Comparing Classical and Hellenistic depictions of Nike

Although there arent any significant artistic breakthroughs between Classical and Hellenistic Greek sculptures, the two ages reflect two distinctive Greek ideologies. Classical Greece spanning from 480 to 325 BCE rose from the feeling of triumph, where Hellenistic Greece is the product of defeat. Main distinctions lie in the context of artworks; Classical artworks circulate around the idea of perfection, it depicts the perfect human body with its perfect proportions. On the other hand, Hellenistic, which came at the end of the Greeks, dating from 325 to 30 BCE, artworks are more concerned with depicting a dramatic moment, an ordinary everyday life moment. The distinction between the 2 ages can be illustrated by comparing two representations of the same figure each in a different period; the classical Nike of Samothrace and the Hellenistic Nike adjusting her sandal.

In Greek mythology, Nike is the personification of victory, a subject that seems to be logical for the Classical period. The Nike of Samothrace emulates the artistic canon of classical Greek sculptures. The winged victory of Samothrace serves as a reminder of victory, it was placed in a harbor, and supposedly it depicts the god of victory lightening up when a ship of the Greek comes back with victory.

On the other hand Nike adjusting her sandal is a bas-relief emulating the subjects of the Hellenistic period. In this art-work, the god of victory is depicted as a normal person doing a normal thing, adjusting her sandal. In the Hellenistic period the gods became less Olympian. Artists are now more concerned with quotidian subjects. Moreover, it can be deduced that Nike is removing her sandal, as if she is done, also a common theme of the Hellenistic period.

Artistically, there isnt much difference between the two artworks. Some Arthisotrians even consider the winged victory to be Hellenistic. It maybe Hellenistic artistically, but it is sure Classical in theme. Dynamism is present in both artworks; in the winged victory Nike seems to be starting to fly, and in the High-relief Nike is adjusting her sandal. Contrapposto and symmetry can also be clearly seen and are amplified by the presence of the wings. Both artists utilized the chitten to stress realism, and show skill.

To sum up, we have seen two Nikes serving two completely different purposes; the winged victory served as a reminder of Greek victory, where Nike adjusting her sandal is merely a quotidian depiction of the god. We have seen that classical and Hellenistic Greece are not different from a technical perspective of art, but are different in context and function.