Louvre - 1st visit cont'd - the grandest Goddess

The Winged Victory of Samothrace has to be one of the most astounding sculptures ever uncovered from the times of Roman and Greek antiquity. Right up there with the Laocoon and Borghese Gladiator.

Though it is regrettable that this goddess cannot be reunited with her divine head and arms, the remarkable detail of her fragile and beautiful wings remains.

Robing is exquisitely rendered and realised also; the impression given is of the person standing on the prow of a boat in a strong wind, with sea spray wetting her garments. Her navel is visible through a part of her dress most soaked by the elements as imagined by the sculptor.

Silver drachma of the Winged Victory dating from 306 - 294 B.C.

Wings without flash...

... and with the flash turned on.

For some less-wobbly, professional images of this goddess, and an excellent English-language commentary on the sculpture, click the link to Museé Louvre embedded in the title of this post (and here again).