Nike is the Greek virgin goddess of Victory.  She is the daughter of Pallas (the younger Titan-the god of battle) and the goddess Styx (the Underworld River of Hatred, Hades). Styx had sent her daughter Nike to the god Zeus as an ally to fight against the Titans. 

Originally Nike was intertwined with the identity of Athena. She essentially was Athena without wings.  Gradually Nike became a separate goddess representing victory, a goddess with wings. Often Athena and Zeus are seen carrying small figures of Nike, indicating that she is an attribute of both of them.  

Her physical persona of a winged goddess of victory arose from a gradual development of several associations. These associations were, life’s need for air, airborne birds with the spirit of life, a winged flight was a victory over death and eventually Victory itself.

Nike has been depicted carrying a palm branch, a wreath or a caduceus of Hermes (a staff with two entwined snakes and two wings at the top).  She is often seen erecting a trophy or recording a victory on a shield, as well as hovering with outspread wings over the victor in competitions.  She became known as the mediator of success between the gods and men, not only in war but in all kinds of human undertakings.