
The image is a photograph of a black plaque with white text on it. The text reads "NIKE in Athens's outstretched right hand hovers Nike, the winged goddess of victory, preparing to crown Athena with the laurel wreath as the personification of victory. Nike was often associated with Athena in the art of this period, and the relationship between the two goddesses was a close one in the minds of Athenians in the 5th century BC. The Athenians believed that it was Athens who had protected them from annihilation and granted them their victory over the Persian Empire in 480 BC. Victory was also symbolic of the pre-eminence of Athens amongst other Greek cities.
