Source: SIMION MECHNO / AGERPRES ARCHIVES

Dobrogea, the realm between the Danube and the Black Sea, is so full of contrasts;
equally harsh and dry, fecund and fertile, desert-like, deltaic and rocky, aquatic
and terrestrial, all that paradoxically imbues Plato's allegory of the cave with the
valences of a temporary synergy that marriages past, present and future, for what
other significance can the ancient legend of the Ciris Cave have?
The past is recorded in the annals. Dio Cassius, in his 'Roman History' mentions
the people of an entire fortress that allegedly sought salvation from Romans by
losing their traces in a mythical cave called Ciris, somewhere in Schithya Minor.
In 29-28 BC, Roman proconsul Marcus Licinius Crassus started an expedition as
head of an army to Moesia Inferior to punish and conquer the Dacians led by
Dapyx, a brave king and the successor of Burebista. The claim was that a local
tribal chieftain named Roles, subjected to Rome but in conflict with Dapyx had to
be helped. In fact, Marcus Licinius wanted to recover the lost battle flags of Caius
Antonius in the battle of the Genucla Fortress, near Histria, and thus to wash
away some older shame, because Zyraxes, the military leader who defeated the
Romans at Genucla, was an ally of King Dapyx. In fact, the Roman Empire was
trying to win full control over the Dacians south of the Danube, their riches, gold,
cattle, grain and slaves. Dio Cassius says clearly that Licinius spared no one,
irrespective of personal attitudes towards the empire. There was no forgiveness or
leniency, and 'the barbarians,' as Dacians were labelled, had to be killed and
burned down. Dapyx died a hero battling against the 'civilising' Romans, and the
city of Zyraxes was itself conquered after a betrayal. Scared of the wrath that came
upon them, the Dacians, the Roman historian says, gathered what they could and
fled underground, along with women, children and their elders through the
mouth of a cave also designed as a place of worship complete with totems at the
entrance. They took the grain away with them into the depths of the cave,
according to historian Dio Cassius, along with sheep, goats, cows, gold and jewels,
as they made the dark galleries of the Ciris Cave their home. Crassus is said to
have sought out all the entrances to the cave, which were tortuous and difficult to
discover and walled them up, thus turning the saving haven into a huge tomb for
the people who sought their salvation underground. Historians also mention that
in order to recover the riches the Dacians had hidden in the cave and to catch as
many slaves as possible the Romans would have opened the cave to smoke out the
survivors. None of the refugees would be found . So, the legend of the mythical
Ciris Cave has survived in today's Dobrogea telling of how the oppressed found
salvation, walking all the way to another realm, like through a two-way
passageway. Some claim the Ciris Cave had secret exits to today's Bulgaria, others
claim the cave had galleries extending all the way to Byzantium. Paradoxically or
not, the same story is found in Bulgaria as well, in settlements at the border
between Romania and Bulgaria, where treasure hunters, archaeologists, tourists

and adventure enthusiasts are seen intermingling. Local legends have it that the
cave is a gateway to the world beyond death.
Archaeologist Vasile Boroneant, one of the historians fascinated by this mystery,
has located the Ciris Cave at Limanu, which labyrinthine cave was aptly called 'at
the icons,' after the discovery there of incisions, charcoal drawings and carved
idols as well as traces of life forms dating back to the Neolithic and some possibly
to the times of the Dacians. The Limanu Cave is an underground labyrinth, whose
exact length is not known yet, as only 3.2 km of its galleries and corridors have
been mapped. Traces of human living, carved walls and ceilings, furnished rooms,
alcoves for rush lights have been discovered here, and there is evidence of the
early inhabitants of the cave having used a marking system to avoid getting lost.
Drawings and inscriptions in Roman and Cyrillic alphabets on the walls prove the
cave was inhabited between 1st century BC and 10th century AD. Of special
interest are the drawings of horse riders; horses seen from one side are drawn
galloping, and the faces of the riders are seen from the front. Their silhouette and
presentation strikingly resemble those of Dacian riders depicted on pottery
discovered in many settlements in the area inhabited by Thraco-Dacians. The
earliest drawings are very likely from the apex of the Geto-Dacian culture, the
time when archaeologists also say the cave was furnished as well. Other drawings
Christian religious symbols, letters or words in the Cyrillic alphabet belong to
the Roman-Byzantine period and the subsequent times, and they are evidence
that the Limanu Cave was a shelter for the local population until later, 10th-11th
centuries AD as Ph.D. Boroneant mentions in his works.
'Of all the caves of Dobrogea, the Limanu is the only one that comes closest to Dio
Cassius' description of the legendary Ciris. It is the only one able to justify the
deployment of a Roman army to besiege a place of refuge. Surveys have revealed
archaeological material proving that the cave was inhabited by local Dacians even
in that era. Existing evidence allows us to assume that the maze of Limanu was
ordered by a local Geto-Dacian authority as a defence measure against the Roman
danger. The account of Dio Cassius shows that the cave was a place of refuge,
purposefully chosen and furbished, not some adventitious cavern,' Ph.D.
Boroneant writes in his 'Labirintul subteran de la Limanu' (The Underground
Labyrinth of Limanu).
Local stories mention strange and frightening wails coming from the depths of the
earth, with those who hear them becoming mesmerised and starting looking for
the voice. It is said that the voice would be the voice of the entrance guardian who
wants to lure in the profane and make them blasphemously tread on the sacred
earth of Zamolxis. Moreover, a mystery was woven concerning the interpretation
of images displayed by fallen boulders at the entrance to the cave, which should be
the faces carved in stone of Zamolxis, whose spirit guards the entrance to the
sacred realm until the Dacian ancestors come back from the abyss.

