athena, who never puts up with defeat. Not surprisingly, she is also frequently portrayed seated next to Zeus, the King of the Olympians, or even being held by him or Athena in their open palms.

The ancient poet Pausanias, in his Description of Greece 1. 1. 3 has this to say about Nike's statue in Attica:

"In the temple of Zeus at Peiraios in Attika: The images are of bronze; Zeus holds a staff and a Nike."

It was natural for the ancient Greeks to associate Victory with Zeus and Athena - after all, these two powerful deities were not accustomed to losing.

Nike fought on the side of Zeus in his famous battle against the Titans, and assisted him in gaining victory over his fearsome rivals. As a result of this epic battle, Zeus gained control of Mount Olympus and became the supreme Olympian.

According to classical myth, their mother Styx brought Nike, and her siblings Zelos, Cratos and Bia, to the leader of the uprising, Zeus, when the young god was assembling allies for the Titan War against the older deities.

After receiving a gift of a golden chariot from Zeus, Nike assumed the role of the divine charioteer to him, a role in which she often is portrayed in Classical Grecian art. All four siblings were appointed as sentinels, standing guard beside the throne of Zeus.

Zeus rewarded Styx following his victory over the Titans by turning her into the famous Underworld river Styx, upon whose waters the gods swear their oaths.

Hesiod, the Greek poet, in his epic poem called Theogony (Birth of the Gods), gives a terrific account of how Nike and her siblings came to the aid of Zeus:

"And Styx the daughter of Okeanos (Oceanus) was joined to Pallas and bare Zelos (Emulation) and trim-ankled Nike (Victory) in the house. Also she brought forth Kratos (Cratus, Strength) and Bia (Force), wonderful children.

"These have no house apart from Zeus, nor any dwelling nor path except that wherein God leads them, but they dwell always with Zeus the loud-thunderer. For so did Styx the deathless daughter of Okeanos plan on that day when the Olympian Lightener called all the deathless gods to great Olympus, and said that whosoever of the gods would fight with him against the Titans, he would not cast him out from his rights, but each should have the office which he had before amongst the deathless gods.

"And he declared that he who was without office and rights as is just. So deathless Styx came first to Olympos with her children through the wit of her dear father. And Zeus honoured her, and gave her very great gifts, for her he appointed to be the great oath of the gods, and her children to live with him always. And as he promised, so he performed fully unto them all."

The Nike of Samothrace, or Winged Victory is widely acknowledged as one of the finest pieces of Hellenistic sculpture. Discovered on Samothrace in 1863 and now in the Louvre Museum, Paris, it was probably erected by Rhodians about 203 BCE to commemorate a sea battle. Excavations have shown that the sculpture was placed alighting on a flagship, which was set in the ground in such a way that it appeared to float.

The statue of Nike at Athens is portrayed without wings and is called Nike Apteron (Wingless Victory). The Athenians took away her wings to signify her permanence in their city - she would not fly away, they believed.

There are two main versions of Nike's parentage:

1) Pallas and Styx - Pallas is son of the Titan Crius and Eurybia, daughter of Pontus & Gaia (Mother Earth). Styx is a daughter of the Titan Oceanus (Ocean), and a prominent river in the Underworld.

2) Ares and unknown - Ares is the god of war.

Nike lives on Mount Olympus with her brothers Zelus (also known as Zelos), Cratos and Bia.

You can better understand Nike's nature by taking a closer look at her brothers:

Zelus ("Zeal, Rivalry") is the personification of rivalry or emulation. He is the son of Styx and the Titan Pallas and is the constant companion of Zeus. Cratos ("Strength, Supremacy") is the ancient Greek personification of strength, and dominance. Like his other siblings, he is a constant and vigilant companion of Zeus. Bia ("Force") is the personification of power and force. Bia was most famous for being the one who was made to bind to a rock the mighty Titan Prometheus as punishment from Zeus. He was sentenced for stealing fire from the gods and delivering it to humans on earth, contrary to Zeus' orders.

There was nothing sweeter for the ancient Greeks than to taste the sweet fruits of Victory, be it in war, in love or in athletics. This is a passion which survives to this day, and the thrill of Victory is one of the best feelings in the world.

Nike is one of the most commonly portrayed figures on ancient coins. Even today, since Giuseppe Cassioli's design for the 1928 Summer Olympics, the obverse face of every Olympic medal bears Nike's figure holding a palm frond in her right hand and a winner’s Laurel crown in her left.

As previously mentioned, Nike was depicted in ancient Greek vase paintings with a variety of attributes, including a wreath or sash to crown a victor, a bowl and cup for victory drinks, an incense burner, an altar, and a lyre for the celebration of victory in song.

In scenes of the Gigantomachia (War of the Giants) she often appears driving the chariot of Zeus. In mosaic art and coins Nike is often shown holding a palm branch as a symbol of victory. She is also shown inscribing the victory of the conqueror on a shield.

Many modern companies have taken their names from Greek mythology, in an effort to present a winning image. The most famous one, of course, is Nike, the international sporting goods giant. Who wouldn't want to associate their product with winning?

Besides the famous shoe company Nike, Project Nike, an American anti-aircraft missile system is named after the goddess Nike.

The first FIFA World Cup trophy, celebrating the winner of the world soccer championship held every four years, featured a figure of Nike holding a vessel. It was called "Victory".

The exclusive car company Rolls Royce features Nike as a hood ornament on their automobiles. As well, the Honda Automobile Company's logo is inspired by goddess Nike.

Many  names have originated from Nike. These include Nick, Nicholas, Nikolaos, Nicola, Nicolai, Nikolai, Nicolae, Nils, Klaas, Nicole, Ike, Niki, Nikita, Nika, Niketas and Nico.

The plural of Nike is Nikai. Here is a piece from Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 11. 1 :

"In his [the statue of Zeus in his temple at Olympia] right hand he carried a Nike, which, like the statue, is of ivory and gold; she wears a ribbon and--on her head--a garland . . .

"There are four Nikai (Victories), represented as dancing women, one at each foot of the throne, and two others at the base of each foot."