A PLACE OF HISTORY – ULPIA TRAIANA SARMIZEGETUSA
It has a wide history, known to many people and adored even by the little ones. The stories and legends here have brought many tourists to the area. On top of all this, today, near the old town, there are children’s camps, where they are taken to visit the ruins of the city and also here they learn the history that has gathered in hundreds of years. But besides the history lessons, they learn to shoot the bow, to make ceramic pots, how to work in the team and all kinds of games for their development.
Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa (full name: Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa) was the capital of the Roman province of Dacia. This province was built by Emperor Train between 108-110. The settlement experienced a period of development that lasted until the second half of the 3rd century.
The ruins of the ancient city are an archaeological complex located in Sarmizegetusa in Hunedoara County. Nearby is the Sarmizegetusa Archaeological Museum, founded in 1924, which houses objects recovered during archaeological research. To date, much of the area of the ancient city has not been excavated by archaeologists.
The location of the city was a strategic one. The choice of the site for the foundation of the city was made on the basis of strategic and economic advantages, with the Retezat Mountains to the south and the Poiana Rusca Mountains to the north, were natural barriers difficult to overcome for the eventual attackers.
The archological complex comprises countless masterpieces, as well as:
Amfiteatrul is the most imposing edifice of the complex. Gladiator fights, brawls between wild animals and humans, theatre performances, rants and other public demonstrations took place inside it.
Templul zeiței Nemesis: A temple dedicated to the goddess Nemesis was also built near the amphitheatre, which was revered in antiquity by gladiators. Several embossed tables have been preserved in the archaeology museum. On one is represented the goddess, with her attributes, the balance, the griffin and the wheel.
Palatul Augustalilor: it is located near the forum, and was the seat of the Order of The Augustals, an influential corporation that recruited its members from within the wealthy layer of the city’s inhabitants.
On the other side, there are other buildings that enter the archaeological complex of the place.
This open-air museum is worth a full visit. It’s a longer journey down the line of history. I’m just telling you… if I had lived in the capital in question, I would have to speak like this: „Erare humanum est, sed perseverare, diabolicum”; „Veni, vidi, vici”; „Gaudeamus igitur”.
Wishing you the best,