Greek and Roman Fortresses
On The Ancient Territory Of
Dacia
Author: Elisa-Ioana Cornoiu
114 Princess Margaret School, the class VII A
School Project: Comenius
March 2012
Introduction
Dacia was the ancient land inhabited by Geto-Dacians, who were divided
into a certain number of states occupying the territory between: The
Tisza River (west), the Dniester River and the Black Sea (east), Danube
(south) and the Wooden Carpathians (north).
In the ancient times, the Dacians history first blended with the Persians
led by Darius, then with the great empire of Alexander the Great and
then with the Greeks who had come to Dacia attracted by the
commercial opportunities of Dobrudja and the Black Sea. The Dacians
were called Getae by the Greeks.
Then, lured by the riches of this region, the Romans came to Dacia. In
the 2nd century AD they conquered the Dacians and remained on their
territory for nearly two centuries; the Romanization of the Dacians began
in this short time; it led to the formation of the Romanian people.
The two great civilizations - Greek and Roman - left behind many traces
of their presence in this region; their main traces were definitely the
cities which they built.
Roman Fortresses
Roman Camp Of Drobeta
(Drobeta Turnu Severin today)
It was, undoubtedly,
the first Roman
settlement north of
the Danube, in Dacia.
It was born near the
camp and the bridge
built by Trajan.
The camp here
worked throughout
the Roman
domination.
The settlement was
founded as a military
vicus, with whom
they established
some civil elements.
Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica
Sarmizegetusa
From the archaeological
point of view, it is one of
the most well-known
cities of the Roman Dacia.
Although excavations
lasted long, only a small
part of the ancient city
was uncovered.
Since its establishment it
has been called Colony
Augusta Dacica Ulpia
Traiana Sarmizegetusa.
The city was built near
the Iron Gates of
Transylvania, at the
entrance from the southsouth-west into the
Carpathian space.
APULUM (Alba Iulia)
As far as we know,
from the
archaeological point
of view, Apulum was
the most important
settlement in the
provinces of Dacia,
and also one of the
largest cities in the
Roman Empire.
On the ancient
settlement, situated
at the junction of two
rivers - Ampoi and
Mures there were a
camp of a legion, the
civil governor's
residence and two
distinct Roman cities.
NAPOCA (Cluj-Napoca)
The historians assume that Napoca
took its name from an alleged
domestic settlement.
As far as its known, the name
Napoca is not from a Dacian origin,
but rather a name of Celtic origin.
The settlement that became the
city of Napoca was founded around
the central area of Cluj, being now
completely covered by modern
buildings, each modernization
reveals elements of the ancient
town (building footprints).
The Roman city was surrounded by
a fortified enclosure.
The wall of this precinct was
investigated on three of its sides.
It was superimposed later the site
of the medieval city wall.
It is almost certain that the Roman
city had a rectangular shape.
POTAISSA (Turda)
For the first settlements
on Potaissa we can not
speak of their
development around a
military center, even
though some traces of
military activities seem
to be there.
They are related,
rather, with the
construction of the
imperial road than with
the presence of any
garrisons on a longer
term.
POROLISSUM
(today the MOIGRAD village, Salaj
County)
It was the northernmost city
of Dacia, located in Mesess
Gate.
The Roman city had its
beginnings in the civil
crowding near the
fortifications raised by troops
stationed at Porolissum.
So it came as a military vicus.
This is also confirmed by its
layout, near the fortifications.
Presumably, as demonstrated
by the typical Dacian
material, that Roman
settlement took over much of
the population of the Dacian
settlement "Magura", maybe
from other places close to the
area.
