Ovídius Faust. Legend or myth?

Ovídius Faust. A name that everyone in Bratislava knew a hundred years ago.

A prominent figure, an authority, a legend. These are just some of the epithets by which he was described – and continues to be described to this day. The latest book published by the Bratislava City Museum contains a collection of studies exploring the life and work of this eminent Bratislava historian and archivist.

Ovídius Faust undoubtedly played a major role in popularising the history of Bratislava, in the development of the Bratislava City Museum and the city archives, as well as in shaping the city’s memory policy during the interwar period. At the same time, however, he is shrouded in myths that he himself helped to create.

Ovídius lived and worked in the 20th century, a century of change and historical turning points that often confronted him with existential questions. How did he cope following the break-up of Czechoslovakia, the establishment of the Slovak State, and after the Second World War? What led to his rise, and what, conversely, caused his career to decline?

We invite readers to get to know the real Ovídius Faust and to decide for themselves whether he is a legend or a myth.

#archivist #historian #history #Bratislava #MMB