A scientific explanation for these strange sounds provided by speleologists is that

the eerie wails are produced by the wind that sweeps through many underground
galleries at Limanu, a noise that apparently affects the human psyche.
From a geological point of view, the Limanu Cave, 4,000 metres long, is the
longest cave in Dobrogea. It has a dizzying branching of galleries, like the street
network of an unorganised ancient city chaotically developed. Hence the
impression of an underground city. Some galleries that have a rectangular, very
regular section, seem to have been carved by humans. Some sectors of the
galleries were indeed carved by humans, as signs of chiselling are visible. In order
to avoid the collapse of ceilings, supporting walls and pillars were built in
limestone slabs. The cave's morphology is specific of caves with a horizontal
stratification developed in Sarmatian limestone in the form of tabular structures.
In an easily accessible area, Hellenistic pottery and rush lights were discovered,
indicating that residents of Callatis nearly two millennia ago carved altars here,
where they would come to worship god Mithras. It is clear however that with the
spread of Christianity in the 10th century attempts were made for the conversion
of the Limanu Cave into a Christian place of worship.
In his turn, historian Constantin Daicoviciu says the mythical Ciris Cave should be
in the Dobrogea Mouth reserve, on the Casimcea Plateau, a hypothesis also shared
by Vasile Parvan. There, in the Cave of Bats, also called the Mouth of Dobrogea,
covering 5 hectares, an arrangement of several galleries with three access holes,
various evidence of human presence has been certified including Paleolithic and
Neolithic flint tools, Neolithic pottery shards, as well as more recent objects of
metal belonging to the Iron Age. Most galleries and rooms of the cave are
inhabited by colonies of bats roosting in summer and hibernating in winter that
belong to the Mediterranean species Rhinolophus mehelyi and Myotis mistacinus.
Also in the area are the caves At Adam's and St. Ioan Casian.
Local legends have created a special aura for the cave Canaraua Fetei, the Girl's
Canyon, bestowing on it all the attributes worthy of the Ciris Cave's fame as an
underground realm for escaping to another world in time of tribulation.
Considered by geologists as the quintessential Romanian canyon, with walls of
limestone up to 40 meters tall, peppered with cracks, niches, grottoes and caves,
the Girl's Canyon fauna and flora reserve covers 170 hectares at the south-western
border of Constanta County.
At every step, tourists amazingly discover xerophilous oak forests, silver limes,
mahaleb cherries, lilac bushes, dwarf Russian almond trees, yellow bedstraws, red
and white-azure saffron, bluish irises, peonies and shrub broom. Keen eyes can
easily distinguish on cliff tops white Egyptian vultures peacefully nesting there or
sneaking up on foxes in the evening. In the coolness of the evening, in the quiet
and generous valley of the canyon, fallow deer majestically appear moving at a
cadence that can scare away even the horned viper. Elders from the neighbour

villages of Dumbraveni and Olteni still mention stories from their parents, such as
the one according to which an ancient branch of the Danube River would have
crossed the area and the rushing water would have dug the local caves with many
galleries and exits. Locals are said to have hidden their wives and virgin girls in
the Girl's Canyon Cave when the Ottomans invaded the province.
The hiding place was allegedly discovered in the end, and in order to avoid being
kidnapped several of the girls allegedly hurled themselves down from the rocks,
thus paying with their lives their spotless honour.
Also at the Girl's Canyon, a paleo-Christian monastery was carved in the vertical
chalky walls, of an unreal beauty, far from prying eyes. The monastic settlement in
the cave was inhabited in two stages: a first stage in the 4th-7th centuries AD and
the second stage in the early Middle Ages (the 9th-10th centuries), with the site
very much resembling the monastic place of Basarabi. The relics of two unknown
monks have been discovered here, along with three tombs long ago plundered.
Locals say that in the bleak past there used to be drawings and inscriptions in
unknown languages (probably proto-Bulgarian runes) carved in the limestone
walls of the two small churches inside the cave. Even coins from the times of
Roman Emperor Constance (4th century AD), son of Constantine the Great, were
discovered here.
The caves of Dumbraveni in the Girl's Canyon, near the plateau where the battle
between Dacians and Romans was fought at Adamclisi used to be places of
heathen worship long before the coming of the first Christian monks and the even
housed an altar to god Zamolxis.
Another story about the monastic complex here talk about a long corridor, dug
under the rocks all the way to the Fortress Tropaeum Traianifortress of Adamclisi,
or that by night, the local monks of the Girl's Canyon would turn into outlaws
pillaging the households of Turks and kidnapping their wives and daughters.

