The Winged Victory of Samothrace

Goddess of Victory

Standing at the top of the Daru staircase in the Denon wing of the Louvre museum, the Victory of Samothrace seems to await its visitors.

Created in Rhodes and dating from the early 2nd century BC, this spectacular Hellenistic sculpture, without arms, feet or head, was found on the island of Samothrace, in the northern Aegean Sea. The discovery is attributed to Charles Champoiseau, an amateur archaeologist and erudite diplomat with a passion for history. In the 19th century, he conducted research throughout the Mediterranean Orient. It was while exploring the sanctuary of the "Great Gods" on the Greek island of Samothrace that he made this precious find.

Representing Niké, the goddess of victory, this votive monument seems ready to fly away, except for its base in the shape of a ship's prow, which anchors it firmly to the ground.

Arriving in Paris on May 11, 1864, the marble sculpture, weighing around 30 tonnes, was first restored by Adrien Prévost de Longpérier, then curator of Antiques at the Louvre. The base, on the other hand, was not discovered until later, in 1875, and was exhibited with the statue in 1883.

The milky-white Victory is dressed in a long, thin tunic, belted under the chest. According to experts, her movement indicates that the goddess is completing her flight, her large wings still spread backwards.

Did you know?

It was almost a century before another key element of the statue was found: the open right hand.

Indeed, archaeologists found the palm of a marble hand and other blocks belonging to the base. Several hypotheses have been put forward concerning the hand of the goddess Niké. What was she holding? In reality, Victory was making a simple gesture of greeting.