SARMIZEGETUSA REGIA
The magnificent capital of the Dacian state built around the middle of the first century a.D. included the citadel, the sacred zone and the civilian settlement.
About the citadel of Sarmizegetusa we can state that its walls, built in the customary – "murus Dacicus" technique, surrounded the 100m high rounded hillock, respecting the aspect of the ground. After the conquest, the Romans reorganised the citadel by enlarging its surface without respecting the location or the technique of the Dacian walls.
SARMIZEGETUSA REGIA – General layout:
1. The Western Gate; 2. The enclosure wall of the fortress; 3. The Eastern Gate; 4. Paved Road; 5. The Great Calcar Sanctuary; 6. The Small Calcar Sanctuary; 7. The Great Circular Sanctuary; 8. The Small Circular Sanctuary; 9. The Patrulater Andesite Sanctuary; 10. The Andesite Sun (The Solar Disk); 11. The Great Andesite Sanctuary; 12. The Roman bath house; 13. The Observation Tower.
One hundred metres east of the city, on two terraces, is the sacred zone which can be reached by a calcar stone paved road which ends at a small square. In this space rectangular and round shaped sanctuaries were built, some of them of calcar, others of andesite.
The civilian settlement, which consisted of the eastern and western sectors respectively, extended over tens of terraces, making it the largest compact Dacian settlement known as yet. There were dwelling compounds, craftsmen’s workshops, storehouses, warehouses, water supply facilities. In one of the dwellings the famous vessel with the stamp "DECEBALUS PER SCORILO" was found.
After the defeat of the Dacians (despite their valiant resistance) the Romans left in the citadel a unit which consisted of the Fourth Flavia Felix legion.
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