The Museum

The creation of the Spathario Museum is the result of a long and challenging effort by the famous artist Evgenios Spatharis and the strong will of the Municipality of Maroussi, both of whom contributed to the realization of a shared dream: to give Karagiozis a permanent home.

The purpose of the Museum is to preserve, protect, and promote, in every way, one of the most important parts of our cultural heritage, which represents popular theater: Karagiozis.

A visit to the Spathario Museum enchants visitors with the vibrant colors of the figures, the cheerful expressions of the characters’ faces, and the readily apparent sense of humor.

The Public Law Legal Entity under the name Municipality of Maroussi Shadow Theatre Museum “Evgenios Spatharis” was officially founded in 1991, and the first symposium on Greek Shadow Theatre was organized in May 1993.
In June 1995, the Spathario Shadow Theatre Museum opened its doors to welcome the countless friends of Karagiozis.

The museum began operating regularly in January 1996, offering organized tours and educational programs for young and old. Since 2000, it has hosted an important cultural event: the annual Shadow Theatre Festival "Spatharia," featuring renowned shadow theatre puppeteers from Greece and abroad.

The ever-increasing number of museum visitors, along with the love and respect the administration holds for its benefactor and creator, Evgenios Spatharis, led to the decision to relocate the museum. This move aimed to provide Karagiozis with not just a home, but a truly dedicated space: his eternal home. Today, the Spathario Museum has been relocated to a beautiful, larger, and more functional neoclassical building owned by the Municipality, located near the heart of the city.