ZAGREB ZAGREB, Apr 22 (Hina) - A monument to Croatian Renaissance poet and European humanist Marko Marulic, the "father of Croatian literature", was unveiled at Marulic square in Zagreb on Thursday. Attending the unveiling were
numerous residents of the capital, representatives of Marulic's birthplace Split, culture and public figures, and representatives of state and church authorities. The unveiling was held under the patronage of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. The monument, sculpted by Vlado Radas, was unveiled by Zagreb Mayors Marina Matulovic-Dropulic. By the monument is a bronze plaque bearing lyrics from "Judita", a poem Marulic completed on April 22, 1501. President Tudjman's envoy, Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic, said Zagreb had been waiting for an entire century for a Marulic monument, the erection of which was first proposed by the Croatian Writers' Society way back in 1901. Biskupic
ZAGREB, Apr 22 (Hina) - A monument to Croatian Renaissance poet and
European humanist Marko Marulic, the "father of Croatian
literature", was unveiled at Marulic square in Zagreb on Thursday.
Attending the unveiling were numerous residents of the capital,
representatives of Marulic's birthplace Split, culture and public
figures, and representatives of state and church authorities.
The unveiling was held under the patronage of Croatian President
Franjo Tudjman.
The monument, sculpted by Vlado Radas, was unveiled by Zagreb
Mayors Marina Matulovic-Dropulic. By the monument is a bronze
plaque bearing lyrics from "Judita", a poem Marulic completed on
April 22, 1501.
President Tudjman's envoy, Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic, said
Zagreb had been waiting for an entire century for a Marulic
monument, the erection of which was first proposed by the Croatian
Writers' Society way back in 1901.
Biskupic wished all Croatian writers, publishers, and readers a
happy April 22 - Croatian Book Day.
The first Marulic monument was erected in Split, a southern
Croatian port, in 1925, on one of the city's central squares. It was
sculpted by world famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic.
The Zagreb City Assembly held a special session on the occasion of
today's unveiling.
Literary historian Mirko Tomasovic reminded the Zagreb city
councillors that Croatia's Renaissance literature began with
"Judita", a cult read in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Tomasovic said Marulic was the most read and published Croatian
author of all times. Some of his books have had 100 editions.
Marulic's huge opus will be published in 20 volumes.
Marko Marulic, born in 1450 and deceased in 1524 in Split, was a
judge and lawyer. He gained reputation as a humanist and man-of-
letters among Croats and the Renaissance Europe.
His works in Latin, mostly moralistic, were translated into many
European languages and had numerous editions.
Some forty years ago, Marulic's epic "Devidias" was discovered in
the National Library in Turin.
Marulic's best works, however, are his verses in Croatian, like
"Judita" in which he called on his fellow citizens to defend
themselves from the Turks.
(hina) ha jn