Nike/Victoria

**Nike** is the Greek goddess of victory, daughter of the Titans Pallas and Styx. She assumes the role of the divine charioteer, a role in which she is often portrayed in Classical Greek art. Her Roman counterpart is **Victoria.**

## Basic Info

### Alias

Goddess of victory, strength, and speed, Divine Charioteer, Mom (By her Children)

## Family Info

### Extended Family

* Perses and Asteria (paternal uncles)
* Eos and Asteria (paternal aunts)
* Hecate, Boreas, Zephyros, Notus and Eurus (Immortal cousins)
* Kyle, Sam, and Triton Zale and Xenos Locris (Nephews)
* Eliza Gardener (Demigod cousin)

## History

### Early Life

Nike is often portrayed in literature in close association with Zeus or Athena. She is typically described as either an attendant of the Greek Gods Zeus and Athena or as a facet of their personalities. According to the *Theogony* Nike, Zelus, Kratos, and Bia "...will not live apart from Zeus... nor go except where the god goes before them, but they sit for ever beside heavy-booming Zeus." Nike and her siblings achieved these honorable positions by Zeus's side during the Titanomachy. During the war with the Titans Zeus called all the gods to Olympus to determine their allegiance. He declared that any god that chose to align with him against Kronos would receive his honor and favor. Of the gods, Styx and her children were the first to declare their loyalty to Zeus and as a result Zeus granted her and her children his favor. For Styx he gave her the honor of being "...the great oath of the gods..." For her children Zeus granted them his eternal favor by allowing them "...to dwell with him for all time." As a result, Nike is often portrayed in literature in association with Zeus since she holds an honorable position by his side: "Victory... in golden Olympus, standing beside Zeus..."

### Nike in The Myth of Typhon

In Nonnos' *Dionysiaca*, Nike is described as an emissary of Athena who was sent to aid Zeus in his battle against Typhon. When the many snake-headed giant Typhon laid siege to Olympus in the final days of the Titanomachy, Nike, in the form of Leto, reproached Zeus for his hesitancy in confronting Typhon and urged him to gather his thunderbolts in preparation to defend Olympus. In her speech she mentions all the gods that have given up and fled the battle including Ares, Hermes, Apollo, Aphrodite, and Hephaistos. She also mentions the possible repercussions of allowing Typhon to win, which includes the destruction of Olympus and the rape and enslavement Zeus's daughters Athena and Artemis. When in the morning Typhon again issued his challenge, Zeus gathered the clouds around himself for armor and answered the monster's threats. Nike, described as Victory, led Zeus into battle as Eris, Strife, led Typhon. During the fighting Nike used her shield to protect Zeus while he fought with his thunderbolts and frigid rain. By assaulting Typhon with fire and ice, Zeus was able to defeat the monster and claim victory over the Titans. As Zeus rode off from the battlefield, Nike followed him driving her father's chariot. In the *Theogony*, this battle is described in a different manner. Zeus is neither hesitant nor fearful and Nike makes no appearance to encourage or aid Zeus in the fighting.

### Goddess of Victory

Nike is also depicted in literature as a goddess who judges the excellence of gods and mortals in competition. This role of assessing the greatness of skill of a god or mortal is most evident in war, where Nike is often depicted on the side of the victor granting them the victory. An example if this is in Ovid's *Metamorphoses book 8* where the fate of the war between Megara and Crete hung in "...suspense; so, Victory day by day between them hovered on uncertain wings." However, Nike's role of judging excellence is not limited to strictly military prowess. Instead, Nike observes victory in any field including musical, athletic, and or military competitions. For instance in *Pindar Nemean 5,* the victorious athlete Euthymenes of Aegina has "twice fallen into the arms of Victory" and achieved fame. In *Bacchylides Ode 12* Nike encourages Teisias of Aegina to compete in the wrestling matches at Nemea. In both these examples Nike is associated with victory in an athletic competition rather than only a military competition. Typically, Nike is the one who bestows the victor with the prize. In *Bacchylides Ode 11* she is introduced with the stock epithet "giver of swift gifts..." However, Nike is also represented in some sources as the prize in a contest to symbolize victory: "... the blossoms of glory-bringing Victory nurture for men golden, conspicuous fame throughout their lives..." In this source Nike is portrayed as a garland of flowers to be bestowed upon the victor during the Panhellenic Games.

## Personality

Nike is the ultimate game goddess, she is good at any sport at all and is rather competitive. She hates losing, so might not play fair at times, but is a good sport in games and is a very fun person to compete with. She is also very caring, being somewhat protective of her son's Isidoros and Nathan. Nike was mainly known for her overwhelmingly positive traits, but she had an overwhelming desire to always win due to her title as the goddess of victory. Nike was very popular, since everybody wanted victory. Olympic athletes would sacrifice to her, as would soldiers before a big battle. Nike would sometimes serve as Athena’s charioteer in battle. After all, the goddess of victory is pretty much the best wheelman you can ask for. Though, nowadays, if you ever meet Nike, you should not say, “Hey, isn’t that a kind of sports shoe?” unless you want to lose every competition for the rest of your life. The goddess does not find it amusing to be confused with footwear. You are likely to meet Nike at the World Series, the Superbowl, and most other major sporting events, where she will be hovering overheard, deciding which team to grant victory. She values bravery and skill, though she also likes a good halftime show.

## Appearance

Nike is a tall and beautiful goddess, wearing a glittering sleeveless dress, with her dark golden blonde hair in piled-up braids circled with a gilded laurel wreath, along with golden-brown eyes. Her expression is usually wide-eyed and a little crazy, "like she'd just had twenty espressos and ridden a roller coaster", according to Leo. She wields a gold-tipped spear, and has wings of polished gold, which glitter so brightly, that Leo claims that had they been solar panels, Nike "would have produced enough energy to power Miami." She usually rides a golden chariot pulled by two white horses.

## Powers and Abilities

### Goddess Powers

Nike possesses the standard powers of a goddess. She has not yet shown any abilities in the series, however her domain suggests she has some level of influence over victory and competition. She has the ability to be able to foresee victories and can grant victory. She can also curse people.

* **Victory Inducement**: Nike has the ability to grant victory on to anyone she pleases.
* **Intuitive Precognition**: Nike can see any victory that is going to occur and can transport herself there if needed.
* **Flight**: Through the use of her powerful golden wings, she can propel herself upward and in any direction she wants. It has been said that her wings make her travel as fast as Hermes.
* **Curse Manipulation**: Nike has the ability to curse anyone she pleases with either eternal failure and or death in battle.
* **Blessing Manipulation**: Nike can bless someone with either eternal success and or Victory in battle.
* **Dominion over Athletics**: As stated by Aphrodite to Hippomenes in preparation for his race against Atalanta, Nike possess absolute control and dominion over the area of Athletics.
	+ **Athletic Blessings**: Nike was stated to be able to bless any mortal she desires to increase their physical abilities. As seen where Aphrodite implied that she could increase Hippomenes's speed to the point that he could run faster than Atalanta.

## Trivia

1. Nike, the shoe brand, is named after her.
2. Nike's official Greek name is Νικη, it literally means 'victory'.
3. Her Roman equivalent is called Victoria.
4. According to herself, she is "The Oldest Daughter of Styx and Pallas"
5. Nike is the cousin to Eliza, which also makes Nike, Melody's distant aunt/relative
6. She is often represented by the color gold