Ukraine is a very warm and pleasant country that is famous by its mild climate, picturesque nature, healing resorts, hospitable people and, of course, the most beautiful and kind women in the world. But there are some less known facts about this country, for example, mysterious and weird but very interesting stories about legendary Ukrainian treasures.
Some of these data are extant as known facts, some looks like merely legends or fables. So it’s up to you to decide to believe them or not!
The Library of Yaroslav the Wise. This Grand Prince of Kiyv Rus was known as intelligent ruler who loved books very much. His library consisted of hundreds of very expensive and luxuriously decorated handwritten books. It is considered that this collection was lost somewhere in caves or catacombs of monasteries or cathedrals, for example, in Kyievo-Pechers’ka Lavra or in Sofia Cathedral.
Treasures of Hetman of Ukrainian Cossacks Ivan Mazepa. This legendary person was born in unbelievably rich Ukrainian family. During his life he collected many precious things, such as collection of arms, books, jewels etc. Mazepa was so rich that even Russian Tsar Peter I borrowed money from him very often. Once Peter I even joked that no matter what amount of money he will ask Hetman to lend him next time, the treasures of Mazepa are inexhaustible.
After Mazepa joined to Charles XII, the King of Sweden, in the Great Northern War (1700-1721), Peter I called him a betrayer and ordered to find Hetman’s treasures in Mazepa’s Residence in Ukrainian city Baturin. One of Tsar’s supporters, Alexander Menshikov, razed Baturin to the ground, killed all the people there, even women and children, and ordered to dig over the ground and even sift it. But nothing was found. Mazepa escaped to Moldova where died exiled. They say, he could hide his treasures at the bottom of the Dnieper or at one of his other Residences.
Treasures of Hetman Polubotok. What if Mazepa, who dreamed about independent Ukraine, left his treasures to his successor? One of next Hetmans of Cossacks, Pavlo Polubotok, at first, seemed, was a supporter of Peter I. But after some time he send his son to the meeting with one of Mazepa’s supporter Pylyp Orlyk in France. But someone informed Peter I about this meeting and he ordered to Polubotok to come to Moscow as soon as possible. They say, Hetman took with him two huge carts of “salt” and “salted fish” that were continued to Arkhangelsk and were sent with English frigate to London where the son of Polubotok deposited these gold coins to the Bank of England. Polubotok soon died because of tortures. The contract says that the deposit must be returned to the official representative of Independent Ukrainian State (80%) and the descendant of Polubotok (20%). But today the signs of this treasure lost and in 1986 the Ambassador of USSR in England officially said that Soviet Union has no financial claims to England. Some facts also tell that other parts of Hetman’s treasures were hidden near his Residence not far from Ukrainian Glukhov.
The gold of Dovbush. “Ukrainian Robin Hood”, Oleksa Dovbush was known as folk hero that robbed rich people and helped to poor ones. It’s said that he hid somewhere in Carpathian Mountains a big part of collected treasures, hoping that one day another Ukrainian hero will find it and will unchain Ukrainians by dint of this gold. It is considered that the gold of Dovbush will open only to a man who has brave soul and pure heart and who loves Ukraine with his whole heart.
All of these treasures still waiting to be found. Maybe you’re lucky and will find one of them while visiting Ukraine this year? But even if not, you’ll definitely find here the most precious and valuable gem of Ukraine, one of the wonderful Ukrainian ladies!