Ogrody Wschodu w staropolskim orbis terrarum (na wybranych przykładach literackich)

Abstract

The study analyses gardens of the East represented in selected Old-Polish literary texts: "Wypisanie drogi tureckiej" by Erazm Otwinowski, "Perska księga […] nazwana Gulistan to jest Ogród różany" by Sa’adi from Shiraz translated into Polish by Samuel Otwinowski, Dwór cesarza tureckiego by Szymon Starowolski and "Przeważna legacyja Krzysztofa Zbaraskiego od Zygmunta III do sołtana Mustafy" by Samuel Twardowski. Although the study offers only a brief review of the subject matter, it can be argued that the perception and description of exotic gardens differed among Poles. Caesarian gardens were described by Sarmatians in line with Greek and Roman tradition. They used locus amoenus and associated gardens of the East with the Garden of Eden and Arcadia. Samuel Otwinowski, an author of "Gulistan’s" translation, partly broke from this “stereotype” by introducing the elements of the eastern – Sufi – mystique; however, his works also feature references to Christianity.