Olympia Olympic Flame

Olympia: The lighting of the Olympic Flame in Olympia Peloponesse, Greece

Olympia Statue of Zeus: Ancient Olympia, the original site of the ancient Olympic Games, started with the lighting of the Olympic flame. Even today, this ritual has been continued and indicates the starting of the preparation of each Olympic Game. The lighting of the Olympic flame is held several months before the beginning of the Olympics in the actual site of Olympia, near the temple of Hera.

Eleven women dressed in ancient Greek robes represent the priestesses and perform the ceremony. The chief-priestess

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lights the torch with the use of a parabolic mirror that concentrates the light of the Sun. Then she passes the torch to the first runner and usually a route around the world starts that passes through many capitals and finishes in the town which hosts the Olympics.

It is thought as a great honor to carry the torch with the Olympic Flame, which symbolizes the peace around the universe. The final runner enters the stadium where the opening ceremony of the Olympics is held and lights a giant torch. The Olympic Flame is lit during all the days of the Olympics and is lit out in the closing ceremony.

In the ancient times, it was thought that the Olympic Flame was sent by the gods who favored the games. The runners would run all city-states of Greece carrying the message to stop any war fight as the Olympic Games were about to start and inviting all athletes to take part.

The photo is from grhomeboy.wordpress.com

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