Axiopolis Fortress

 ancient, archaeological site, fortification, Roman Empire, limes (Roman border defence)

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It stands on a plateau on the right bank of the Danube opposite the island of Hinog, about 3 km south of the cernavodă bridge end. This fortress played an important economic and strategic role. During the 6th century it must have been a bishopric.

The first excavations were carried out on the triangular plateau by Pamfil Polonic between 1895 - 1896 and 1899, under the leadership of Professor Gr. Tocilescu, director of the National Museum of Antiquities.

On that occasion, two settlements were identified, one Roman, the other one, seemingly, Byzantine, and the north and south gates of the Byzantine fortress were identified, as they were separated by the Roman gate by a ground saddle. At the same time, they uncovered the foundations of a cemetery basilica with an annex chapel close to the north gate of the earlier fortress, as well as inscriptions, sculptural fragments, Hellenistic, Roman and Early Mediaeval pottery.

Very interesting is the discovery in 1947 of some inscriptions in the Greek language among the ruins of the cemetery basilica mentioning three martyrs: Kiril, Kindeas and Fastos (Dasiius). In the end we remind that from south of the city of Axiopolis to Tomis runs the stone wave.