Olympic fire

Cauldron on a circular base with the Olympic motto and rings.

The Olympic Museum basin was created based on the myth of Prometheus. The flame shoots up from a radiant wheel in reference to the wheel of the sun chariot from which Prometheus stole fire. The Greek sentence “The fire stolen for mankind from the sun’s wheel” is a reminder of this legend. This bronze spoked wheel stands on a massive granite vase, which follows the pure lines of the cups in which the vestals at Olympia present the flame. The wheel and vase are then placed delicately in the middle of a parabola, which features the Olympic motto Citius Altius Fortius, faster, higher, stronger.

Every day, at noon, the flame burns higher for one minute. It is switched to standby when the Museum is closed, by enclosing it between two half-parabolas. This also happens automatically when it rains or snows, or when the wind is blowing.