Hey everyone,
Welcome back 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.
Nike is most commonly depicted with belongings such as a wreath (used to crown a victor),
an oinochoe and phiale for libations (commonly used for offerings to gods), a thymiaterion
(used to burn incense), an altar, a palm branch, and finally a lyre which could be used for
playing a song in celebration of victory.
However, one of her most prominent and symbolic attributes was her wings, which she’s illustrated
with on MOST occasions.
These wings were Nike’s greatest asset, as with them she was able to fly round the
battlefield rewarding victory and glory by handing out laurel wreaths.
Nike can sometimes be seen without wings- but there’s a very specific reason for this-
and it has to do with her supporters not wanting her to leave.
You see, in the city of Athens they loved Nike so much that they never wanted her to
abandon their city.
However, so long as Nike possessed her wings, there was always the possibility that she
would leave.
This ultimately led to the people of Athens stripping her image of anything associated
with ‘flying’ away- thus removing her wings.
Nike could also sometimes be seen with the staff of Hermes.
Hermes was the messenger god- the intermediary between heaven and all of the other realms-
namely, the underworld, the earth and the sea- relaying communications between them
all.
His sphere of influence encompassed many facets of ancient Greek life.
He was the patron of herdsmen, offering them his protection and ensuring the safety and
fertility of their flocks, and as Psychopompus (“Leader of Souls”), he himself functioned
as a sort of shepherd, his flock the countless souls of the dead he guided to the underworld.
Hermes was betokened by his famous staff, a broad-brimmed hat favoured by travellers,
and his winged sandals.
As the messenger of the gods and, in particular, as an instrument of Zeus, Hermes made appearances
in many myths, bringing information and offering succor.
Because of this, Hermes and Nike (also a predominant instrument of Zeus) crossed paths on several
occasions- which resulted in the goddess taking temporary ownership of Hermes’ staff - the
kerykeion.
The golden staff known as Caduceus by the Romans and Kerykeion by the Greeks was a symbol
of Hermes’ role as the herald of the gods.
The staff itself was short and entwined by two serpents, sometimes surmounted by wings,
and was thought to be able to induce slumber.
It was also a sign of peace or diplomacy, so it seems only fitting that this staff should
end up in Nike’s hands as she scoured the battlefield.
It’s believed that when Nike was pictured with the Staff of Hermes, it meant that she
had taken on a role as a messenger from the gods.
Between her wings, her staff and all of the equipment she sported, almost every piece
of imagery associated with Nike had some sort of a connection to victory.
And speaking of victory, Nike and her family play an integral role in the Titanomachy-
the cataclysmic war between the gods and the Titans.
Before the Titan war had started, Zeus began gathering allies, and it didn’t take long
for Styx, a firm ally of Zeus, to enlist the help of her children (including Nike) to assist
in the war against the Titans.
Nike ended up being appointed as the official charioteer for Zeus, and along with her siblings,
the four of them became the sentinels of Zeus’ throne.
"And Styx the daughter of Oceanus was joined to Pallas and bare Zelos and trim-ankled Nike
in the house.
Also she brought forth Kratos and Bia , 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 Oceanus 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."
For this reason, Nike is often depicted alongside the chariot of Zeus, which has resulted in
her being seen as a symbol for great speed and flight.
For her aid and support in the Titanomachy, Nike was rewarded with a seat on Mount Olympus
and eternal protection from Zeus.
In illustrations, she can often be seen seated next to Zeus himself.
This is where it should start to become fairly clear to you WHY Nike’s name was chosen
for the popular sporting brand.
Nike’s brand is entirely synonymous with the things that the goddess most closely represented-
victory, speed, success, valor.
The Greeks even believed that Nike held the ability to strengthen their human capabilities,
which is a message I’m sure Nike’s branding team can get behind.
And that’s why the company formerly known as Blue Ribbon Sports ditched their old name
and became ‘Nike’ in 1971.
Today, Nike is one of the largest sporting brands in the world, worth almost 50 billion
dollars.
But the financial success of Nike is not nearly as important as the champions that it has
helped foster- with Olympians and Record Holders all over the world proudly sporting the Nike
name for the past few decades, and many decades to come.
I can think of no greater show of respect to the Goddess Nike than victory.
And that’s it for this video!
If you enjoy the content please LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE to the channel.
As always, leave your video suggestions down below.