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Puppet - Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre, Alexander the Great, early 1960s Object Reg. No: SH 911443

Alternative Name(s): Megalexandros


Megalexandros [Alexander the Great] is is a character in the centuries-old Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre (Karaghiozis) tradition. He is stately and commands respect. He is just, proud and is protector of the weak and the scorned. Megalexandros features in two or three stories as well as in one comedy. The best known play is 'Megalexandros [Alexander the Great] and the Cursed Snake'. A huge snake appears in the spiderweb-filled cave and spreads fear and death. The bravest men confronted it but lost their lives. In order to save the public, the Vizier (the Veziris - originally a Persian term for a high-ranking political, and sometimes religious, advisor or minister, often to a Muslim monarch such as a Sultan) offered his daughter and many thousands of pounds to whoever could kill it. Megalexandros [Alexander the Great] appears, confronts the snake and in a very fierce battle he kills it with the help of Karaghiozis. Megalexandros [Alexander the Great] leaves. Karaghiozis tells Hatziavatis [another Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre character], who enters and sees the dead snake, that he killed it himself. They take it and go to Sarai, but the Vizier (the Veziris) is under the impression that they are trying to trick him, so he orders Thervenagas another Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre character] to start beating them both up.

Megalexandros [Alexander the Great] is one of the more complex puppets to operate, which is why it was manipulated only by the Master Puppeteer. It is connected by two puppet rods [there are many examples in the collection], one on its shoulder and one on its hand which holds the spear or sword.

An acrylic figure of a man, jointed at the waist, thighs and multiple joints in one arm, which has a leather extension. He wears a Macedonian military uniform of yellow helmet and breastplate, yellow, white and blue tunic and pink leggings. He carries a spear.
Discipline: History
Dimensions: 83.50 cm (Height), 27.00 cm (Length)

More information

Primary Classification: CULTURAL IDENTITY
Secondary Classification: Ethnicity - Creative Practice
Tertiary Classification: puppetry

User: Mr Abraam Antonakos, Victoria, Australia, 1977

User: Mr Dimitri Katsoulis, Australia, 1978-1991


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