What do you call the cross that you use to manipulate a puppet?

Question

Is there a particular word for it and what about the strings, are they just called strings?

Answer 1

Marionette controller.

The term used for the device used to control a marionette puppet (usually much more complex than just a simple cross) is, perhaps unsurprisingly, called a "marionette controller".

I found this through a quick Google search for "marionette puppet parts" which turned up images displaying the names for different components of a marionette puppet and its controller, and a followup search for "marionette controller" turned sites such as this shop that seem to confirm that name.

Answer 2

The cross in the picture is the control bar, and is used primarily with the kind of puppet in the picture, called a marionette

Marionettes, or "string puppets", are suspended and controlled by a number of strings, plus sometimes a central rod attached to a control bar held from above by the puppeteer.

As far as I'm aware, the strings are just called strings.