Historical monuments and art objects

Oleksandr Reinhardt

(1883-1945)
 

Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Reinhardt was born on March 30, 1883, in Kharkiv. He graduated from Kharkiv University in 1907 and worked there as a lecturer until 1918.
 

In 1918, he moved to Dnipro (formerly Katerynoslav) and helped establish Katerynoslav University, which was built on the foundation of the Higher Women’s Courses. He founded the Department of Plant Physiology at the university’s Faculty of Biology.

Reinhardt conducted research in plant physiology and microbiology, focusing on how photoperiodism and trace elements affect enzyme systems, plant growth, development, and the life activity of certain bacteria.
 

In the late 1920s, thanks to his efforts, the decision was made to create the Botanical Garden, and he became its first director (1930-1933). He assembled a staff and established a postgraduate program. 

From 1933, while leading the Department of Plant Physiology, he also served as the Deputy Director of the Botanical Garden for scientific research.
 

In 1935, Reinhardt was named a professor, and in 1936, he was awarded a Doctor of Biological Sciences degree without needing to defend a dissertation.

Throughout his career, Oleksandr Reinhardt published more than 30 scientific papers in Russian, Ukrainian, German, French, and Italian journals.

During the Nazi occupation (1941-1944), Reinhardt was evacuated with the Faculty of Biology, first to the Krasnodar region and later to Pyatigorsk, where he worked at the Pharmaceutical Institute. 

In 1944, he returned to Dnipropetrovsk and played a key role in restoring the Botanical Garden.
Sadly, a serious illness prevented him from fully enjoying the results of his hard work. Oleksandr Reinhardt passed away in January 1945. He is buried in the Botanical Garden, where a small symbolic monument shaped like a tree with cut branches marks his grave.

Polovtsian Sculpture

The most common ancient sculptures found in Ukraine are the Polovtsian stone statues, known as “babas.” 

The word “baba” means “ancestor” or “forefather.”

These statues represented ancestors and were placed on the highest points in the steppe, making them visible from afar. A key feature of Polovtsian sculptures is the traditional hand positioning, where the figures hold bowls used for offerings. Initially, these stone statues were part of ancestor worship, but over time, this evolved into a cult of tribal leaders and protectors of the horde. Polovtsian sculpture reached its height in the 12th century.

The high demand for these statues led to an increase in production, improved techniques, and a rise in the number of stonemasons and sculptors. In the 13th century, the Polovtsians were conquered by the Mongol-Tatar invaders, marking the beginning of the statues’ destruction. Many were hacked apart with swords, but large-scale destruction occurred later, after the Cossack era. In the 19th century, the statues were often repurposed as building foundations or gateposts, leading to the loss of thousands of unique sculptures.

Insect Hotel

This special structure is designed to attract beneficial insects. Some sections serve as summer nests for pollinators like solitary bees and wasps. Predatory earwigs rest in the hotel for a few hours, while ladybugs stay all winter. 

There’s a place for every helpful insect here.
Along with the main hotel, smaller insect houses are scattered throughout the garden. Providing comfortable habitats for pollinators and predatory insects helps maintain the garden’s ecological balance and keeps its plants healthy.