Photo: High Priestess carries 'mother flame'

The organizing committee for Athens 2004 chose March 25, 2004, Greek Independence Day, for the lighting of the Olympic torch. The torch lighting ceremony started at noon, Athens time, at the altar of the temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia. Greek President Konstantinos Stephanopoulos, IOC President Jacques Rogge, and ATHOC President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki were present for the ceremony.

This photo shows Thalia Prokopiou, the actress playing the High Priestess, carrying the mother flame to light the Olympic torch.

(Photo credit: Sportsphoto)