Histrion
Histrion is a bronze dwarf actor holding a skull at Gabrieli Zapolskiej 3 in Wrocław. The skull recalls a famous scene from Hamlet, though no source confirms it.
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Histrion
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Story
Histrion is the dwarf actor, and he is in the middle of his big scene. In our photo he looks to one side with a solemn face and holds a human skull at arm's length, exactly as a tragic hero does on stage. A turban-like cap sits on his head and a scarf drapes over his shoulder. Dwarfs say he practises the line every night, though no one knows which play it is from.
History & Significance
Wrocław's bronze dwarfs grew out of the Orange Alternative, a peaceful, absurdist protest movement of the 1980s whose members painted dwarfs on city walls. Since 2005 the city has filled its streets with bronze dwarfs, and there are now hundreds of them. According to wromap.pl, Histrion stands at Gabrieli Zapolskiej 3. The map gives no sculptor and no date of appearance, and we found no other source for his story. Who made and commissioned him is not publicly documented.
Inspiration
Histrion is an old Polish word for an actor, from the Latin histrio, a stage performer in ancient Rome. The skull in his hand brings to mind the famous scene from Shakespeare's Hamlet, but no source we found confirms that this is the intention. The street name, Gabrieli Zapolskiej, is that of the Polish writer and actress Gabriela Zapolska, which also fits the theatre theme.
Fun Facts
- Histrion is an old Polish word for an actor.
- He holds a skull, as in the best-known scene of Hamlet.
- He wears a cap that looks like a turban, with a scarf on his shoulder.
- He stands on a street named after the writer and actress Gabriela Zapolska.
- Dziabomir, the climbing dwarf, is about 86 m to the south-east.
How to Find This Dwarf
Walk to Gabrieli Zapolskiej 3 and look near the building entrance. Dziabomir is about 86 m to the south-east, Ma(Ste)rche(fek) about 153 m to the east and Kolejarz about 169 m to the south-east.
Nearby Dwarfs
See all Wrocław dwarfs on the dwarf list
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Histrion dwarf?
At Gabrieli Zapolskiej 3 in Wrocław, according to wromap.pl.
Why does Histrion hold a skull?
The photo shows him holding a skull, as an actor does in the famous scene from Hamlet. No source we found states this officially.
What does Histrion mean?
It is an old Polish word for an actor, from the Latin for a stage performer in ancient Rome.
Accessibility
Ground LevelOutdoor
Outdoor statue; the photo shows a light paved surface by a glass wall. We have not verified the exact position or whether it is indoors.
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