Nike Of Samothrace Essay

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What make the statue of Nike of Samothrace unique is that the sculpture has the appearance of weightlessness and flying. “The sculpture probably celebrates the naval victories-nike means “victory” of Eudamos, an Admiral in command of the fleet at Rhodes, over Antiochos the Great and the Seleucid forces in 190 BCE” (Davies 159). A better description of this is as followed “The Nike is designed to seem as if she is just landing in a fierce headwind, her great wings still aloft. The body twists slightly as if to maintain its balance, while the sheer chiton, heavy with sea spray, both clings and billows dramatically” (Nike of Samothrace).
The image of Nike is well known throughout Greece due to its history with victory in war and in athletics. The purpose of the sculpture most likely celebrates “the naval victories of Eudamos” (Davies 159). Another description of the statue is “Her presence invoked a spirit of celebration and commemorated the arête (physical and moral excellence) of gods and men” (Nike of Samothrace). Nike represents the expressive Hellenistic style in its draping of cloth, twisting pose, dramatic setting and use of …show more content…

Arches, barrels and groin vaults were based on Greek architecture. The arch’s purpose was to “frame” an entrance although it could be a free standing monument. The arches consisted of man parts including the spandrels, voussoirs, jambs, intrados and extrados as can be seen on the diagram. A barrel vault is “a tunnel-like, semi-cylindrical extension of an arch, which may be thought of as an unbroken series of arches pressed together, one behind the other (Parts of an Arch). Barrel vaults are used primarily in underground tombs. Groin vaults are formed when barrel vaults are combined at right angles and are a very efficient form of vaulting (Parts of an Arch). Groin vaults allow for lighting on all sides of the

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