Liubech castle: In search of symbols and meanings

Liubech castle is one of the symbols of the Kievan Rus. According to the original plan of B. A. Rybakov, Liubech was supposed to become an example of a classic feudal castle. In the context of this idea, a thesis about the high level of development of feudal relations in the pre-Mongol period, significant economic and social development, complexity and perfection of architectural structures formed. The meanings built in the series of publications were displayed in the corresponding series of graphic reconstructions. Gradually this image relegates to the background and the image of the strong state authority becomes the main one. The preformed set of ideas about the Liubech Congress of 1097 became the ideological context of such interpretation. The main structure which was not in previous versions is introduced in the descriptions of the castle ― the palace. Formation of this meaning ended by direct comparison of Liubech and Moscow. But comparison of B. A. Rybakov’s materials with historical data, as well as with materials from the excavations of Liubech in 2010–2012, allows to claim that the created reconstruction of the castle of the 10th–11th centuries does not correspond to the declared historical period, but represents an interpretation of the structures of the 16th–18th centuries. Nevertheless, there are every chances for the Liubech castle to go beyond the graphic image and become a real tourist attraction. Working documents for the restoration work were prepared in 2012. It was planned to carry out the project basing on the reconstruction by B. A. Rybakov. The use of cultural heritage for the formation of Ukrainian national identity, as well as the rich history of the castle in the 16th–18th centuries can become the new meaning of the monument. For now the project is not implemented due to lack of funding.