Victoria

Victoria (meaning "victory" in Latin), in ancient Roman religion, was the personified goddess of victory. She is the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Nike and was associated with Bellona. She was adapted from the Sabine agricultural goddess Vacuna and had a temple on the Palatine Hill. The goddess Vica Pota was also sometimes identified with Victoria.

Unlike the Greek goddess Nike, Victoria was a major part of Roman society. Multiple temples were erected in her honor. When her statue was removed in 382 CE by Emperor Gratianus, there was much anger in Rome. She was normally worshipped by triumphant generals returning from war. Also unlike the Greek Nike, who was known for success in athletic games such as chariot races, Victoria was a symbol of victory over death and determined who would be successful during war.

Victoria appears widely on Roman coins, jewelry, architecture, and other arts. She is often seen with or in a chariot. Nike or Victoria was the charioteer for Zeus or Jupiter in his battle to overtake Mount Olympus.

Iconography
Winged figures, very often in pairs, representing victory and referred to as "victories" were common in Roman official iconography, typically hovering high in a composition and often filling spaces in spandrels or other gaps in architecture. These represent the spirit of victory rather than the goddess herself. They continued to appear after the Christianization of the Romanb Empire and slowly became Christian angels.