Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa was the Capital (political), capital and the largest city of Roman Dacia, later named ''Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa'' after the former Dacian capital, located some 40 km away. Built on the ground of a camp of the Legio V Macedonica, Fifth Macedonian Legion, the city was settled by veterans of the Trajan's Dacian Wars, Dacian wars. From the very beginning it received the title of ''Colonia (Roman), colonia'' and the status of ''ius Italicum''. With an area of , a population between 20,000 and 25,000, and strong fortifications, Ulpia Traiana was the political, administrative and religious centre of Roman Dacia in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The city was destroyed by the Goths. Today Ulpia Traiana remains in ruins, with a partly preserved forum, an amphitheatre, and remnants of several temples.

History

The exact period when the city was built is not known. Some say the first settlement was erected between 106-107, others say it was between 108-110. However, due to an inscription discovered at the beginning of the 14th century in the village of Sarmizegetusa, Hunedoara, Grădişte, it is known that the new town was settled in the first years after the conquest of Dacia. The inscription reads: "On the command of the emperor Trajan, Caesar Nerva Traianus Augustus, son of the divine Nerva, was settled the Dacian Colony by Decimus Terentius Scaurianus, its governor." In Rome, the settlement of the colony was marked by the minting of a coin, by order of the Senate, dedicated to emperor Trajan. During the reign of Hadrian the city was renamed Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa. Between 222 and 235 the colony was called a ''metropolis''. The name was found on a stone inscription that reads "To Gaius Arrius Quadratus, son of Gaius, acting praetor of the emperor in Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa." Gaius Arrius Antoninus bore the title ''Legatus Augusti pro praetore, legatus pro praetore'', which was the official title of the governor of some imperial provinces of the Roman Empire.

Location

The settlement was built at a distance of 8 km from Tapae, a pass between Banat and Transylvania (today known as the Iron Gates of Transylvania). The choice was based on the military and economic advantages given by the natural barrier represented by the Retezat Mountains in the south and Poiana Ruscă Mountains in the north. The territory of the metropolis extended from Tibiscum to Micia and to the Jiu canyon, the city being protected by several ''castra'': Tibiscum (castra), Tibiscum, Pons Augusti (castra), Pons Augusti, Micia (castra), Micia and Castra of Bumbești-Jiu (disambiguation), castra of Bumbești. The city was crossed by the imperial road from the Danube that linked the north of the province with Porolissum (Moigrad).

Archeological site

Today, the archeological site contains the following remains: * Amphitheatre * Gladiator school * Nemesis (mythology), Goddess Nemesis Temple * Bacchus, Liber Pater Temple * Gods Aesculapius and Hygieia Temple * Temple Basilica * Temple of god Mithra * Temple of palmyrans * Great Temple * Silvanus (mythology), God Silvanus Temple * Glass blowers' workshops * ''Horreum'' * Financial procurator's office * Thermae * Forum 2007 06 Sarmisegetuza

Image gallery

File:Colonia Dacica Sarmizegetusa 2011 - Inscription on the Forum Column.jpg, Inscription on the Forum Column File:RO HD Sarmizegetusa Great Temple.jpg, The Great Temple File:Colonia Dacica Sarmizegetusa 2011 - Amphitheater-1.jpg, The Amphitheatre File:Colonia Dacica Sarmizegetusa 2011 - Forum-7.jpg, Column ornament File:RO HD Sarmizegetusa Nemesis temple.jpg, Temple of Nemesis File:RO HD Sarmizegetusa Curia.jpg, Curia File:Colonia_Dacica_Sarmizegetusa_2011_-_Glass_Workshop.jpg, Glass workshop File:Szentpéterfalvi templom római táblája.jpg, Roman tablet built into the medieval Orthodox church in Sânpetru, Hunedoara, Sânpetru. File:UlpiaTraianaSarmizegetusa.jpg, Aerial view

Notes

External links