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La Victoire de Samothrace, Unknown, 190 BC

Treasures of the Louvre

The Victory of Samothrace

Unknown

190 BC

The Victory of Samothrace is one of the finest sculptures to have survived from Antiquity and one of the most prized possessions of the Musée du Louvre.

Samothrace today

Samothrace today

Remains of the Sanctuary of Samothrace, also known as the Sanctuary of the Great Gods.

The Sanctuary of Samothrace was one of the most important religious complexes in Ancient Greece, known for its Mystery religion.

Anyone could come and be initiated.

This included the famous Greek historian Herodotus.

It was also mentioned by Plato and Aristophanes.

The island of Samothrace

The Sanctuary of Samothrace was one of the most important religious sites in Ancient Greece

She was discovered in 1863 on the Greek island of Samothrace and represents a goddess flying down and landing on the bow of a ship.

Representation of a Greek trireme.

The trireme was the dominant ship in the Mediterranean from the 7th century BC to the 4th century BC.

The trireme means ...

It was the dominant warship in the Mediterranean from 7th century BC to the 4th century BC, in particular used by the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks and Romans.

Triremes were massive ships.

The name comes from them having 3 sets of oars on top of each other at each station: 62 rowers on the top row / deck, 52 rowers on the middle, and 54 rowers on the lowest row / in the hold.

Operating a trireme required extreme coordination.

Fun fact : it's estimated that 108 of the entire 170 rowers could not see the water so had to row blind!

Powers at play at the time, vying for control of the Mediterrean

Representation of a fleet of triremes

Modern day recreation of a Greek trireme - Olympias.

The replica was built in 1987 and now belongs to the Greek navy.

While tested, it sailed at 9 knots (17 km/h) and turned 180 degree within one minute.

Triremes were massive ships

She was dedicated to the goddess Nike - the Greek goddess of victory - to thank her for a significant naval victory at a time of intense battles for control of the Mediterranean.