Elements of the ancient world in the chronicles by Cosmas of Prague and Gallus Anonymus

Abstract

The article shows the way in which two medieval chroniclers: Gallus Anonymous and Cosmas of Prague include elements of ancient world into their narrations. Both Chronica Boemorum by Cosmas and Gallus’ Cronica et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum refer to the Bible and ancient pagan literature. The author of the article presents similarities and differences of this method of the use of predecessors’ heritage. One of similarities is the natural and unconstrained style which both writers used to imagine the ancient world. The most important difference is the fact that Cosmas refers to antiquity more frequently and widely that Gallus. The author also underlines that the Prague canon was closer to another chronicler of Polish history – Wincenty Kadłubek – in his approach to threads and motives of antiquity.