Often Overlooked, The Goddess of Victory has the Greatest View

I recently spent a few hours walking around the city on a beautiful afternoon taking pictures and videos of some the most popular places in St. Petersburg. While standing in Palace Square, I noticed that nearly all attention from tourists (foreign and domestic) was centered on the Hermitage/Winter Palace.

photo credit - Saint-Petersburg.com

Most of the thousands of people that had flocked to this iconic area had little interest in the majestic and captivating sculpture that rests atop the Victory Arch in Palace Square. The central figure of the statue is a woman driving a 6-horse chariot, spear raised with two warriors on either side. She looks over the entirety of the square directly across from the entrance to the former home of Czars and Czarinas. Even more ironic is that most of the crowd is unaware of the the link between their shoes and the sculpture that has been present in the city since the early 1800's. The statue of is of Nike (Ника in Russian) the Goddess of Speed, Strength and Victory.

The Greek Myth

According to Greek mythology, Nike and her sisters were sent to the aid of Zeus during the great battle of the Titans. It was with her help that Zeus and his supporters were victorious and she was given a place next to him for all eternity (some versions vary).

Sculpture of Nike at the Louvre in Paris

Nike is often depicted with wings as an indication of her speed. It is these wings that the popular shoe company's logo represents (just in case you didn't know about the swoosh).

From Napoleon to Hitler

The large bronze and iron sculpture and the archway that it rests upon were commissioned and built following Russia's victory over Napoleon. Bolshaya Morskaya Street leads from Nevsky Prospect through the archway and into Palace Square directly in front of the entrance to the Winter Palace. The arch is flanked on either side with equally impressive buildings known as the General Staff and Ministries that historically housed the Russian Military Headquarters and Foreign Offices.

The arch, Nike, and her attendants were all completed in time for the celebration of the Russian victory in the Russo-Turkish War in 1829. The Soviet Army also paraded symbolically through the arch following their victory over the Nazis in the Great Patriotic War (WWII for Westerners).

Today, one side continues to operate as the HQ for the Russian military in the Northwest, but the other has become an extension to the already enormous Hermitage State Museum, which houses the 2nd largest collection of art works in the world.

A Short Video of the Arch (with some overly dramatic music too)

Don't Miss this Amazing Tree for the Forest

With so much to see and do in St. Petersburg it is easy to miss some of the most amazing pieces of art, both traditional and architectural, that are present. The Hermitage, Winter Palace, and Palace Square are breathtaking and worth one's time and energy. Just don't forget to look across the square to the stalwart winged goddess that has kept watch for nearly 200 years.

Nike next to Athena in Vienna

Like this article? Please resteem, upvote and comment.
Don't like it? Comment and tell me why. Let's discuss it.
All intelligent comments get an upvote for effort (even if I disagree).
Send me a copy of one of your posts and I will try to read it quickly.

Photos are mine, credited or downloaded from Pixabay.com.

Posted using: @busy
https://busy.org/i/@energyaddict22

Follow me on:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jr.byers.58
VK - https://vk.com/id185155240
Discord - EnergyAddict#9726

Special thanks for the efforts and support from @qurator @thundercurator @dynamicgreentk @newbieresteem @resteemit @asapers @steembasicincome