Cumidava (castra)
Castra Cumidava was a fort in the Roman province of Dacia. It is located at 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of the city Râșnov, Romania at the common border with the city of Vulcan. The archaeological site is located on the middle terrace of Bârsa River. It includes a defensive line of about 2 ha (4.9 acres).
| Cumidava | |
|---|---|
 Ruins of the Northeastern gate (2013) | |
  Location within Romania | |
| Alternative name(s) | Comidava, Komidava [1] |
| Known also as | Castra of Râșnov |
| Founded | 2nd century AD |
| Place in the Roman world | |
| Province | Dacia |
| Administrative unit | Dacia Apulensis |
| Administrative unit | Dacia Superior |
| Limes | Transalutanus |
| Nearby water | (Bârsa) |
| Directly connected to | (Drumul Carului) • (Brașov-Șprenghi) |
| Structure | |
| — Stone structure — | |
| Size and area | 124 m × 118 m (1.46 [2] ha) |
| Construction technique | Opus incertum[2] |
| — Wood and earth structure — | |
| Size and area | 114 m × 110 m (1.2 [2] ha) |
| Stationed military units | |
| — Cohorts — | |
| VI Nova Cumidavensium Alexandrina[3] | |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 45.618707°N 25.441580°E |
| Altitude | 608 m (1,995 ft) |
| Place name | |
| Town | Râșnov |
| County | Brașov |
| Country |  Romania |
| Reference | |
| RO-LMI | BV-I-s-A-11283 |
| RO-RAN | 40376.01 |
| Site notes | |
| Recognition |  National Historical Monument |
| Discovery year | 1856 [2] |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Excavation dates | |
| Archaeologists |
|
The inscription found in the fort testifies about a Roman cohort of Vindelici who had taken the name Cumidava (Komidava of Ptolemy) from its place of cantonment.[1] The fact that the Romans preserved the Dacian name is quite suggestive.[4] The native Geto-Dacian population, which became the basis for a new civilization, lent its specific characteristics, while the Latin-speaking colonists introduced Roman traits.[5]
The relatively small castrum (110 m x 114 m) belonged administratively to the Dacia Apulensis. It was continuously used by only two cohorts Vindelicorum Cumidavensis (cohors VI and cohors VI Nova).[6]
An inscription from 3rd century AD dedicated to Iulia Mamea was found here:[7]
- Iuliae Mameae augustae matri Domini nostri sanctissimi Imperatoris Caesaris Severi Alexandi augusti et castrorum senatusque cohors Vindelicorum Piae fidelis Cumidavensis Alexandrianae ex quaestura sua dedicante la sdio Dominatio legato augusti III Daciarum.[7]
See also
Notes
- L'Année épigraphique: revue des publications épigraphiques relatives a l'antiquité romaine, Académie des inscriptions & belles-lettres (France) Presses Universitaires de France., 1968,
- Raport științific privind derularea proiectului Strategii defensive și politici transfrontaliere. Integrarea spațiului Dunării de Jos în civilizația romană (STRATEG)
- Istoria României, Transilvania, Volumul I, Capitolul II - Etnogeneza românilor, de Dr. Ioan Glodariu Archived 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine
- Dapper 2009, p. 223.
- Treptow & Bolovan 1996, p. 35.
- Dumitru Protase, Istoria Romanilor: Daco-Romani, Romanici, Algeni, Academia Româna, Secția de Științe Istorice și Arheologie, Editura Enciclopedică, 2001,
- Pintilie, Alin-Sebastian. "Castrul roman Cumidava". Retrieved 2013-05-06.
Works cited
- Dapper, Morgan De (2009). Ol' Man River: Geo-archaeological Aspects of Rivers and River Plains. Academia Press. ISBN 978-90-382-1404-7.
- Treptow, Kurt W.; Bolovan, Ioan (1996). Treptow, Kurt W.; Bolovan, Ioan (eds.). A History of Romania. East European Monographs. ISBN 978-0-88033-345-0.
External links
Media related to Castra Cumidava at Wikimedia Commons- Roman castra from Romania - Google Maps / Earth Archived 2012-12-05 at archive.today