Prometheus in Athens

NAME: CHRISTOS PATSIS

AGE: 85

PLACE OF RESIDENCE: PLAKA

BIRTHPLACE: ISTANBUL

ORIGIN: ISTANBUL

 

ALTHOUGH HE LIVES IN PLAKA, AND HAS ALWAYS LIVE THERE, HE WILL TAKE A TAXI TO COME TO HERODEION, THROUGH VASILISSIS AMALIAS, TO SYNGROU AND THEN TURN RIGHT TO CHATZICHRISTOU STREET AND FROM THERE HE’LL WALK, BECAUSE HE USES HIS WALKING STICK FOR HELP.

Christos Patsis is one of those figures you see on the streets of Plaka playing backgammon all day long with his buddies, and would love to hang out with him or talk to him. Nothing stops this group of senior men playing all day long on the table they have set out themselves on the pavement, neither heat nor demonstrations. They would only briefly stop whet it rains or if they need to take a short refreshing afternoon nap. A true Greek from Istanbul, he has a love for life and all the nice things, and enjoys every minute of the day.

Born in Istanbul, he came to Greece at the age of 8. Back in Greece, when they prepared his papers, they added 8 years to his age, so he might even be 78 instead of 85. As a real Constantinopolitan, he is known for his great cooking skills, and particularly his ability to make great cabbage dolmas.

He is distinguished by his high energy, even at this age. Almost every evening he goes out to have fun, and if he could he would still dance. “I knew all the dances,” he points out. His son Agis called him “ruling power”, because he does whatever he wants. So he could easily be identified with Kratos.

“..so that he may learn to bear with the sovereignty of Zeus..” [10] seems to be the aura around him, not because he’s strict but because he likes to have a good time and to show what a good host he is.

As he had decorated the streets of Athens and the Greek National Tourism Organization kiosks around the world, he used to be a globetrotter. Explaining things about his profession, he says “I was a name in decoration! I was the best. How else can I explain that?”.

His descriptions about his trips can be endless, but his heart seems to go to Dakar in Senegal, where the tradition of using accessories to certain parts of the body is still strong. Christos remembers the story of “three-legged man”.

He feels very lucky with his group of friends, with whom he plays backgammon. Actually, he is such a good player he has a trophy from a competition. However, he does prefer the company of women, “because women are the most beautiful thing in the world”.

He remembers old Plaka, as he always lived there, and also because he was the  vice mayor of Plaka, responsible for the streets’ (like Stadiou) and big shops’ decorations for Christmas season, like Katratzos Sports shop.
He is the first man of three generations from his family that he will appear on stage. He will come along with his son Agis and his grandson Alexander.