In development for more than two years before the Games began, the Athens 2004 Opening Ceremony aimed to revisit Greece’s history. It also celebrated the ideal of democracy, which originated in Ancient Greece. This traditional costume, designed by Angelo Mentis, was used during a segment which depicted Greece during its period of domination by the Ottoman Empire (1453-1832). Athens 2004 Traditional costume worn during the Opening ceremony. The Opening Ceremony was directed by Dimitris Papaioannou, who started to work with his team in 2002 around a paper mockup of the Olympic Stadium. The main idea was to revisit the Greece’s history and celebrate the democracy that originated in Ancient Greece. Papaioannou explained about the ceremony: "A welcoming sea always ready to give birth to us all. The whiteness of marble (...) a zeimbekiko rythm and the olive tree. These things are our raw material. Greater than any of us, they asked for respect, modesty and love in order to compose new images. Our journey ends here, where yours begins. Our wish is that, on this August night, in this ancient city, you will dream with your eyes open a Hellenic dream." For the costumes, Papaioannou recruited an international team, including fashion designer Sofia Kokossalaki, who created the giant ocean-inspired folded dress worn by Icelandic singer Björk. This traditional costume was used during a segment called Clepsydra, which represented the period covering the Ottoman domination (1453-1832).