The Museum
was founded in 1991 by the most famous shadow player in Greece Eugenios Spatharis, a successful outcome of long-term and persisting efforts.
The Museum exhibits derived from his own collections, his father's Sotiris Spatharis and other Shadow Theatre artists as well.
The permanent exhibition - namely figures, accessories and stage material of the Greek shadow theatre - presents the history and evolution
of this traditional popular art from 1860 to the present. The Museum also possesses a library, an archive of press cuttings, photos and posters.
According to Eygenios Spatharis the aim of the museum "is not to show a lifeless exhibition of shadows...On the contrary, the intention is to keep them alive in a permanent hospitable home in which all young and old visitors will be accepted to amuse themselves and leave satisfied. Karagiozis' friends can also travel in the magic world of shadows learning about the performances and their history."
Some of the most important exhibits of the museum are:
• The classical figure of Karaghiozis,
drawn by Eugenios Spatharis. The first coloured figure was created in 1920.
• Black and
white figures of the traditional Shadow Theatre of the period 1900-1930.
• Coloured
shadow theatre figures of various types.
