Jiří Melantrich of Aventino

Jiří Melantrich of Aventino was an important Czech Renaissance printer and publisher. During the period of the Czech National Revival in the 19th century Melantrich became one of the most important symbols of Czech culture.

Melantrich was a native of Rožďalovice and is first mention in 1534, the year he became a bachelor at the Faculty of Arts of the Charles University in Prague. In 1545 or 1546, he established a workshop in Prague and gradually started to flourish. His most important work was the Melantrich's Bible, which was published five times between 1549 and 1577. His other publications included Czech Renaissance Humanism literature, poems in Latin, Czech and German, scientific books, handbooks and dictionaries, legal literature, also children literature. His publications about religion included Roman Catholic and Protestant works.