Priestess dress for the lighting of the Olympic Flame - Paris 2024
- Inventory number
- 2025.2.1.1
- Barcode
- 92157
- Type
- Robe, costume pour la Cérémonie
- Period
- Paris 2024
- Creator / Author
- Katrantzou Marie
- Origin
- donation de Comité olympique hellénique (19 mars 2025)
- Usage
- Cérémonie d'allumage de la Flamme Olympique
- Materials
- Acier recyclé
- Dimensions
- 143cm- 36cm
Physical description
This dress was designed by Mary Katrantzou, a Greek fashion designer living in London. It echoes Greek Antiquity since it is completely inspired by an Ionic column. White and green, the pleated dress is reminiscent of the fluting of columns. This dress, since worn by a woman, also alludes to the caryatids, a statue of a woman, often dressed in a long tunic, which replaces a column. It has a side zipper and two ribbons on the sides to hang it. The upper part of the bustier seems to be made of tulle, which once worn, is almost no longer visible.
Notes
The scenography of this ceremony is perfectly meticulous. Indeed, the weather conditions do not always allow the flame to be lit by means of the parabolic mirror as is the tradition in Olympia. This was particularly the case on April 16, 2024. Thus, an emergency flame was lit during the last rehearsals, allowing the sacred fire to be disposed of after the incantations formulated by the High Priestess towards the god Apollo. Following this lighting ceremony, the Torch Relay will be a gigantic journey to breathe new life into the Games and create a real public emulation around the upcoming event. The Olympic flame travelled through Greece until 27 April 2024, when it will take its place in a lantern carried aboard the "Belem", a three-masted ship that crossed the Mediterranean to reach Marseille on 8 May.
Photo credits
© @ Collection MNS