10 Dark Transylvanian
Legends You Wont Find
In Dracula
ANA-MARIA BUJOR

JUNE 7, 2015

Many times, the inhabitants of Transylvania, the Romanian region that

everyone knows thanks to Bram Stokers Dracula, are quite annoyed by
the fact that people have only heard about it from the novel. After all, the
region has a fantastic culture, some of the best universities in the country,
beautiful nature, and a unique cultural mix. But thats not all; Transylvania is
also home to many mysterious places and legends that could easily inspire
other novels. Here are a few of them.

10Mass Child Kidnapping And

Resettlement

The legend of the Pied Piper is one of the best-known in the world,
especially thanks to the series Silicon Valley. Its pretty gruesome and was
probably created to scar children for life instead of preparing them for sweet
dreams.
In the story, the inhabitants of Hamelin find themselves unable to cope with
a rat infestation, a problem which is solved by a mysterious piper in
exchange for money. He gets rid of all the rats except for one with his
magical tune, and as a result, the people refuse to pay him. Angered, the
piper plays a different tune, which brainwashes all the children in Hamelin
into following him. Some legends say that they all drowned or jumped off a
cliff, while others simply dont tell what happened to the children.
One of the versions, however, proves to be more optimistic. According to it,
the children emerged from the Vaghis Cave in Transylvania and settled
there. As strange as it may seem, this version is closest to the most widely
accepted interpretation of the legend. Many people from Hamelin actually
settled in Transylvania at the time of the story, leaving the German lands
forever. The descendants of the settlers still live in small communities in
Transylvania

9Hunyad Castle

Hunyad (or Corvin) Castle in Hunedoara is an amazing construction dating

back to the 14th or 15th century, depending on whom you ask. Interestingly,
it also has a tower named Nje Bojsia (meaning Dont be afraid,) by the
Serbian mercenaries who fought there. Add that to the coat of arms of the
ruling family, which is a raven, and you get the perfect haunted location.
And people really, really wanted it to be haunted. The crew of Most
Haunted Live spent three nights here looking for Dracula, trusting the
myth that says that Vlad the Impaler himself had spent seven years in the
dungeons of the castle.
Although there is no proof of this being true, the castle still had its fair share
of pain and torment. It is said that one of the leaders of the fortress, Iancu of
Hunedoara, promised freedom to three Turkish prisoners if they would dig
in the rock until they found water. The three prisoners are said to have dug
for no less than 28 years before reaching their goal. Unfortunately for them,
Iancu had died, and his wife didnt care about her late husbands promises.
She ordered them to be beheaded. Before that, however, it is said that the
three men managed to write, You now have water but you dont have
heart, together with their names, on the well wall to show the familys lack
of honor. Today, visitors can see both the well and its inscription in Turkish.

8The Mysterious Falling Boy

Photo credit: Vlad Moldovean

The Black Church in Brasov is one of the most beautiful Gothic

constructions in Romania. It was damaged by a fire in the 17th century,
hence the name. In the church, visitors can see both one of the most
impressive organs in Europe and bullet holes from the violent revolution in
1989. The real mystery, however, is outside. On top of one of the exterior
pillars is the statue of a little boy in danger of falling. Its meaning is
uncertain, but it surely comes from a tragic story.
Some say a little boy died falling after being sent by the builders to check if
the wall was straight. Saddened by the event, they decided to create the
sculpture as an homage to the sacrifice. The other story, told more often,
says that the little boy was an amazingly skilled apprentice who made his
master jealous during the construction of the Black Church. The
master pushed the boy to his death but later revealed the truth after being
tormented by guilt. The rest of the builders decided to create the statue so
that the talented young boy would not be forgotten.

7The Bridge Of Lies

Photo credit: Daria Virbanescu

Sibiu, one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Romania, is the home of
many tourist attractions. One of them, the Bridge of Lies, seems harmless
enough and is actually a very beautiful spot for photographs. To clarify, its
beautiful as long as youre not a liar, if the legend is to be believed. The
legend says that the bridge can make particular noises and even collapse
whenever someone tells a lie while standing on it, making it a potentially
lethal lie detector.
The legend has variations. One says that merchants who cheated their
customers were thrown off the bridge, so honesty quickly became a
common trait. Spicier stories involve couples. Girls who had lied about their
purity before marriage were said to be thrown off the bridge, as well. Last,
its said that the bridge was a place where cadets would promise the moon
and the stars to local girls before disappearing and probably forgetting the
girls names.

