Mangiafuoco

Mangiafuoco (, /ˌmɑːndʒəˈfwoʊkoʊ/ US dict: mân′·jə·fwō′·kō, literally "Fire-Eater") is the fictional wealthy director of the Great Marionette Theatre (Gran Teatro dei Burattini) who appears in Carlo Collodi's book The Adventures of Pinocchio (Le avventure di Pinocchio). He is described as "...a large man so ugly, he evoked fear by simply being looked at. He had a beard as black as a smudge of ink and so long that it fell from his chin down to the ground: enough so that when he walked, he stepped on it. His mouth was as wide as an oven, his eyes were like two red tinted lanterns with the light turned on at the back, and with his hands, he sported a large whip made of snakes and fox tails knotted together." Though imposing, Mangiafuoco is portrayed as easily moved to compassion, which he expresses through sneezing.