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He was born on 12th January 1931 in Zamość. In 1949 he started the studies at the Faculty of Architecture of the Krakow University of Technology obtaining a degree in 1955 (the diploma work was supervised by professor Witold Cęckiewicz: The Reconstruction of the Royal Castle in Nowy Sącz).

After graduation he did temporary jobs: drafting at professor’s Witold Korski studio, inventories, surveys and reconstruction works of wooden architecture in Małopolska with dr Hanna Pieńkowska, conservator of monuments, and designing film sets and writing scripts with the film team of professor Antoni Bohdziewicz (short films O świcie na wielkiej równinie / At Dawn at the Great Plain, 1959; a script for the Epitafium dla Barbary Radziwiłłówny / An Epitaph for Barbara Radziwiłłówna, 1982, directed by Janusz Majewski; a collection of short stories Raz na kilka lat / Once in a Few Years, PIW, Warsaw, 1963).

In 1970–2010 Stanisław Kasprzysiak carried out archaeological research of Roman architecture in Italy, including excavations, as well as inventory measurements, reconstructions of urban layouts, buildings and architectural decoration, the results of which he published extensively.

The works were carried out in circa 18 sites, among others: Luni (urban layout, architectural decoration, main buildings of the town); Brescia (republican temple, capitol, basilica, theatre), Sirmione (villa of Catullus, town walls), Rimini (Tiberius’ bridge), Milano (amphitheatre, circus, termae, portico), Sarsina (Rufus Mausoleum), Castelseprio (town walls, baptistery, basilica of S. Giovanni), Breno (Minerva’s temple), Altino ( tomb mausoleums). At the same time he published the books: Luni, guida archeologia (1985), Sirmione (1987), Milano Capitale dell’Impero Romano (1990), Archeologia e citta-Brescia ritrovata, Ville romane sul Lago di Garda (1997), Piazza Labus a Brescia e l’antica Basilica (1998), Nuove ricerche sul Capitolium di Brescia (2002), Il Santuario di Minerva a Breno (2010). In 1975–2010 Stanisław Kasprzysiak made a number of translations of the Italian literature (35 titles) including: Cesare Pavese, Dialogi z Leukoteą / Dialogues with Leuco (Czytelnik, Warsaw, 1975); Gabriele d’Annunzio, Triumf śmierci / The Triumph of Death (Czytelnik, Warsaw 1976); Giacomo Leopardi, Dziełka moralne, Salvatore Satta (Wydawnictwo Literackie, Krakow, 1979); Salvatore Satta, Dzień sądu / The Judgement Day (Czytelnik, Warsaw, 1982); Rzymskie epitafia, zaklęcia i wróżby / Roman Epitaphs, Charms and Omens (from Latin, Czytelnik Warsaw 1990); Giorgio Colli, Narodziny filozofii (Res Publica, Warsaw 1991); Nicola Chiaromonte, Granice duszy ( Czytelnik, Warsaw 1994), Co pozostaje (Czytelnik, Warsaw 2001); Guido Ceronetti, Drzewa bez Bogów (Oficyna Literacka, Krakow, 1994); Roberto Calasso, Zaślubiny Kadmosa z Harmonią / The Marriage of Cadmos to Harmony (Znak, Krakow 1995); Alberto Savinio, Wyjście z labiryntu (Czytelnik, Warsaw 2001); Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, Szekspir / Shakespeare (Czytelnik, Warsaw 2001), O Stendhalu / Lessons On Stendhal (Czytelnik, Warsaw 2002), and entirely new translation of Gepard / The Leopard (Czuły barbarzyńca, Warsaw 2009). In 1987–2003 he published over a dozen of books with essays including: Nie może być inaczej 1987; Rozmowa z Cieniem 1994; Pobór pod Termopile 1995; Można wdać się w rozmowę1999; Pozostaje Grecja 2000; Żeby nie wszystko było przeciw nam 2002; Pod popiołami serca 2003 and many books with poems in the cycle Z zimowego letargu.

Stanisław Kasprzysiak was awarded many times. The prizes are: The Association of Polish Translators’ award for the translation of the essays by Guido Ceronetti (1996), the Association of the Polish Artists and Composers (ZAiKS) for excellence in translation (2000) and the Government of the Republic of Italy “Premio Nazionale Traduzioni 2002” and the order “Stella della Solidarietá Italiana” (2004) for merit for the Italian culture.

Coming to contact with reality we either judge it by appearances and perceive its procrastination with time (with history) and space (in a particular place in the world) or we are not deceived. Then we shall see more because that what is deeply hidden can be discernible, albeit unfathomable. The laws of nature, eternal and unquestionable, are not discussed here; the night always follows the day, rivers flow from their sources into the sea. It is a matter of an eternal and irrefutable order surmounting the nature and us. Ordo et connexio rerum – as the saying goes. To be more precise let us say that it is all a question of Light that shines from the depth of all things. It regards its leukotes and auge - let it sound in original version – its lucidity and splendour. It is the Light that is most often called deity.

But it is better not to give it a name than vice versa. The names are misleading, disposable. Light simply is – suffice it to say. Our only obligation is to discern it and acknowledge. Aeschylus profusely apologized (in Agamemnon 158-161) for having used this name which was of its liking, although he was ready to give it a completely different one. He sensed the possibility of an error here. Akteon, on the other hand, wanted to know too much about the light, with which the body of Artemis shone, and was bitten to death by her dogs. In many mythical tales the problem of asebeia , the want of reverence or negligence of Gods is highlighted , and what follows is nemezis – the punishment. These are matters, however, that are separated from reason by an insurmountable gulf – warns Chiaromonte.

Stanisław Kasprzysiak Pozostaje Grecja
an afterword to Nicola Chiaromonte, Co pozostaje.

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