6Abrud Castles Weeping Bride

The Abrud fortification in northern Transylvania was built in the 16th century
and is currently being renovated so that tourists can enjoy its history.
According to local legend, they could get much more than they bargained
for.
It seems that the lord of the fortress, Francis Rakoczi, was successfully
keeping an invading army at bay. In order to defeat him, the invaders sent a
handsome officer to charm his daughter, who became so enamored that
she revealed the existence of a secret tunnel. Her father managed to
escape, but not before cursing her for eternity.
However, he was nice enough to allow redemption via kissing, as in any
good story. So, the princess would be released if one brave man were
to kiss her in her three ghostly forms a snake, a frog, and a weeping
bride, who would appear in front of him. As far as we know, the princess is
still working on her bridal dress.

5The Ghost That Hates Russians

The Teleki mansion in the small town of Ocna Mures is currently a ruin and
the subject of dispute between several descendants who want it returned to
them. The entire trial may last for quite a long time, and the mansion is in a
very advanced state of decay. As a result, most people would rather keep
their distance, but safety norms are not the only reason for this.
Unlike most legends, the Teleki mansion got its creepy story during World
War II, when the locals started to talk about a ghost inhabiting it. As
expected, the Red Army was hardly impressed by the stories, and some
soldiers entered the mansion to enjoy the wine hidden in its cellar. Having
enjoyed it a bit too much for their own sake, they started to shoot their guns
joyfully until the barrels burst. The soldiers drowned in the wine, which is
probably one of the least dignified ways to die in a war. The locals,
however, blamed the ghost, which apparently has remained active ever
since, if we are to trust some blurry photos taken in 2011.

4The Lakes That Require Human Sacrifices

Sometimes water is alive, and when it is, it asks for a dead mans head.
This is what the elders of villages in the Maramures region believe; they are
very sure that the lakes in the area sometimes require human sacrifices.
There are several mountain lakes with dark legends, each of which is called
an iezer. One of the most famous stories refers to a sunken church. A long
time ago, a flood covered a church and a few homes. The people in the
village of Tisa claim that they sometimes hear the bells of the church at
night during Easter.
Another, darker legend is that of the bottomless lakes, which swallow
people without ever returning them. One lake is said to have swallowed all
of the guests at a wedding after they had tried to cross it during the winter.
Another lake, Vinderel, supposedly has a hidden vortex able to drown even
the most skilled swimmers. Young girls used to bathe in it, as this ritual was
said to help them get married within a year. The practice ended, however,
when one of the girls was pulled under the water in spite of the fact that she
was tied to the shore with rope. Finally, other legends talk about bloody
pieces of flesh sometimes being seen at the surface of the water.

3The Transylvanian Juliet

Practically every culture has created at least one story about forbidden love
with a tragic ending. In addition to the world-famous stories like Tristan
and Isolde, there are lesser-known ones, some even supported by
artifacts we can see today. One such story is that of the bride from
Garbova, transmitted from one generation to another by the small German
community living here.
The story begins with a wealthy and quite authoritarian man who happened
to have the most beautiful daughter in the village. As all the young men in
the area began to court her, the father decided that she would marry
someone who also possessed considerable wealth. But the girl had other
plans, as she was madly in love with a poor servant. Realizing they could
not be together, the servant left the village to make a living. Back home, the
wedding was arranged and the weakened bride entered the church together
with the one chosen by her father. However, she died in front of the altar,
and the flower bouquet she was holding transformed into a stone cross,
which is said to be the one visitors can see in the church in Garbova. The
sad story inspired both a play and a poem, written by Ernst Thullner.

2The Musical Fountain

Photo via Wikipedia

In the 19th century, urban planning was quite different from today. Yet, there
were a few cities that tried to stand out. In Targu Mures, which still is one of
the most important cities in Transylvania, a singing fountain proved to be
quite a unique source of entertainment. The masterpiece was created by a
very skilled artist and inventor, Peter Bodor. Made of an ingeniously
connected series of tubes, the fountain was both an organ and a flute.
Thus, the people living in the city at the time could enjoy the music created
by the flow of water.
Those living in Targu Mures today can only enjoy the legend of the fountain,
unfortunately. Officially, it was destroyed by a storm. The legend, however,
says that its own creator decided to silence its music forever through an
ingenious trick. Having been arrested for creating counterfeited money, the
man asked to see the fountain once more before being taken away by the
police. He used this brief visit to remove one small piece, and the entire
mechanism stopped functioning without anyone ever being able to replicate
it. In the end, the entire fountain was removed. Bodor got his revenge.

1Extreme Marriage Counseling Through

Imprisonment

This is a legend told again and again in the area around Sibiu, and its hard
to track its exact origins. In the past, couples looking to separate
were locked in the Prison Tower in Sibiu for two weeks. During this time,
they had to sleep in the same bed and eat together, which apparently
resulted in meaningful conversations, given there were no smart phones at
the time. As a result, it is said that only one couple actually went on with the
divorce after spending two weeks locked up together.
As sweet as the story may sound, there is always that dark twist that kills
the magic. This dark twist can be found in the legend of the fortress-church
in Cisnadioara, a small town close to Sibiu. In this case, the couples went
through the same marriage counseling as their fellow citizens in Sibiu. The
difference is that they were never to be released unless they made up.
Apparently, the people in Cisnadioara took the phrase till death do us part
very seriously.

