For many years now the charm of the “Winged Victory” statue entitled Nike of Samothrace that stands in the Louvre in Paris has captivated me.

The ancient Greek maestro has employed his hands most successfully to shape a perfect harmony between Nike’s posture and her wings’ momentum and it has been accomplished to such a degree that one is overcome by an acute feeling that Nike will take off imminently from her pedestal and no force exists to stop her in flight.

The magnificent sight of this humble goddess’ body is even more exciting as it may be discerned through her clinging garments, dampened by the sea breezes as they breathe new life into her robe’s fabric. It seems that her missing head and arms only serve to intensify these sensations.

Standing there I am enthralled by the sight of the statue with thoughts racing through my mind virtually of their own accord:  How would Nike react if an old fairy godmother were to grant her three magic wishes?     Would she ask to break out of the marble sheath that has imprisoned her for over two thousand years, even if it were only for a few minutes?  Would she request to stretch her legs for a while, or maybe she would prefer to rest, sleep, grow up and experience pregnancy and birth?  How would she undress – modestly and coyly, or while displaying a sort of wild wantonness, which she might have kept concealed with her all these years?  Would she like, just this once, to reveal the garters adorning her attractive legs?
How would she dress – would she have chosen jeans with a low waistline?   What modern dance style would be to her liking?  What would she look like sitting there in the office, or drying her body after taking a shower, or just sitting there deep in her own thoughts?  If during her first tour of the Louvre she encountered Venus de Milo, a creation from her own generation, standing just a short distance away and always surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd of admirers, would she envy her?

However, it seems that Nike will continue to stand on her pedestal and adorn her sanctuary, which she so richly deserves (or perhaps it is preferable to say, it deserves her), and I, at a distance, will continue to raise more questions, while trying in all humility to express them with my brush.

Ehud Dor