Uman National University | today: 12/25/2025
| Author(s) | Кадуріна А. О., , , | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | The Agronomy | ||
| year | 2025 | issue | Issue 107 part 1 |
| pages | 330-343 | index UDK | 721.03 | DOI | 10.32782/2415-8240-2025-107-1-330-343 (Link) |
| Abstract | The late eighteenth century was marked by an intensification of economic ties with Western European countries, which created the conditions for active construction of estates and park complexes by the noble elite. The “Sofiyivka” Park in Uman was established in 1796–1800 at the initiative of Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki and according to the design of architect Ludwig Metzel. The main thematic routes of Sofiyivka Park include: the Route of Memory and Journeys, the Classical (Ancient) World, the Dispute over the Most Beautiful, the Trojan War, the Journeys of Odysseus, the Theme of Love. The principal objects along the “Classical World” route are: the Tarpeian Rock, the Caucasian Rock, the Grotto of Tantalus, the Valley of the Giants, the Bust of Plato, the Bust of Aristotle, the Cretan Labyrinth, the Elysian Fields, the Bust of Socrates, the Tempe Valley, the Acherontic Lake, the River Acheron, the “Seven-Jet” Fountain, Mount Parnassus and the Terrace of the Muses, and the “Serpent” Fountain. Each element of the route carries symbolic and mythological meaning: • Tarpeian Rock. In ancient Rome, the Tarpeian Rock served as a place for executing traitors and criminals. In the park it symbolizes the danger of betrayal, the instability of human fate, and moral condemnation. • Caucasian Rock. The image of the Caucasus is associated with the myth of Prometheus, chained to a rock by Zeus for giving fire to humankind. It symbolizes self-sacrifice, suffering for the sake of progress, and the indomitable spirit. • Grotto of Tantalus. Tantalus, condemned to eternal hunger and thirst in the underworld, represents punishment for defiance of the gods, futile striving, and insatiable desire. • Valley of the Giants. The giants – mythological beings who rebelled against the Olympian gods – embody the struggle between chaos and cosmos, the human conflict with the world, and the grandeur of natural creation. • Bust of Plato. Plato symbolizes idealist philosophy, the world of eternal ideas, and the pursuit of harmony and suprasensory truth. • Bust of Aristotle. Aristotle represents rational inquiry, logic, and the empirical method. His presence alongside Plato highlights the unity of two modes of cognition – idealism and realism. • Cretan Labyrinth. Referring to the myth of the Minotaur and the labyrinth built by Daedalus, it symbolizes a path of trials, the search for truth, and the triumph of reason over chaos. • Elysian Fields. In Greek tradition, these are paradise dwellings of the righteous. In the park they represent a zone of harmony, embodying an ideal space of peace, well-being, and the elevation of spiritual pursuit. • Bust of Socrates. Socrates stands for wisdom, self-knowledge, and the search for truth through dialogue. In the park he forms a philosophical triad together with Plato and Aristotle. • Tempe Valley. The Tempe Valley in Thessaly was considered a place of exceptional beauty, dedicated to Apollo and the nymphs. In Sofiyivka it embodies the harmony of nature, the aesthetic ideal of antiquity, tranquility, and beauty. • Acherontic Lake. Acheron, the “river of sorrow,” was the passageway for souls entering the realm of the dead. The lake symbolizes the boundary between worlds, transition, and spiritual purification. • River Acheron. Continuing the motif of the journey into the underworld, it serves as an allegory of life’s path, reflecting profound meditations on existence and death. • “Seven-Jet” Fountain. This fountain symbolizes the fullness of life, the elemental force of water, and may serve as an allegory of the seven arts or the seven sources of world energy. Its name refers to the jets diverging in different directions, creating an image of universal motion. • Mount Parnassus and the Terrace of the Muses. Parnassus – the sacred mountain of Apollo and the Muses – is the center of arts and poetry. The Terrace of the Muses embodies inspiration, creativity, and cultural flourishing. It is one of the park’s highest symbolic points – the summit of spiritual development. • “Serpent” Fountain. In classical tradition, the serpent is a multivalent symbol: guardian of subterranean treasures, embodiment of knowledge and wisdom, and a manifestation of powerful natural forces. The fountain emphasizes the connection between human beings and natural energy, symbolizing transformation. During the Enlightenment, antiquity was regarded as a symbol of rationality, order, beauty, and harmonious form. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the use of classical themes in urban landscaping reflected the cult of ancient education, the desire to emphasize high cultural status through copies of ancient masterpieces and classical allegories and myths, and the aspiration to create “European” cities. The Classical Route in Sofiyivka, as well as the broader use of classical themes in urban greenery, represents an allegory of the human journey: passing through chaos and danger, discovering the world and oneself, overcoming the “inner labyrinth,” and ultimately arriving at harmony, beauty, and love. | ||
| Key words | Sofiyivka Park, Uman, symbolism, ancient images, Ukrainian parks, Odesa, XVIII – XIX th centuries | ||