Source: www.listverse.com

Dracula Legend

Some say that Transylvania sits on one of Earth's strongest

magnetic fields and its people have extra-sensory perception. Vampires are believed to
hang around crossroads on St. George's Day, April 23, and the eve of St. Andrew,
November 29. The area is also home to Bram Stoker's Dracula, and it's easy to get caught
up in the tale while driving along winding roads through dense, dark, ancient forests and
over mountain passes.
Dracula is literally translated in Gaelic as Drac Ullah meaning bad blood.
Tales of the supernatural had been circulating in Romanian folklore for centuries when
Irish writer Bram Stoker picked up the thread and spun it into a golden tale of
ghoulishness that has never been out of print since its first publication in 1897. To
research his immortal tale, Stoker immersed himself in the history, lore and legends of
Transylvania, which he called a "whirlpool for the imagination."
Bram Stoker's Dracula novel was published in Romanian for the first time in 1990.
Count Dracula, a fictional character in the Dracula novel, was inspired by one of the bestknown figures of Romanian history, Vlad Dracula, nicknamed Vlad Tepes (Vlad the
Impaler), who was the ruler of Walachia at various times from 1456-1462. Born in 1431 in

Sighisoara, he resided all his adult life in Walachia, except for periods of imprisonment at
Pest and Visegrad (in Hungary).
Although he never traveled to Romania, Stoker crammed his book with descriptions of
many real locations that can still be visited in present-day Romania.

Source: http://romaniatourism.com/

By Oliver Berry

18 January 2013

Its a freezing midwinter evening just outside the Transylvanian

village of Miklsvr, and the forest is eerily quiet. Icicles dangle
from the branches and silver blades of sunlight filter through the
conifers, casting the forest floor in an iridescent glow. Apart from
the crackle of the campfire and the stamp of horses hooves,
theres not a sound to break the wintry silence. Its then that
Count Tibor Klnoky begins to tell the tale of the first time he
visited the village witch.
Related slideshow: Transylvania's medieval tradition
One of my sons was suffering from sleepwalking, he explains,
staring into the campfire as he pours out a round of plinka, a
fiery Hungarian fruit brandy. Every night he would wake up and
wander in his sleep. We tried many treatments, but nothing
worked. So we asked some local people and they told us to visit
an old lady by the name of Marika Neni, who everyone just
called Auntie. He sips his brandy, stirring the embers of the
campfire with his leather boot.

She used an old remedy which involved melting some lead in

an iron pot and then looking at the shape the lead made as it
cooled, rather like reading tea leaves. Then she said some
spells, gave us the lead to put under his pillow as he slept, and
sent us home.
He looks up from the fire, downs his plinka and breaks into a
roguish grin. And believe it or not, hes never sleepwalked
since.
With his dapper hair, jodhpurs and knee-high boots, Count
Klnoky doesnt strike you as the kind of man who would
believe in witches cures. But superstitions such as these are
still a fundamental part of everyday life in Transylvania, even
after decades under Communist rule. Having spent most of his
childhood in government-enforced exile, Klnoky finally
returned to reclaim his familys estates in 1999, following the fall
of Ceauescus regime and after an eight-year legal battle.
Since then the count has learned to embrace Transylvanias old
ways.
Its good luck if a stork nests on your rooftop, he explains,
ducking through the timber gateway of a courtyard cottage, one
of several hes renovated around Miklsvr over the last
decade. And bad luck if you knock them down. Weve got a
nest that hasnt been used for years, but Im not brave enough
to remove it!
Entering the cottage feels like stepping into a Brothers Grimm
fairytale. Stout oak beams underpin the roof and rough plaster
lines the walls, while an antique ceramic stove pumps out
warmth and shuttered windows peep onto the moonlit
courtyard.
You should be cosy in here, says Count Klnoky. Dont be
alarmed if you hear noises in the night. Its probably just the
watchman stoking the fire. And, if not well, that should help
keep out the vampires. He gestures to the doorway, where a
bunch of dried garlic has been nailed into the plaster.

