Nike in the Athenian Agora?

This paper focuses on the reliefs of the frieze and the parapet of the Athena Nike temple, a small Ionic edifice built on the southwest bastion of the Acropolis in the last quarter of the 5th century B.C. From a close examination of these reliefs and through the study of the relevant modern scholarship and ancient literary sources, I have deduced that these architectural sculptures have many unique elements regarding both their iconography and style. First of all, historical events are depicted on a temple for the first time next to mythological scenes. Secondly, in the sculptural style of the frieze and the parapet we can see a very elaborately carved high relief characterised by a new, very naturalistic rendering of the human body. The artistic innovations mentioned above are connected to the contemporary historical and political context of Athens. The representation of a battle between Greeks and Orientals at the southern frieze for instance recalls the great Athenian victories over the Persians during the Persian Wars. Additionally, the similarities in the treatment and the depiction of divine and human figures on the frieze could reflect the political ideology of 5th-century Athens that put herself into a supreme, epic world equal to that of the gods. In conclusion, my aim is to show that the reliefs of the Athena Nike temple constituted, both intentionally and unintentionally, a visual record of the political and military history of 5th-century Athens and a unique dedication from the Athenians to their victory goddess who would help them to be successful in the contemporary Peloponnesian War.

The tondo of the vase depicts Nike standing to the left holding a wreath with both hands. Behind her is a waterbird. An olive (?) branch and chevrons run around the flat top of the rim of the lekane. On the exterior the rim is decorated with zigzags, while a zone of palmettes and lotus occupies the body. Unpublished. Christina Avronidaki NAM Α 26950 Fragmentarily preserved black-figure white-ground lekythos. Unknown provenance. 480-470 BC. Max. preserved height: 0.11, diameter of foot: 0.037 m. Part of the top of the body and the shoulder, including the neck and mouth, are missing. Nike flies over a flaming altar holding wreaths to be offered to the victorious charioteer who approaches from the left. The surface of the vase is gray (burnt). Unpublished. Partial view of the exhibition "These are what we fought for. Antiquities and the Greek War of Independence".

Hesperia Suppl. 26 and AIA Monograph N.S. 2 , 1993

... THE SANCTUARY OF ATHENA NIKE IN ATHENS ... Page 3. Library of Congress Cataloguing Publication Data Mark, Ira S., 1947 - The Sanctuary of Athena Nike in Athens: architectural stages and chronology / by Ira S. Mark (AIA monograph new series 2; Hesperia.Supplement 26) ...

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Hesperia 70.1 (2001) 1-47., 2001

Recent examination of the extant akroteria bases of the Temple of Athena Nike (Acropolis 2635,2638,4291, and 15958a-p) and of the relevant inscriptions (IG I3 482, IG 112 1425, et al.) has revealed new evidence from which several conclusions can be made regarding the crowning sculpture of this important building. In addition to suggesting the technique by which the akroteria of the Nike temple were gilded, the new evidence demonstrates the size of the akroteria and allows the dominant interpretation of the central akroterion as a Bellerophon/Chimaira group to be rejected. Based on evidence gained from the akroteria bases, three hypothetical restorations of the central roof sculpture are proposed: a tripod, a trophy flanked by Nikai, and a composition based on the other well-known, gilded akroterion of the late 5th century B.C., the Nike erected by Paionios of Mende over the Spartan shield on the east facade of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.

J. M. Barringer and J. M. Hurwit (eds.), Periklean Athens and its Legacy, 2005

1 5 interpretations of t wo athenian frie zes the temple on the ilissos and the temple of athena nike O l g a P a l a g i a

KNOWN AND UNKOWN NIKAI, 2021

Partial view of the exhibition "These are what we fought for. Antiquities and the Greek War of Independence".

Restaging Greek Artworks in Roman Times, edited by G. Adornato et al. (Milan), 2018

Via Cervignano 4 -20137 Milano Catalogo: https://www.lededizioni.com I diritti di riproduzione, memorizzazione elettronica e pubblicazione con qualsiasi mezzo analogico o digitale (comprese le copie fotostatiche e l'inserimento in banche dati) e i diritti di traduzione e di adattamento totale o parziale sono riservati per tutti i paesi. Le fotocopie per uso personale del lettore possono essere effettuate nei limiti del 15% di ciascun volume/fascicolo di periodico dietro pagamento alla SIAE del compenso previsto dall'art. 68, commi 4 e 5, della legge 22 aprile 1941 n. 633. Le riproduzioni effettuate per finalità di carattere professionale, economico o commerciale o comunque per uso diverso da quello personale possono essere effettuate a seguito di specifica autorizzazione rilasciata da: AIDRO, Corso di Porta Romana n. 108 -20122 Milano

M. Lagogianni-Georgakarakos (ed.), Known and Unknown Nikai. In History, Art and Life, 2021

A trilogy of editions for the diachronic victories of the Greeks Glorious victories between myth and history Glorious victories. between myth and history Glorious victories between myth and history Known and Unknown Nikai In History, Art and Life KNOWN AND UNKNOWN NIKAI In History, Art and Life 387

M. Lagogianni Georgakarakos (ed.), KNOWN AND UNKNOWN NIKAI, Athens., 2021

The figure of Nike, as symbol of political dominance, luck and triumph, as well as of the good and victorious fight, was frequently incorporated into burial and other assemblages of finds dating from the Late Classical to the Roman period – a long period of time during which Nikai and winged female figures of good fortune and fertility were illustrated in terracotta figurines, oil lamps, sculptures, jewellery and decorated luxurious or plain objects, used in everyday life, but also artefacts that served as grave goods or votive offerings. This article presents examples of terracotta figurines, clay lamps and jewels in the form of Nike housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.