This year's <keyword id="20028513" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympic-Games" source="keywords">Olympic Games</keyword> are all set to kick off on Friday, July 26! The Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will unfold in a spectacular six-kilometre-long floating procession along the Seine River. Athletes will traverse Paris aboard 160 boats, culminating their journey at the Trocadero, all while the Eiffel Tower gleams with lights.<br /><br />A key highlight of the ceremony will be the arrival of the <keyword id="21323045" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Olympic-flame" source="keywords">Olympic flame</keyword>, carried by the final torchbearer. Upon reaching the arena, the torchbearer will complete a lap before lighting the Olympic cauldron, marking the official commencement of the Games.<br /><br />But where does this iconic Olympic flame originate? Its creation involves a timeless ritual that bridges the ancient traditions of Greece with the modern Olympic Games.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Olympia's timeless tradition: Igniting the flame of peace and friendship" comment="subhead" text="Olympia's timeless tradition: Igniting the flame of peace and friendship"><span data-til="noop">Olympia's timeless tradition: Igniting the flame of peace and friendship</span></cmsannotation><br />To this day, the Olympic flame lighting ceremony takes place at Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Games. This ritual, conducted months before the <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword>, symbolises peace and international friendship.<br /><br />The Olympic flame's origins date back to ancient Greece, where a sacred fire was maintained at the altar of Hestia, the goddess of the hearth. This fire was ignited using the sun's rays, focused through a parabolic mirror—a method still employed today.<br /><br />During this ceremony, a group of women known as the Vestal Virgins performs a ritual at the <keyword id="22541691" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="temple-of-hera" source="keywords">Temple of Hera</keyword>. The high priestess, clad in traditional garb, calls upon the sun god Apollo and uses a <keyword id="22541690" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="parabolic-mirror" source="keywords">parabolic mirror</keyword> to concentrate sunlight onto a torch, ensuring the flame is ignited purely by natural sunlight.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Steps of the Olympic flame lighting ceremony" comment="subhead" text="Steps of the Olympic flame lighting ceremony"><span data-til="noop">Steps of the Olympic flame lighting ceremony</span></cmsannotation><br /><strong>Preparation</strong>: The ceremony starts with the high priestess and her attendants assembling at the Temple of Hera, where they perform preparatory rituals.<br /><br /><strong>Invocation</strong>: The high priestess prays to Apollo, seeking his assistance in lighting the torch.<br /><br /><strong>Ignition</strong>: Sunlight is focused through the parabolic mirror, generating intense heat to ignite the torch. If weather conditions are adverse, a backup flame from a previous rehearsal may be used.<br /><br /><strong>Symbolic acts</strong>: Once ignited, the flame is placed in an urn and handed to the first torchbearer, usually a Greek athlete. The ceremony includes the recitation of a poem by the ancient poet Pindar and the release of doves, symbolising peace.<br /><br /><strong><keyword id="22423490" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="torch-relay" source="keywords">Torch relay</keyword></strong>: The flame then embarks on its journey, travelling across Greece before being delivered to the host city of the upcoming Olympic Games. This relay serves as a living link between the ancient and modern Olympics, carrying a message of peace and unity.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112005542" title="Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony – when is it, how to watch and all you need to know" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The lighting of the Olympic flame is far more than a ceremonial act; it encapsulates the essence of the Olympics. It serves as a tribute to the ancient Games and their ideals, such as peace and international camaraderie, while emphasising the ongoing continuity of the Olympic movement from past to present and future.<br />

From sunbeams to Olympic dreams: How a simple mirror creates the legendary Olympic flame

