AHATHANHEL KRYMSKY: THE RECEPTION OF THE MUSLIM WORLD IN THE CONTEXT OF THE UKRAINIAN SPACE OF THE LATE 19th AND EARLY 20th CENTURIES

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The article examines the peculiarities of Ahathanhel Krymsky's reception of Muslim culture. The researcher is of fundamental importance for developing Ukrainian oriental studies at the institutional level. Krymsky is a symbol of Ukrainian Orientalism. Numerous academic works are dedicated to his personality and legacy. Despite this, the application of a wider methodological apparatus in studying Krymsky's texts is still relevant. Reception studies can provide us with methodological directions that can be valuable for improving our understanding of Krymsky. The reception of Muslim culture by Ahathanhel Krymsky is analyzed in the context of the Ukrainian space of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, intellectual history, and period historiographical tradition. Krymsky's activities fell on a Ukrainian-centric period of Ukraine's history. Many academic texts in the Ukrainian space were devoted to the problems of Ukrainian folklore, literature, etc. Coverage of Muslim culture remained rather limited. Works on the study of the Muslim world were most often ethnographic and focused on the Crimean Tatars and Turks. The field of view of Ukrainian scholars was predominantly limited to the peoples who lived close to Ukraine and had intensive historical relations with it. Krymsky significantly contributed to the development of interest and awareness of other, more distant cultures. Examining Krymsky's texts, the article highlights several features of the scholar's perception of the Muslim world. Attention is focused on the level of his awareness of the state of affairs in Muslim countries and the interrelations between them. Also, Krymsky's capability and willingness to distinguish different cultures of the East are emphasized. The level of Krymsky's immersion in his research is examined.