In April of 2024 there was a gathering in a lightly populated but historically significant corner of Greece.

At the far western end of the Peloponnese you will find the Ellis region

and there you will find the archaeological remains of Olympia, the ritual complex

that for nearly 12 hundred years hosted the most prestigious athletic competition in the Greek world.

These days, Olympia is mainly the haunt of archaeologists and historically minded tourists,

except for a brief moment a few months. and historically minded tourists,

except for a brief moment a few months before the opening

of a modern Olympic Games.

Then Olympia becomes the site of a unique bit of pageantry meant to invoke the spirit of the

ancient games. If you were among the select group of observers invited to Olympia this past April, then you would have

witnessed a group of statuesque Greek women dressed in flowing white gowns playing the role of ancient priestesses of the temple of Hera.

As part of their official duties, these priestesses performed an elaborate dance that Olympic organizers tell us was inspired by

ancient Greek movement. In the course of this choreography, the priestesses gathered around a special concave mirror positioned

perfectly to concentrate the rays of the sun and ignite the Olympic flame. The priestesses then called upon the God

Apollo to give life to the flame and once again Apollo obliged.

The flame was lit in a sacred urn decorated with an ancient looking image of a naked, bearded

athlete running with an ignited torch.

The urn was then solemnly brought forward by the High Priestess, played this year by Greek

actress Mary Mina. When the high priestess reached the platform,

believed to be the remains of the vestibule of the ancient temple of Hera,

she made a second invocation to the gods to protect the flame and the sacred

truce meant to ensure peace during the Olympic season. After her invocation the High priestess was met by a runner holding this year's official Olympic torch.

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