Where do marionette puppets come from?

The first marionettes originated in Ancient Greece where they were used in religious rituals and later featured in plays. Marionettes were also popular in ancient East Asia, India and Indonesia, where they developed independently. In the 16th and 17th centuries, marionettes became popular in Europe and were used for entertainment particularly at royal and aristocratic courts. Italian marionettes became famous at this time and were referred to as _puppi_. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, marionettes reached their peak of popularity and were performed for diverse audiences across the globe.