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Greek Art With Wiings

Title: Gold pendant in the form of a sphinx. Period: Classical. Date: 5th–4th century BCE. Culture: Greek, Cypriot. Medium: Gold. (Photo: The representation of the sphinx shows an awkward compromise between rendering the figure three-dimensionally, as in the treatment of the legs, and adapting it to a predominantly two-dimensional surface. (Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

By Middle Land Staff

July 23, 2025
3:17 pm
Los Angeles, CA

In the vast and varied world of Greek art, certain motifs and symbols recur across centuries, offering a glimpse into the cultural values, religious beliefs, and artistic innovations of ancient Greece. Among these symbols, wings stand out as one of the most powerful and evocative features. Whether attached to gods, mythological creatures, or heroes, wings in Greek art transcend mere physical attributes, carrying deep symbolic and thematic significance. They are not mere decorative elements but powerful emblems of divinity, freedom, and transcendence. Wings in Greek art symbolize the ability to transcend earthly limitations and move between realms, representing the divine’s freedom to ascend to the heavens or descend into the underworld. Figures like Nike, the goddess of victory, and Hermes, the messenger god, embody this divine mobility. Nike’s wings, especially in sculptures like the Winged Victory of

Wings in Greek art symbolize the ability to transcend earthly limitations and move between realms, representing the divine’s freedom to ascend to the heavens or descend into the underworld. Figures like Nike, the goddess of victory, and Hermes, the messenger god, embody this divine mobility. Nike’s wings, especially in sculptures like the Winged Victory of Samothrace, emphasize the swiftness of victory and the fleeting yet powerful nature of success, while Hermes’ winged sandals symbolize his role as a divine messenger, moving effortlessly between gods and mortals. In addition to their connection to gods, wings also appear in mythological creatures like the Sphinx and Pegasus, symbolizing power, mystery, and freedom.

The Sphinx, with her wings of a bird and body of a lion, embodies the dangerous enigma of fate, while Pegasus, the winged horse, represents divine aid and freedom. Through these winged figures, Greek art explores profound themes of transformation, aspiration, and the tension between human ambition and divine intervention, evoking a sense of wonder that invites viewers to reflect on the forces that govern both the human and divine realms.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in New York is home to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Greek art, spanning multiple periods of Greek history, from the Geometric period (c. 900 BCE) to the Hellenistic period (c. 1st century BCE). Its extensive collection of Greek art includes sculptures, vases, jewelry, and more. Some Greek art objects feature wings, often associated with gods, goddesses, and mythological figures.