the story of greek puppet

It΄s show time!

15th Primary School of Nikaia “Mikis Theodorakis” Class C26th Primary School of Korydallos Class A2

The story of greek puppet from antiquity until today

Puppet show is one of the most popular kinds of theatre in which the actors are not humanς but effigies of humans, puppets.

In ancient greek mythology Hephaestus, god of Olympus and “king of hands” created a giant, named Talos, guardian of the coasts of Crete.

In ancient Greece the “doll” had an important role in people’s life.The doll-statuette was always present during the worship of gods.

Terracotta statuette in the shape of a bell(700 B.C.) (The Louvre)The legs are articulated. The body is decorated with geometric patterns. The features of the face and the shoes are also painted.

Terracotta plagona (“doll”) with tall legs, slim body and neat hair style. It was probably the favorite toy of a girl in ancient Macedonia. (Archaeological Museum of Pella, Greece)

This ancient greek “doll” was the inspiration for the mascot of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.It’s an ancient greek statuette, in the shape of a bell with articulated legs.Greek, Corinthian.

The girls were offering their plagonas , some of their toys and curls of their hair to the goddesses Artemis and Aphrodite.

Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and love

Artemis, goddess of hunting

Terracotta figurines , 5th century B.C. Greek ,Corinthian(British Museum)

In ancient Greece the “doll” with articulated legs and hands was called nevrospasto (οne that is moved with strings) and the puppeteer nevrospastis . The dolls were moved with special strings in the body and the head.Pothinos ,one of the most famous puppeteer of ancient Greece, presented his shows in the ancient theatre of god Dionysus in Athens.

What is this figurine?

It’s an ancient plagona-dancer or glini or kori or nevrospasto.The articulated arms and legs are handmade and may originally have been attached to the body with metal pins. With its movable legs, this figurine obviously cannot stand or sit, it can only lay flat on its back. What, then, was the reason for jointed limbs? The answer is revealed by a hole on top of the head—this figurine was intended to be suspended, thus the articulated limbs could move freely like puppets.

Occasionally these “dolls” are represented with crotala (castanets) in their hands, an attribute that identifies them as dancers.

Moreover, they are frequently found in sanctuaries where they were brought as votive gifts to the gods. The fact that they were deposited in the graves of both children and adults also strengthens the argument that they were not toys.

These “dolls” are made of wax, wood, ivory and mostly clay.

The Karagoz is the figure of Shadow

Theatre and came in Greece from Turkey in

1860.

Greek puppet show during the Ottoman period

FasoulisDoll of glove , brother of the italian Fagiolino. This doll arrived in Greece from Italy in 1840. Fasoulis was well-known in Athens before the end of 19th century. At the beginning of 20th century and until 1930 it was a strong competitor with Karagoz who finally prevailed as the main comic hero.Fasoulis was very ugly, one-eyed, with large thick nose.

Puppet show: “Fasoulis and the pirates”

Greek puppet show during Ottoman period

Just before the 2nd World War…

In the 30s the puppet show, including the Karagoz, it was directed to children while until then was adressed mainly to adults.

Here we see the puppeteer Maridakis with his puppet Paschalis who replaced Fasoulis.

This was Akiloglou, a puppeteer, with his dolls.During the war Akiloglou joined the National Liberation Front and he wqs playing with his dolls in the mountains for the partisans. His nickame was Akilas-the Companion Puppetshowman.

In 1939 Helen Theochari Peraki founded the company “ Puppet Show of Athens” which kept them company for fifty years . The company soon adapted to the difficult situation of the German Occupation. The heroes, Uncle-Mitrousis, Klouvios and Souvlitsa became famous during their shows in hospitals, for children and injured, presenting on stage greek myths and folktales. After the war this company continued and travelled abroad until the 80s.

Klouvios and Souvlitsa

Uncle-Mitrousis

Since 1974 the Sofianou family in collaboration with the Greek Radio Television (ERT) presented a television programme for children named Froutopia with puppets inspired from the world of fruit!

In 1975 Eugenia Fakinou creates the play Denekethoupoli. The heroes are little tins. She was inspired by the the object theatre techniques in Former Yugoslavia and Bulgaria.

Modern European Puppet Show in Greece

Puppet theatreTakis Sarris

Puppet theater TIRITOBAKostas Chatziadreou, Sofia FoutzopoulouLarisa, Greece

Modern European Puppet Show in Greece

Marotes Giant puppetsBlack theaterAriadni NovakCrete, Greece

UNIMA (Union International de la Marionnette) was founded in 1929 in Prague. It has local centers in approximately 80 countries and it is also member of UNESCO. In 1990 the Greek Center of Puppet Theatre was founded which is an open organization that brings together all the professionals, amateurs and friends of puppet theatre, promoting it with several shows all over the country.

International Puppet and Pantomime Show-Kilkis Greece

the story of greek puppet

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