Historical background of puppet theatre in Greece.

1. 15th Primary School of Nikaia “Mikis Theodorakis” Class C2
6th Primary School of Korydallos Class A2

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

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

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

8. 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.

9. 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)

10. 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.

11. 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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. The Karagoz is the figure of
Shadow Theatre and came
in Greece from Turkey in
1860.
Greek puppet show during the Ottoman period

17. Fasoulis
Doll 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

18. 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.

20. 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

23. 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!

25. 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.

26. Modern European Puppet Show in Greece
Puppet theatre
Takis Sarris
Puppet theater TIRITOBA
Kostas Chatziadreou, Sofia Foutzopoulou
Larisa, Greece

27. Modern European Puppet Show in Greece
Marotes
Giant puppets
Black theater
Ariadni Novak
Crete, Greece

28. 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.

29. International Puppet and Pantomime Show-Kilkis Greece

30. International Puppet and Pantomime Show-Kilkis Greece

31. International Puppet and Pantomime Show-Kilkis Greece

32. International Puppet and Pantomime Show-Kilkis Greece

33. International Puppet and Pantomime Show-Kilkis Greece

34. International Puppet and Pantomime Show-Kilkis Greece