Sprawling along the edge of the snowy Carpathians, Europes

last truly wild mountain range, Transylvania is a land that is rich
in myths and legends. A region of Romania since 1918 but
historically an independent province, Transylvanias history has
been shaped by the many transient populations that have
passed through over the centuries: Saxons, Ottomans,
Hungarians, Jews, Serbs and Roma Gypsies. With them came
stories collected on their travels: tales of goblins and giants,
fairy queens and woodland nymphs, unearthly phantoms, maneating ogres and predatory ghouls. Venture out on a moonlit
night and you might encounter the pricolici, the devilish
werewolves said to be the restless spirits of violent men. Even
more terrifying are the samca, wizened hags with dagger-like
fingernails that sometimes appear to children and women
during childbirth; their appearance signifies certain death. And
then there are the legends of the strigoi, or vampires undead
creatures risen from the grave to feast on the blood of the living
which fired the imagination of an Irish writer by the name of
Bram Stoker, and inspired him to write his Gothic bestseller,
Dracula, in 1897.
Like many rural corners of Europe, Transylvania has a tradition
of oral storytelling that stretches back centuries. In a prescientific world, these allegorical tales served a dual purpose.
They helped explain otherwise inxplicable events disease,
death, natural disasters but also offered a source of
entertainment to pass the long winter nights. Often, legends
also provided moral guidance: one tale tells of the bau-bau
(also known as the omul negru, or black man), a spindly figure
dressed in a cloak who steals naughty children and hides them
in his cave for a year.
Many of Transylvanias superstitions have proved remarkably
resilient, although perhaps this is unsurprising in a land where
some villages have hardly changed since the Middle Ages.
Driving through the sleepy hamlets around Miklsvr feels like
journeying through Europes pre-industrial past: pastel-coloured
cottages and tumbledown barns line the streets, horse-drawn
carts rattle through the snow, and wood smoke drifts up from

rickety chimneys. Many houses are still protected by ornate

kapu, the distinctive carved wooden gateways which were
imported to Transylvania by Saxon settlers over eight centuries
ago.
Similarly, most villages have a witch or folk-healer who
dispenses spells, removes curses and provides spiritual
guidance. Since 2011, witches, palmists and fortune tellers
have even been made liable for income tax a controversial
decision that proved so unpopular that local MPs felt the need
to start wearing the lucky colour of purple in the hope of
warding off the witches hex.
Nany Etelka has spent her entire life in the little village of
Banii Mici, 20 miles from Miklsvr, and now runs the village
mill with the help of her two adult sons, Domi and Laecsi. I can
still remember the stories I told to my boys when they were
small, she recalls. Many of them I learned from my mother,
who learned them from her mother, and so on. I wouldnt be
surprised if many of them are hundreds of years old! she
laughs, raising her voice to be heard above the creak and
clatter of the mills iron machinery.
She bustles into the kitchen, where a forest of pots and pans
dangles from the rafters, and a battered coffee pot bubbles
away on the stove. During Communism, we were not
encouraged to celebrate our culture, she explains. But telling
stories was one of the best ways we had of keeping our past
alive.
As she hands out mugs of treacly coffee and slabs of
homemade kolach, a type of sweet corn bread, she explains
that Banii Mici also happens to be the birthplace of
Transylvanias most famous storyteller: Benedek Elek, a
journalist and folklorist who devoted much of his life to setting
down the regions fairytales. His stories of cruel kings,
enchanted animals and paupers-turned-princes are still a staple
bedtime read for most Romanian and Hungarian children, and a
bronze statue of the author now stands in the villages main

square a sign of the fondness with which the author is

remembered, not just in Transylvania, but across much of
Eastern Europe.
Its not hard to see why Transylvanias landscape has sparked
the imagination of so many storytellers. Hemmed in by
mountains, pockmarked by valleys and swathed in old-growth
forests, its a land of strange and often supernatural beauty.
Beyond the towns and villages, much of the country still feels
fantastically wild. Lynx, deer and wild boars populate its
woodlands, and golden eagles can often be spotted wheeling
amongst the mountain peaks. In the more isolated corners,
brown bears and packs of wolves still roam free.
For me, this is such a special place, says Gabor Tomas, as he
treks through the snowy woods around Zalanpatak, another tiny
hamlet on the Klnoky estate, about 15 miles southeast of
Miklsvr. Hes been exploring Transylvanias backcountry
since he was a child and now works as a conservationist and
nature guide. There are very few places in Europe where you
feel so far from civilisation. If you want to, you can still really
taste the wild here.
As if to illustrate his point, a winged shadow swoops low across
the valley, fluttering to rest on a branch of a skeletal oak tree.
Look, he whispers. A Ural owl. People believed they were an
evil omen and signified death.
We watch the owl loop and hover above the land, as the sun
silhouettes spindly trees along the horizon and snowflakes
tumble from the winter sky. I wish people took the time to
discover this side of my country, Gabor says. Nature is our
greatest asset. But as soon as you mention Transylvania, it
means just one thing to people: Dracula. No matter what we do,
that wont change.
Its more than a century since Bram Stoker dreamt up his
vampiric count, but Dracula is still big business in Transylvania.
Hes everywhere: on T-shirts and keyrings, on leaflets and

