Karagöz and Hacivat

Karagöz and Hacivat
Karagöz (left) and Hacivat (right)
MediumShadow play
Originating cultureOttoman
Karagöz
CountryTurkey
Reference00180
RegionEurope and North America
Inscription history
Inscription2009 (4th session)
ListRepresentative

Karagöz (lit.'Blackeye' in Turkish) and Hacivat (shortened in time from "Hacı İvaz" meaning "İvaz the Pilgrim", and also sometimes written as Hacivad) are the lead characters of the traditional Turkish shadow play, popularized during the Ottoman period and then spread to most nation states of the Ottoman Empire. It is most prominent in Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Adjara (autonomous republic of Georgia). In Greece, Karagöz is known by his local name Karagiozis; in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he is known by his local name Karađoz.