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Abstract
The aim of the article. The paper explores the presence and cultural significance of elements of antiquity in the historical and symbolic space of the city of Uman. Its aim is to demonstrate how the heritage of ancient Greece and Rome, understood as two foundational pillars of European civilization, influenced the formation of the city’s intellectual, artistic, and educational landscape. Scientific novelty. The article seeks to show that classical and mythological motifs appearing in Uman were not accidental borrowings, but rather conscious elements of cultural transfer characteristic of Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment Europe, adapted to the specific conditions of a borderland city. Research methodology. The study is based on an interdisciplinary analysis of diverse source materials, including literary texts, historical and archival documents, archaeological findings, iconographic evidence, and scholarly interpretations proposed by modern researchers. This approach allows for the examination of both material manifestations and symbolic meanings of Antique tradition within the urban space of Uman. Conclusions. The research demonstrates that the impact of ancient culture on Uman’s city space was complex and long-lasting. It was not limited solely to the famous Sofiyivka Park, imbued with imagery of Greek gods, heroes, and philosophers, but also revealed itself through the category of genius loci. This spirit of place integrated historical memory, aesthetic ideals, and educational practices, endowing Uman with a multilayered symbolic dimension that reflects the city’s role within the broader European cultural heritage.
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