Ancient site · City
Sarmizegetusa Regia
Sarmizegetusa Regia, high in the Orăștie Mountains of Romania, was the capital and holy centre of the Dacians. King Burebista moved his capital here near the end of his reign in the 1st century BCE, and it reached its height under King Decebalus.
Its fortress of stone walls stood beside a sacred area of temples, including a circular sanctuary. The Romans under Emperor Trajan defeated the Dacians in two wars (101–106 CE), took the city, put a garrison in it and tore down much of its fortress.
- Dates
- 1st century BCE – 106 CE
- Still standing
- Yes
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Yes
- Location
- 45.62° N, 23.31° E
How we know
Roman writers describe the Dacian wars, and a vessel found here carries the name of King Decebalus.
Nearby sites
- Lepenski Vir c. 9500/7200–5500 BCE (trapezoid houses c. 6300–6000 BCE)
- Starčevo culture dated c. 6200–4500 BCE
- Vinča–Belo Brdo c. 5700–4500 BCE (later reoccupied)
- Varna Necropolis c. 4570–4340 BCE
- Talianki mega-site c. 3850–3700 BCE
- Troy (Hisarlik) c. 3600 BCE – c. 500 CE