A New Edition of Rzym Pogański i Chrześcijański (The Pagan and Christian Rome)

Abstract

The article is an analysis of the oldest Polish guidebook to Rome written by Rev. Andrzej Wargocki – O Rzymie pogańskim i chrześcijańskim ksiąg dwoje (Two Books on the Pagan and Christian Rome) dating back to the 17^th century. The object of interest here is the contemporary edition of the book in the series “Humanizm. Idee, nurty i paradygmaty humanistyczne w kulturze polskiej – Inedita” (“Humanism. Humanist ideas, currents and paradigms in Polish culture – Inedita”). The author briefly presents the contents of Wargocki's work, and then he focuses on a discussion of the critical apparatus accompanying the main text. He especially stresses the discussion of the contents and the arrangement of the introduction written by Jacek Sokolski and the description of the commentaries and explanations added to the main text. Using this opportunity the author wonders if the commentaries should be extended, because of the contemporary cultural changes resulting in an ever greater lack of understanding of the issues, realities and the literary language of past epochs. He also offers detailed remarks about the principles of transcription, in which the editors did not avoid making small mistakes.