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Nike, a MythSource painting
Greek

Nike

Goddess of Victory · Winged Victory · Bringer of Victory

01Identity

Nike in Greek tradition

Her wings mark her out when she accompanies a larger image of Zeus or Athene, where she may stand on a ball or record a conqueror’s victory on a shield. Nike is a Greek goddess of military victory, athletic contests and success, carrying a laurel crown and palm branch. Unlike Athene, whom her statues resemble, Nike is identified by her wings and by the symbols of victory she holds.

Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Nike?

    Nike is a Greek deity associated with military victory, athletic contests, games and competitions, triumph and success.
    Source

    Source

    • Greek Myths & Tales
    • Bullfinch Mythology - The Age of Fable

  • What is Nike the god of?

    military victory, athletic contests, games and competitions, triumph and success
    Source

    Source

    • Greek Myths & Tales

  • What family links are recorded for Nike?

    Father: Pallas, Mother: Styx, 3 siblings.
02Family

Nike’s family, at a glance

Parents above, children below, and the figure’s consorts named in between, the same family data as the fact box, laid out as a chart instead of a field list.

PallasStyx
NikeBiaKratosZelus
03The names

The names Nike answers to

Nike Apteros

Wingless Nike

SourceBullfinch Mythology - The Age of Fable

Nikephoros

Victory-bringing

SourceGreek Myths & Tales

Winged Victory

Nike represented with wings

SourceGreek Myths & Tales

04The myths

The myths of Nike

1 myth, each traced to its primary text and corpus sources.

Nike Joins Zeus Against the Titans

Zeus called the gods to help him in his war against the Titans. Imperishable Styx came first to Olympus from the darkness below the earth. She had been the eldest daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. Her waters had flowed from a sacred river beneath the broad earth and through black night.

Styx brought her children, Nike, Zelos, Kratos, and Bia, to Zeus. They joined his side in the war. Zeus recognised their worth and granted them honour as his constant companions. Nike became the power of victory beside him, while Zelos, Kratos, and Bia also remained at his side. Through their aid, Zeus secured victory over the Titans.

Zeus then gave Styx a lasting honour. The gods swore their oaths by her waters, which flowed from a rock in Hades. Any god who broke such an oath suffered a severe punishment and remained without breath or ambrosia for a year. After that time, the god stayed apart from the deathless gods for nine further years.

Styx returned through the night and flowed beneath the earth again. She carried her new honour with her, and her waters became the bond that confirmed the oaths of the gods.

Nike Joins Zeus Against the Titans, a MythSource painting of the scene

In the modern world

No modern rework confirmed yet.

3 sources· checked 2026-08-24

  1. 1Light and Darkness in Ancient Greek Myth and ReligionT1
  2. 2Apollodorus, The LibraryT1

    Quote

    “Styx brought her children Nike, Zelos, Kratos, and Bia to Zeus, who made them his companions and established her waters as the oath by which the gods swore.”

    Apollodorus, The Library

  3. 3War in Greek MythologyT1

Also appears in

The myths across MythSource where Nike features, each on that figure’s page.

The film

The Underdrawing video on Nike embeds here once it publishes.