Granice i terytoria w pierwszej części „Bowo-buch” Elii Lewity
Borders and Territories in the First Part of "Bovo-bukh" by Elia Levita

Summary/Abstract: During his long stay in Venice and Padua around the end of the 15th century, the outstanding philologist and biblical scholar Elia Levita came into contact with an incunabulum containing the knight's story of Buovo d'Antona. It was a Renaissance romance whose roots stretched back to the Anglo-Norman epics of the 12th century. The Levite adapted the Venetian version for a vernacular-speaking audience of the Jews of southern Germany. The work did not appear in print until 1541.Comparing earlier versions with later adaptations in Italic languages, including Venetian incunabula, one can notice that geographical references become intertextual, referring to the existing narrative canon, and not to the realities of cities such as Mainz at that time. The Levite places the beginnings of his narrative within the Venetian culture and politics and famous events of the era, such as wars for control over the Sforza territory or raids by Barbary corsairs. The pedagogical intention of the scholar is visible here, as he wanted to provide readers not only with entertainment, but also with knowledge, even if just superficial, of the world beyond the local community. However, it is limited to the circle of Venetian cultural identity. When the narrative begins to unfold beyond Venice, its land borders and established sea routes, Levita also introduces non-places, i.e. invented spaces, for example the city of Armonia.

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