Chapter 6: Technology & Progress

The following dates I got in a museum and talking to two archaelogists, unfortunately as I have discovered there isn't really a lot of information regarding the Dacians in the english language. So I hope I got this right:

The Dacian fortifications that have been analysed are amongst the most important constructions outside of the Roman Empire. Characteristics of these fortifications are as follows:

Terraces constructed by moving large masses of earth layer by layer and stabilised by the planting of trees

Altering the surface of the terrain in order to make access into the fortress difficult for invaders.

Splitting the fortification interior into various sections, providing necessary retreats for the defenders inside.

A wall positioned close to the entrance of the fortification so that invading forces could be separated from each other

The discovery of iron, thought to have been used within the fortifications

Underground caves with several entrances, showing evidence of having been flooded.

Rocks used for building, cut diagonally in order to strengthen the wall.

The walls were constructed out of two parallel walls joined by wooden ties. The space between the two walls was filled with small rocks. Not only did this provide great strength, but also insulation and ventilation

A special system of walls to prevent shifting earth

An efficient collection of drains to collect the rainwater from the walls and the interior of the fortifications.

The interiors have certain dimensions that prove sound could be carried throughout the fortification

 The mortar used for the water tank had septic properties.

Extras

Talk about Pyramids. This is an optical illusion created up on the peak visible only in the beginning of August. 

Enjoy!

Chapter 5: Dacian Society

Dacian's were divided into two classes: the aristocracy (tarabostes) and the common people (comati). The aristocracy alone had the right to cover their heads and wore a felt hat (hence pileati, their Latin name).  The second class, who comprised the rank and file of the army, the peasants and artisans, might have been called capillati (in Latin). Their appearance and clothing can be seen on Trajan's Column. Dacian's had developed the Murus Dacicus (which is something like the a lot more known Wall of Hadrian in the UK), characteristic of their complexes of fortified cities, like their capital Sarmisegetusa Regia, whom I shall cover soon. The degree of Dacian urban development can be seen on Trajan's Column and in the account of how Sarmisegetusa was defeated by the Romans. They had a chance only after identifying the pipeline of the Dacia capital.   Judging by the fact that so many of their walls and structures are still intact, and that there are certain limestone structures build out of 20t blocks, I would even be so bold to say that they're architects were probably real professionals who knew exactly what they were doing, just like their ''friends'' in  Egypt and some other nice places. The cities of the Dacians were known as Dava, Daua, Deva, Deba or Daba.  Here are a couple of city names from Dacia: Acidava, Burridava, Dokidava, Carsidava, Clepidava, Cumidava, Netindava, Patridava, Pelendava, Piroburidava, Rhamidava, Rusidava, Sacidava, Singidava, Setidava,  Tamasidava, Utidava, Zargidava, Ziridava, Sucidava ...  I have noticed taking a look at different city plans and altogether various cartography displayed in museums that almost all influent urban settlements had a sanctuary somewhere close by, in a, probably, God designated place. Faith was a very important issue for them. They depicted its various aspects on by means of their craftsmanship, starting from pottery and reaching out to jewels. And I also think their faith and rituals have common aspects with the egyptian and indian one. I have encountered many names and symbols that point out to that... we will get to that at a later time.... but for starters take a look at those city names... you just might get the feeling at least in a couple of cases that they've got a kind of ''indian''/ ''egyptian'' ring to them... or is it just me?

 

How Princess Dochia was turned to stone

This is one of the nicest legends I heard about the Dacian people. I heard it from a lodge keeper up in the mountains where I went hiking to find a pyramid shaped mountain, about which I will tell you later... I'll try to remember everything the old lady said... here we go...  

When the Romans came again to wage war upon the land, the Dacian king, Decebal caught word that the Roman Emperor Trajanus had set quads to capture his beautiful daughter, Dochia, to bring her to Rome and make her his personal slave.

So he called his daughter and told her to put on the simple clothes of a shepherdess, and to go hide away the mountain. So his daughter did, and rubbed dirt and ash on her cheeks, but her beauty still shone through the dirt.

With a flock of sheep she crossed the plains, and reached the mountain range when summer was at its peak. There the wolves brought her news of her father’s death, slain by his own hand rather than fall into the enemy’s hands. (I am going to do a short report about the mystical connection between the Dacian people and the Wolfs) And tears streaking down her face, she slowly started to climb the mountains towards the hidden caves. And the heat grew strong, so she started to cast away the heavy sheep-wool cloaks she was wearing.

But when she was half way up the mountain she heard noise made by the roman armor. She started to run up the mountain, casting aside all the things she was carrying with her, food, clothes and so on, but she was very tired and upset about the loss of her fahter and the lands of her people, she thought she was going to fall into the hands of the enemy and be taken to Rome forever.

With a last effort she fell on her knees and with a great voice she cried out to the Goddess Bendis, begging for help, so the last of the line of the Dacian kings wouldn’t get be the laughing stock of the Romans.

And out of the blue sky came a great wind, and a great blizzard, as it can hardly be seen in winter, definitely not in the heat of summer. And ice and snow blew on the mountain, and one couldn’t see a step ahead.

And when the blizzard died, the Romans couldn’t find more than a white rock, in the shape of a woman, surrounded by other small round white rocks. It was Dochia and her sheep, for the Goddess had heard her plea, and turned her and her flock to stone.

And even now, Dochia watches the lands from the mountain, surrounded by her sheep, and the tears of her sorrow weep in a clear spring running down the mountain slope.

As another legend says, Dochia had 9 coats she casted aside while running from the Romans and each year she appears to be haunting the hills and mountains of Transilvania bringing snowstorms and freezing winds between the 1st and 9th Of March. 

Chapter 4: The Dacian War Banner

''The Dacian Draco was the standard of the ancient Dacian military. It had a wolf head with the mouth open, with a snake body, made out of bronze and it ended with some linen stripes. It was put on a rod and if held in the air while galloping, it made a whistling sound, due to the air which entered the wolf's mouth.''

The draco was originally developed by the Sarmatians and Alans, cavalry peoples of the steppes. The earliest evidence of the Draco in Dacia was found on 4th century BC pottery discovered in the Prahova county of Romania. On Trajan's Column the Dacian soldiers are often represented carrying a Dacian Draco: there are no less than 20 representations of the Draco. The only copy left was found in Germany, which, was probably a trophy won by the Roman troops from the wars with the Dacians. After the Dacian wars the draco was adopted by Roman cavalry (they always were so original, weren't they?).

 

Extras

Extras

Beautiful Romania