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rosario Dawson reprises her role as Ahsoka Tano in the new live-action Disney+ series.</li><li>Ashley Eckstein previously voiced Ahsoka Tano in "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels."</li></ul><h2><strong>Ahsoka Tano was Anakin Skywalker's padawan in 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) talking to Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) in &quot;Star Wars: The Clone Wars.&quot;" height="676" width="901" msid="102955364" hostid="261"></div><p>In 2008, the animated "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" movie introduced Ahsoka Tano (voiced by Ashley Eckstein) for the first time, as the Jedi Council ordered <a href="https://www.insider.com/george-lucas-anakin-skywalker-destroy-star-wars-2020-11">Anakin Skywalker</a> (Matt Lanter) to train her as his padawan, or apprentice. It was a surprising revelation that he had an apprentice because none of the movies mentioned it.</p><p>When <a href="https://www.insider.com/why-to-watch-star-wars-clone-wars-2020-5">"The Clone Wars"</a> continued as a TV series, Ahsoka's training continued as the Jedi and the Republic continued to wage war against the droid armies that belonged to the Separatists. During this time, she became close with clones like Captain Rex (Dee Bradley Baker) and the Mandalorian warrior Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff). </p><p>Her friendship with Bo-Katan is largely why Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka was brought into live action back in "The Mandalorian" season two, as Bo sent <a href="https://www.insider.com/pedro-pascal-the-mandalorian-voice-fans-creepy-2023-2">Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal)</a> to look for her so that she could help train <a href="https://www.insider.com/the-mandalorian-baby-yoda-details-to-know-grogu-2023-4">Grogu</a>.</p><h2><strong>Ahsoka left the Jedi Order after being framed for bombing the Jedi Temple</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Ahsoka (Ashley Eckstein) leaving Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) and the Jedi Order." height="1022" width="1363" msid="102955366" hostid="261"></div><p>While Ahsoka is definitely a hero, she doesn't class herself as a Jedi, and in fact, she left the Jedi Order in "The Clone Wars" season six when she was framed for bombing the temple. </p><p>The person responsible was another Jedi, Barriss Offee, who carried out the attack because she believed that the order had become corrupt — and that they were the ones actually responsible for the war with the Separatists. </p><p>While this didn't turn Ahsoka to the dark side, it <em>did</em> make her face the fact that the Jedi weren't as perfect and wholly good as they made themselves out to be, which is why she chose to leave and forge her own path.</p><h2><strong>David Tennant's Huyang is an ancient droid who helped Jedi padawans build their lightsabers</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="David Tennant at the 2023 BAFTA Television Awards at The Royal Festival Hall on May 14, 2023 in London, and as Huyang in &quot;Ahsoka.&quot;" height="900" width="1200" msid="102955368" hostid="261"></div><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/ahsoka-star-wars-disney-plus-cast-real-life-photos-2023-8">The "Ahsoka" TV series</a> will also reintroduce "Star Wars" fans to Huyang (<a href="https://www.insider.com/david-tennant-fought-for-doctor-who-to-wear-converse-2018-10">David Tennant</a>), an ancient droid whose job it was to teach Jedi padawans how to build their own lightsabers when they were old enough. Tennant voiced the droid in "The Clone Wars" season five back in 2013.</p><p>Huyang has 25,000 years of Jedi history stored in his memory, which is pretty important because he could potentially help teach new Jedi alongside <a href="https://www.insider.com/every-star-wars-movie-ranked-worst-to-best">Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)</a>.</p><p>The iconic hero last appeared in "The Book of Boba Fett" when he was seen building a new Jedi Order on a remote planet. Ahsoka even visited Skywalker to check on his progress.</p><h2><strong>Rosario Dawson's hero reunites with several key characters from 'Star Wars Rebels'</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla and Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren in &quot;Ahsoka.&quot;" height="900" width="1200" msid="102955369" hostid="261"></div><p>"Ahsoka" will also bring several key characters from "Star Wars Rebels" into live action, with <a href="https://www.insider.com/ahsoka-star-wars-disney-plus-cast-real-life-photos-2023-8">Mary Elizabeth Winstead playing pilot Hera Syndulla</a>, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo as the Mandalorian, Sabine Wren.</p><p>The pair met Ahsoka on numerous occasions in the animated series, but it's the first time that they'll all meet in live action. Sabine was actually Ahsoka's padawan at the end of "Rebels," but the teaser trailers for "Ahsoka" hint that they went their separate ways.</p><p>The main character from "Rebels," Ezra Bridger (Esman Esfandi), is also set to cross over into live action. He was a young orphan who trained as a Jedi under Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and eventually became extremely powerful in the Force. </p><h2><strong>Ezra Bridger saved Ahsoka from Darth Vader by pulling her into the World Between Worlds</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Ezra Bridger (Taylor Gray), Morai the owl, and Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) in the World Between Worlds." height="1191" width="1588" msid="102955370" hostid="261"></div><p>"Rebels" also introduced a huge new concept into the "Star Wars" galaxy with the World Between Worlds, which could only be entered through an old Jedi Temple on the planet of Lothal. </p><p>When Ezra found it, he realized that it connected all the major points of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-ways-to-watch-star-wars-movies">"Star Wars" timeline</a> — including a duel between Ahsoka and Darth Vader, her former master. Bridger managed to save Ahsoka from being killed by pulling her into the World Between Worlds.</p><p>Ahsoka managed to persuade Ezra that using it to save people in his life who had died could have drastic consequences because he would be changing time itself. Ultimately, they both left the bizarre realm, and kept it hidden from the Empire. But it's not impossible that it could return in live action.</p><h2><strong>Morgan Elsbeth has been working for Thrawn and previously appeared in 'The Mandalorian' season two</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Morgan Elsbeth (Dianna Lee Inosanto) fighting Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) in &quot;The Mandalorian&quot; season two." height="1159" width="1546" msid="102955371" hostid="261"></div><p>The trailers for the series also revealed that Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) will return, as she works alongside two mysterious Dark Side users, Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) and Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno). </p><p>Elsbeth previously appeared in <a href="https://www.insider.com/mandalorian-season-2-details-you-missed-2020">"The Mandalorian" season two</a> when Tano was hunting Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) on the planet Corvus. While Elsbeth is a skilled fighter, Ahsoka quickly defeated her and liberated the people that Elsbeth was ruling over. </p><p>It's not clear what she was doing for Thrawn, or what their plan for the universe is besides reviving the Empire to its former strength.</p><p>Thrawn was last seen at the end of "Rebels" when Ezra Bridger used the Force to transport the Imperial villain to the opposite end of the galaxy to try and stop his schemes. It seems likely that whatever Elsbeth is up to involves bringing Thrawn back from where he and Ezra ended up.</p><p>"Ahsoka" premieres on <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=86aab8548f4bcb3a69216d3a36acecad9b7ee7e07b8905829862fdcf29d63e99&amp;postID=64e4d25cf87b369c6da53ab1&amp;site=in&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Disney+</a> on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET.</p>

