Tapae was a fortified settlement, guarding
Sarmizegetusa, the main political centre of Dacia. Its location was on the
Iron Gates of Transylvania
Tapae was a fortified settlement, guarding Sarmizegetusa, the main political centre of Dacia. Its location was on the Iron Gates of Transylvania, a natural passage breaking between Țarcului and Poiana Ruscă Mountains and connecting Banat to � ...
, a natural passage breaking between
Țarcului and
Poiana Ruscă Mountains
The Poiana Ruscă Mountains (part of the Western Carpathians) are a Carpathian mountain range in western Romania. The mountains are situated roughly south of the Mureș River, northeast of the Timiș River, and west of the Strei River. The Bega R ...
and connecting
Banat
Banat (, ; hu, Bánság; sr, Банат, Banat) is a geographical and historical region that straddles Central and Eastern Europe and which is currently divided among three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania (the counties of ...
to
Țara Hațegului Țara Hațegului ("Hațeg Land"; german: Wallenthal, hu, Hátszegvidék, la, terra Harszoc) is a historical and ethnographical area in Hunedoara County, Romania, in the south-western corner of Transylvania. It is centered in the town of Hațeg.
� ...
. This made it one of the very few points through which invaders could enter Transylvania from the south. Moreover, 8 kilometres down the passage into Țara Hațegului, there is
Sarmizegetusa Regia.
Dio Cassius notes the existence of a military camp there
[Cassius Dio, ''Roman History']
68:8
/ref> during the Dacian Wars. The place is the site of four battles between Dacians and Romans.
Nowadays there is a small village on this site named Zeicani, located within Sarmizegetusa commune.
References
Dacian fortresses in Romania
{{Dacia-stub