The article is dedicated to the study of pentagonal castles in early modern Halychyna, their classification, and comparative analysis. It describes methodological challenges related to the specificity of source materials and the lack of targeted research. The preserved monuments (Berezhany, Pniv, Chortkiv, and Brody Castles) are examined with a focus on their location, structural features, and the building materials used. The relationship between the shape of the castles and contemporary fortification theories is analyzed, including the influence of magical and ideological concepts of the time. The main trends in the development of pentagonal castles are identified in the context of the evolution of defensive architecture.
The object of this study is pentagonal castles of the early modern period on the territory of the Galicia. The buildings that have survived to our time, at least in fragments, and which undoubtedly have a pentagonal layout, have been studied. The following attractions meet these criteria: the castle in Berezhany, the castle in Pniv, the castle in Chortkiv, the castle in Brody.
The construction of pentagonal castles in Galicia dates from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. This period is the time of the foundation of new cities, the era of active fortification construction on Ukrainian lands as part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The appearance of new solutions in the planning of castles in conditions of mass construction is not surprising.
At this stage of research, it is difficult to confirm the connection with the magical architectural ideas of the Renaissance at the level of historical primary sources, there are no direct documentary references, but such an aspect cannot be completely excluded either, taking into account the peculiarities of the worldview of the architects of the early modern period.
In most cases, pentagonal planning is not the implementation of any specific concept, but rather adaptation to local conditions. In other words, the appearance of semi-regular pentagonal castles is rather a spontaneous process, in each specific case determined by its own, partially random reasons. Subsequent studies may reveal new patterns not noticed at the initial stage of research.
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