billboards, on coffee jars and toothpaste tubes. Every town

claims a tenuous link with the count, or more accurately with his
real-life counterpart Vlad epe, known as Dracula, the
bloodthirsty warlord who ruled the kingdom of Wallachia
intermittently between 1448 and 1476, and who had a
predilection for impaling his enemies on stakes, allegedly
thousands at a time.
Few places sell their Dracula connections harder than Bran
Castle in the Carpathian foothills, about 20 miles south of the
well-preserved medieval town of Braov. This sturdy fortress
was originally built during the 13th century to guard the RucrBran Pass, a key strategic route into Wallachia. Its now better
known as the legendary location of Draculas castle.
It certainly looks the part: ringed by ramparts and riddled with
echoing halls and secret passageways, it seems the ideal place
for a thousand-year old strigoi to have made his mountain lair.
Unfortunately, as so often with the Dracula legend, theres no
evidence that Vlad ever visited Bran, let alone lived there; his
actual castle, now a ruin, was at Poienari, 150 miles north of
Braov.
When it comes to Dracula, untangling fact from fiction is the
biggest problem, says local history professor Dr Nicolae
Tecul, as he surveys the red-tiled rooftops of Sighioara, the
hilltop town thats now famous as Vlad Draculas birthplace. The
winter sun is casting long shadows as we walk through
Sighioaras alleyways, past merchants mansions, cobbled
courtyards and fortified gateways. Ravens strut and croak on
the medieval ramparts, and a faint peal of bells echoes from the
church.
Theres no doubt that Dracula was a brutal warrior, Tecul
continues. But many of the myths surrounding him are
propaganda disseminated by his enemies. In fact, hes
regarded by most as a hero. He protected Transylvania against
the threat of Ottoman invasion and ensured the survival of our
own indigenous culture.

He crunches on through the towns icy streets and sets about

debunking the Dracula myth with an academic eye. The name
Dracula actually derives from a chivalric order called the Order
of the Dragon, he explains. Vlad epe father was a member of
this order, and took the epithet Dracul the dragon. Dracula
simply means son of Dracul. Vlads reputation as an impaler
was exaggerated by his enemies, to portray him as a
bloodthirsty tyrant. The fact that Vlads body was found buried
with no head is no surprise: his killers would simply have
wanted proof of his death in order to collect a bounty.
But it doesnt matter what I say, he laughs, watching tourists
shopping for plastic crucifixes and vampire mugs at a souvenir
stall. I think that Count Draculas legend will outlast us all.
Perhaps he really is immortal!
He leads the way to Sighioaras clocktower, and we watch as
darkness slowly falls across the snow-covered hills, and clouds
of birds swirl home to roost over the towns jumbled rooftops.
Thats the thing about all the best stories, the doctor muses.
They have a way of taking on a life of their own.
The article 'Mystical tales from Transylvania' was published in
partnership with Lonely Planet Traveller.

Suddenly we stop in our tracks. Its a magnificent sight, a heart-in-mouth moment. Fifty metres
away from us, half hidden within the electric green beech and hornbeam forest, are a brown bear
and her two cubs. The youngsters quickly spot us and come careering down the slope to inspect
these strange bipeds. The mother is too busy foraging through leaves the colour of burnt tobacco
to notice us. The cubs come and go for a few minutes, gambolling up and down the hill. Then the
mother catches sight of us. She stands up on hind legs for a better look and the atmosphere
changes in a flash. Cuddly bear becomes massive predator about to attack. I grab a sturdy length
of wood and prepare for the worst. Weve heard tales of a villager who lost half his face in a bear
mauling; of horses maimed by swiping claws. Then, with a last stare at the forest intruders, the
mother turns around and the trio lollop off up the hill. The danger and a magical moment is
over.
"You were very lucky," says William Blacker when we see him a few days later. The author
of Along the Enchanted Way, a much-admired story of his many years in Romania, has never
seen a bear in the wild.
We are in Zalnpatak, in eastern Transylvania "a one-word poem", according to the doughty
travel writer Dervla Murphy in the heart of Europes last great wilderness. This is a rolling land
of ancient forests of oak, beech and hornbeam, wide meadows and mountain pastures filled with
wild flowers, villages where cows are the most numerous pedestrians and transport is a horse
and cart. Wolves, wild boar and deer roam freely in the woods, eagles and buzzards patrol the
skies, while storks maintain a languid village lookout from giant nests stacked on chimneys.
Caught up in numerous conquests and invasions, Transylvania has been successively ruled by
Romans, Magyars, Habsburgs, Ottomans and Wallachians. Once part of Hungary, but Romanian
since 1918, its mixed population of Romanians, Romany, Saxons and Hungarians Magyars and
Szkelys reflects this very particular, convoluted history.
And yes, for those who like Gothic horror novels, Transylvania is also the playground of Count
Dracula, but be warned. The local population with the exception of purveyors of Dracula tat
give the fictitious vampire short shrift. "We dont like all this stuff about Count Dracula," says
Joszef, driving us across scenes of simple, bucolic splendour one afternoon. "Its nonsense."
Of course it is. And who needs Dracula anyway, when there are real-life counts, castles and
crags, towers, turrets, bears and bats, not to mention mist-wreathed valleys and more folk
legends than you can shake a stick at. If you really must connect with your inner vampire, drop in
on Sighisoara, a medieval Saxon fortress town and Unesco World Heritage site, birthplace of
Vlad the Impaler, son of Vlad Dracul (Vlad the Dragon) whose name inspired Bram Stokers
blood-fanged creation.

