Nike/Victoria representations in Late Antique Central Balkans

Abstract

During the archaeological excavations in the north-eastern part of the thermae at Constantine the Great’s villa in Mediana, in the 2022 campaign, in a layer of debris two fragments of marble relief with a representation of Nike/Victoria standing on a globe were discovered. The fine grain white marble used for the icon, with its exquisite modelling, suggest that it was made from expensive marble by the hands of a skilful artisan in the period from the 3rd to the 4th century. The fact that the relief was discovered in the area of an imperial residential complex relates it to other known Central Balkan finds with Victoria representations, discovered in Galerius’ imperial domain Felix Romuliana and Moesia Superior’s capital Viminacium. All these mythological objects can be dated into the period of the 3rd and the 4th century, attesting that the goddess’ symbolism did not lose any of its popularity in the period of Late Antiquity - on the contrary, it announced the transformation of the goddess into an angel and, later on, as the one who blessed the emperors during their coronation. Thus, the question of Victoria’s different roles (goddess or personification) again arises, gaining a new meaning in the early Byzantine period.

Keywords

• nike
• victoria
• marble relief
• statue
• wreath
• victory
• late antiquity