IANUS VITALIS: IN CHRISTOPHORUM COLUMBUM PORTRAIT OF A HERO

The discovery of the New World at the end of the 15th century tested the traditional assumptions, beliefs, and attitudes of Renaissance Europe. Although the literary response during the 16th century showed a great deal of diversity in its appreciation and evaluation of the discovery, the standards and references used were inevitably those derived from an inherited classical and Christian tradition. The discussion below will focus on Ianus Vitalis’ poem In Christophorum Columbum — a literary example of 16th century Italian perceptions and attitudes relating to the discovery of the New World.