Sister of KRATOS and Goddess of Victory: Nike - Greek Mythology Explained

Описание: Welcome to Mythology Explained. Today, we’re going to be discussing the Goddess that served as the inspiration behind the name for the popular sporting brand- NIKE.

When we hear the name ‘Nike’ the first image that pops in to the minds of most is the symbolic ‘swoosh’ that so effectively represents Nike’s brand.

But what if I told you that some people picture something completely different- they picture a woman- a goddess.

In Greek Mythology, Nike was the winged goddess of victory- representative of victory both in war and in peaceful competition.

Nike’s parentage in Greek Mythology is a little unclear. Hesiod’s theogony claims that Nike is the daughter of the eldest Oceanid Styx- Goddess of the river that flowed on the boundary between Gaia (earth) and the underworld- and the Titan Pallas- god of battle and warcraft.

However, the Homeric Hymns suggest that Nike was the daughter of Ares. For consistencies sake, we’re going to run with Hesiod’s version of events.

Now, It seems only fitting that the goddess of victory should come from the same lineage as the god of battle. But as it turns out, Nike’s siblings were similarly representative of subjects that pertained to battle and war.

Nike’s sister BIA was the goddess of force, power, might, bodily strength and compulsion.

One of her brother’s, Kratos, was the god of strength, might, power and sovereign rule.

And her other brother, Zelos, was the god of rivalry, emulation, jealousy, envy and zeal.

What a family.