6 things 'Star Wars' fans should remember before watching 'Ahsoka' starring Rosario Dawson

<p>Earlier this week, Google hosted <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/google-exclusive-camp-conference-sicily-2014-8#ixzz39pbiyHDp" target="_blank">an exclusive conference at a luxurious resort in Sicily</a> for a selection of the world's most rich-and-famous and their families, including tech stars like Elon Musk, Evan Spiegel, and Ben Horowitz. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.rosalio.it/" target="_blank">Sicilian blogger Tony Siino</a> talked to an attendee about what went on, and told Business Insider via email that the conference, dubbed "<a href="http://www.thecamp2014.com/" target="_blank">The Camp</a>," was three-days of intellectual discussions, relaxation, and sight-seeing.</p>
<p>According to Siino's source, morning discussions included a wide range of topics, including how to extend human life and the design of cities of the future. In the afternoons, he said, guests could choose from activities like sailing, jet-skiing, paddle-boarding, golf, and biking. Google also organized trips to a local winery and the Hera Temple in the ancient city Selinunte.</p>
<p>Siino also staked out the Palermo Airport, where he said that guests were arriving in private planes and then <a href="http://www.rosalio.it/2014/08/07/the-camp-di-google-in-sicilia-foto-dei-jet-dei-partecipanti-a-palermo/#more-14738" target="_blank">being taken by helicopter</a> to the <a href="https://reservations.roccofortehotels.com/" target="_blank">Verdura Golf and Spa Resort</a></p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Tony Siino" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53e531ec6bb3f77f20c99642-960/google-helicopter.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53e531ec6bb3f77f20c99642-1200-924/google-helicopter.jpg" border="0" alt="Google Helicopter " /></a><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.rosalio.it/2014/08/07/the-camp-di-google-in-sicilia-foto-dei-jet-dei-partecipanti-a-palermo/#more-14738">Tony Siino</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Siino also wrote about the event for <a href="http://www.wired.it/attualita/tech/2014/08/08/campo-estivo-segreto-google/" target="_blank">Wired's Italian site</a>. </p>
<p>Skateboard legend Tony Hawk attended with his family, and definitely had a great experience, judging by his Twitter feed:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/google">@Google</a> for providing such incredible (Italian) memories for my family (fireworks were an added bonus). <a href="http://t.co/Z9dml0S9YA">pic.twitter.com/Z9dml0S9YA</a></p>
- Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) <a href="https://twitter.com/tonyhawk/statuses/497152975669047296">August 6, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Selinunte (/?s?l?'nu?nte?/) was an ancient Greek city on the southern coast of Sicily in Italy... and we out here. <a href="http://t.co/MEZDm0QVdb">pic.twitter.com/MEZDm0QVdb</a></p>
- Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) <a href="https://twitter.com/tonyhawk/statuses/496425805703299072">August 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>A slice of Sicilian sunset <a href="http://t.co/na9cmuHfII">pic.twitter.com/na9cmuHfII</a></p>
- Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) <a href="https://twitter.com/tonyhawk/statuses/496004126418161664">August 3, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Arrivederci Italia! <a href="http://t.co/1DlskSXw2O">pic.twitter.com/1DlskSXw2O</a></p>
- Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) <a href="https://twitter.com/tonyhawk/statuses/497223602089897984">August 7, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>

You Searched For "temple of hera" and got 3 results

From sunbeams to Olympic dreams: How a simple mirror creates the legendary Olympic flame

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Here's What Went On At Google's Exclusive Conference For The Rich And Famous In Sicily

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