Zbrutskyi idol - the monument of garden-park sculpture of the beginning of 19 th c.: to the motives of falsification and its authorship

Abstract

The latest scientific researches related to the discovery in 1848 in Zbruch River
near Gusyatyn (Ternopil region) of stone idol, which in the literature was called
Svitovyd, are briefly summarized at the article. On the base of conducted natural,
historical and source studies (O. Komar, N. Hamayko and others) was found that men-
tioned Zbrutskyi idol (popular name – «Svitovyd») was drowned in the river around
1823 by local Polish landowner T. Zaborowski after finishing of his play «Umvita».
Actually for writing of this theater performance - for inspiration and stimulation of
imagination of the author, not long before the mentioned «pagan idol» was made.
Probably it was not a deliberate falsification of ancient monument – Zbrutsky idol.
T. Zaborowski, who was under the age of thirty, apparently had not any ideas what
the consequences his flirtation with pre-Christian themes and bumbling manipulation
with newly made «antique» will have.
Keywords: Zbrutsky idol, «Svitovyd», T. Zaborowski