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Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa

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Founded during the reign of
  
Trajan

Shape
  
Round rectangle

Province
  
Dacia

Attested by
  
Tabula Peutingeriana

Founded
  
2nd century AD

Local time
  
Friday 2:20 AM

Town
  
Sarmizegetusa, Hunedoara

RO-RAN ID
  
91063.01

Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa

Alternative name(s)
  
Colonia Dacica Sarmizegetusa, Zarmizegethusa, Sarmategte, Sarmazege

Administrative unit
  
Decimus Terentius Scaurianus

Size and area
  
600 m x 540 m (32.4 ha)

Weather
  
7°C, Wind S at 5 km/h, 74% Humidity

Ulpia traiana sarmizegetusa


Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa was the 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 Fifth Macedonian Legion, the city was settled by veterans of the Dacian wars. From the very beginning it received the title of colonia and the status of ius Italicum. With an area of 30 hectares (74 acres; 0.12 sq mi), 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.

Contents

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.

Ulpia traiana sarmizegetusa romania


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 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 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 Caius Arrius Quadratus, son of Gaius Arrius Antoninus, acting praetor of the emperor in Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa." Gaius Arrius Antoninus bore the title 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, Pons Augusti, Micia and 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
  • Goddess Nemesis Temple
  • Liber Pater Temple
  • Gods Aesculapius and Hygieia Temple
  • Temple Basilica
  • Temple of god Mithra
  • Temple of palmyrans
  • Great Temple
  • God Silvanus Temple
  • Glass blowers' workshops
  • Horreum
  • Financial procurator's office
  • Thermae
  • Forum
  • Virtual Reconstructions

    These are the reconstructions published by Reconstituiri.ro:

  • Amphitheater
  • Domus Procuratoris
  • Horreum
  • Roman Forum
  • Temple of Liber Pater
  • Typical Domus
  • References

    Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa Wikipedia