Greek lekythos ceramic bowl used in the official flame lighting ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, which was held at the birthplace of the Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece on March 12, 2020. The glazed black bowl measures 6.75˝ in diameter and 4.25˝ in height, and features hand-painted designs and figures, including a torch runner. The bowl contains its interior ceramic ring.
Among the pillars, in the ruins of the temple of Hera, beneath Kronos Hill, a reflective bowl is used to catch the rays of the sun and spark a flame sent by Apollo, the Greek god of sun and light. The flame is used to ignite the Olympic torch held by the High Priestess, and from this torch, the flame is passed, or kissed, to the lekythos bowl, which is carried into the ancient stadium and used as a conduit to light the first torch of the Olympic relay.
The Olympic flame was lit in a traditional ceremony in Olympia, Greece, on March 12, 2020, and the relay continued for one day, traveling through Amaliada, Pyrgos, Kyparissia, and Kalamata, before arriving in Sparta. On March 13th, the Hellenic Olympic Committee announced that the remainder of the relay would be canceled to avoid attracting large crowds amidst the coronavirus contagion.
The handover ceremony took place at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on March 19th, and the flame was subsequently flown to Japan, where it remained lit for a year in anticipation of the postponed Games. The relay resumed in Japan in March 2021 and was completed with the opening ceremony on July 23, 2021. A rare artifact from a unique chapter in Olympic history, one that represents the 'flame of recovery' and the resilience of the athletic spirit.
