The Winged Victory of Samothrace , or the Nike of Samothrace , is a votive monument originally found on the island of Samothrace , north of the Aegean Sea. It is a masterpiece of Greek sculpture from the Hellenistic era , dating from the beginning of the 2nd century BC (190 BC). It is composed of a statue representing the goddess Niké (Victory), whose head and arms are missing and its base is in the shape of a ship's bow.