NEW YORK – The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Public Humanities Initiative (SNFPHI) at Columbia University announced a unique upcoming event that will be held on Friday, July 26, 8:30 PM, in Athens. For one night only, a parking lot at Mavromichali 27 in Athens’ Exarchia neighborhood will be transformed into a theater to host a performance of the shadow theater play ‘Karagiozis in Asia Minor, or the Parade’.

Karagiozis revisits his time as a soldier in Asia Minor while preparing a parade for the Metaxas regime. Created by SNFPHI awardee Spyros Aggelopoulos in dialogue with Greek and Turkish historians and anthropologists, the play challenges established narratives about the 1919-1922 Greek-Turkish War, explores questions about liberation, loss, and national identity, and reimagines the possibilities for shadow theater in the 21st century.

This event is organized with the support of the Athens Global Center. Due to depictions of violence, it is recommended for ages 15 and up. Admission is free.

SNFPHI also announced that artist Iria Vretou has received a Fulbright Fellowship to join SNFPHI at Columbia’s Classics Department from December 2024 to May 2025. As a Classics/SNFPHI affiliate Vretou will lay the groundwork for a project on ‘volcanic identities’ and conduct research on topics such as identity, embodiment and the monstrous, the reception of volcanoes, and historical geography.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Public Humanities Initiative supports public-facing humanities endeavors in Greece and collaborates with other Columbia programs to connect the field of Hellenic Studies with a broad public audience.

More information about SNFPHI is available online: https://snfphi.columbia.edu.