DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4593#0200
1/8 THE ISLES AND SHRINES OF GREECE
sion. But this is really the modern Dionysia. Athens
surrenders itself to unbridled merriment, but it is
not lawless or vulgar. Jugglers, comedians, gymnasts,
pedlers, and the Greek Punch and Judy abound in the
streets, as they did in the ancient Dionysia. There is
good testimony to the skill of the old Greek magi-
cians. The modern performer repeats many of the
same tricks. The sword-balancer and the sword-
swallower are there, and we should no doubt find the
cup-changer. Many in the procession wear masks.
There is a small menagerie of make-believe animals,
— one of them a gigantic and amusing caricature of
a camel operated like the famous Trojan horse by a
detachment of Greeks in the inside. There is much
pantomime, but they do not divert themselves greatly
with street music in Athens.
The old theatre of Dionysus is deserted except by
the curious archaeologist, but crowds fill the modern
theatres. The street actors I found more interesting
and archaic. One of the most popular represen-
tations is frequently given near the street of the
money-changers. It is acted out by a group of five
men, one of whom impersonates a usurer sitting at
his desk and keeping his accounts. A man comes to
him and begs a little more time in which to repay his
loan, but the exacting and selfish banker will grant no
grace. The banker dies. Two devils with long tails,
costumed in black and with pitchforks in their hands,
come to take him. Two angels with golden wings
are watching near by. They rush to the scene,
deliver the soul of the man from the devils and insure
him a fair trial. They take his soul, which is repre-
sented by a little china doll, and after a harangue
sion. But this is really the modern Dionysia. Athens
surrenders itself to unbridled merriment, but it is
not lawless or vulgar. Jugglers, comedians, gymnasts,
pedlers, and the Greek Punch and Judy abound in the
streets, as they did in the ancient Dionysia. There is
good testimony to the skill of the old Greek magi-
cians. The modern performer repeats many of the
same tricks. The sword-balancer and the sword-
swallower are there, and we should no doubt find the
cup-changer. Many in the procession wear masks.
There is a small menagerie of make-believe animals,
— one of them a gigantic and amusing caricature of
a camel operated like the famous Trojan horse by a
detachment of Greeks in the inside. There is much
pantomime, but they do not divert themselves greatly
with street music in Athens.
The old theatre of Dionysus is deserted except by
the curious archaeologist, but crowds fill the modern
theatres. The street actors I found more interesting
and archaic. One of the most popular represen-
tations is frequently given near the street of the
money-changers. It is acted out by a group of five
men, one of whom impersonates a usurer sitting at
his desk and keeping his accounts. A man comes to
him and begs a little more time in which to repay his
loan, but the exacting and selfish banker will grant no
grace. The banker dies. Two devils with long tails,
costumed in black and with pitchforks in their hands,
come to take him. Two angels with golden wings
are watching near by. They rush to the scene,
deliver the soul of the man from the devils and insure
him a fair trial. They take his soul, which is repre-
sented by a little china doll, and after a harangue