Sarmizegetusa Regia Sacred Areas

 archaeological site, fortification, interesting place, UNESCO World Heritage Site, historic ruins

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-6IT5cIDNU

On the top of Orastie Mountains, well guarded by the natural towers and waves of the highs, there is over 2000 years a complex of fortifications of which remarkable is the Sarmizegetusa fortress from Gradistea Muncelului, a political and military center of the Dacians. The ruins show pieces of that was one the jewel and pride of the old Dacian State.

All of the sacred buildings were constructed on large man-made terraces. There are two types of sanctuaries, circular and rectangular. All were built between the reigns of Burebista and Decebal (circa 86BC – 106AD).

At Samizegetsua the first constructions were built using limestone and later buildings employed andesite. In the large circular sanctuary, wooden posts have been placed within the walls during the Communist era to give a more impressive look. However there is no evidence to suggest that the poles should actually be there.

There are also three rectangular sanctuaries, one of which is much larger than the other two. Close to the smaller of these sanctuaries and the circular sanctuary mentioned above, sits the small circular disc, called the ‘Andesite Sun’, which is a very important site. Within its centre sits yet another smaller disc which has a radius of 1.46 metres. The ‘Sun’ is divided by ten spokes, creating arcs at its circumference measuring 2.76 metres. Protruding from the edge of the ‘Sun’ is a line made from rock pointing north.

www.ici.ro/romania/en/turism/hd_sarmizegetusa.html