Source: http://www.thenational.ae/

CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS

THE CARPATHIANS: MYSTERY AND LEGENDS

The Carpathian Mountains, surrounded by their mysterious atmosphere and fairy-tale aura,
shelter the largest free European wolf and bear populations as well as the highest number of
European virgin forests. They were inspiration for authors such as Jules Verne or Bram Stoker.

CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS | DEFINITION

The Carpathian mountain range system extends in Southern Europe, renowned for its virgin
forests (800.000 ac), flora and fauna, and sheltering the largest free-living European wolf
population on Romanias territory. The Dacian mythology was born in the heart of these
mountains, the etymology of the word Carpati coming from the Dacian term karpate, which
means rocky cliffs.
Their mysterious atmosphere and dream-like scenery, alongside Transylvanian legends and
traditions, mark the Carpathian Mountains as a cradle of European mysticism, promoted by public
personalities and generating tourism.

CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS BETWEEN LEGENDS AND REALITY

The Carpathian Mountains are a mountain range system located in Eastern Europe, crossing
eight countries, the Romanian Carpathians representing half of their entire extent. The

Carpathians were formed the same way as the Alps, but are more accessible due to their large
[1]
intermontane valleys and alpine peaks, which offer unique dream-like mountain scenery.
The etymology of the name Carpai has its origins in the Dacian word karpate, which means
rocky cliffs. After being taken over by the Romans, the Dacians (Romanians ancestors)
replaced the word karpate with mountains, the full name ultimately becoming Carpathian
[2] [3] [4]
Mountains.
The Carpathian Mountains form an arc around Central Transylvania and are crossed by two of
the most impressive Romanian mountain roads, both situated at heights over 6500 feet.
Translpina is the tallest Transylvanian road, with its highest point at 7037 feet, while Jeremy
[5] [6] [7]
Clarkson (Top Gear) stated that Transfagarasan is the best road in the world.
The Carpathian Mountains magical atmosphere inspired famous writers in creating adventure,
science-fiction and gothic-horror masterpieces. For example, inspired by Borgo Pass, Bram
Stoker chose the Carpathian Mountains for the location of the imaginary castle of the
vampireCount Dracula, and Jules Verne also found inspiration in these mountains when writing
[8] [9] [10]
his famous novel The Carpathian Castle.
The Carpathian Mountains with their mystic location and atmosphere were also the starting point
and the perfect setting for a large number of highly successful movies. A famous high budget
screening which filmed all of its mountain scenes in the Carpathians is Cold Mountain,
[11]
nominated for seven Oscars.
The Carpathian Mountains are a cradle of European mysticism, their virgin forests, lofty peaks
and specific weather conditions representing dreamlike settings, ideal especially for epic-fantasy
movies. In this regard, the panoramas offered by the Carpathians can easily be, at any given
time, magical scenes for top cinematic productions akin to Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit.
The mysticism is also represented by the association with the Cucuteni Culture, the oldest
confirmed European civilization, which inhabited North-Eastern Romania and forewent the
civilizations from Ancient Egypt and Ancient Summer.
The Dacians also lived in close connection to the Carpathians. Their fortifications were located on
the highest mountain tops and Sarmizegetusa Regia (Dacias capital city) with its Stonehenge like
mysterious structures is well-kept up to this day, located in the heart of the
[12]
virgin Transylvanianforests.
The Dacians followed todays Transalpina road, which was subsequently paved by the Roman
legions and mentioned for the first time in the 2nd century AD by the Greek scientist Ptolemy.
Transhumance, the seasonal movement of sheepherders with their sheep, was happening on this
road (a tradition maintained up to this day). Transhumance was one of the factors which led to
[13] [14] [15] [16]
the spreading of traditional influences in Transylvania.
Nowadays, the Romanian Carpathians offer shelter to Europes largest wolf population, an
impressive number of 2500 animals roaming in freedom Transylvanias forests. In time, numerous
mountains, peaks, valleys or forests took names related to the word wolf, symbolizing the
Dacians and later the Romanians connection to this majestic animal. After taking into account
the above statements, the fact that the werewolf myth spawned from Transylvania should surprise
nobody. The virgin forests of the Carpathians also provide shelter for over 6500 bears, the largest
[17] [18] [19] [20]
European bear population.

The Carpathian flora offers ferric scenery due to the amazing diversity of encountered plants. The
cliffs, the mountain-sides and the Carpathian peaks are lavished with unique flowers, such as
Garofia Pietrei Craiului, and also with medicinal plants which grow in their specific pollution-free
environment. Mountain remedies are used up to this day in the Transylvanian traditional village which remains virtually unchanged even in the present day.
The Carpathian legends mention polovraga, an ancient medicinal plant dating back to the
Dacians, which is said to heal any sickness. The search for polovraga is still ongoing, attracting
[21] [22] [23] [24]
visitors from all over the world.
The beauty and mysticism of the Charpatians, alongside their accessibility, is ideal for strong
touristic development, especially adventure, leisure, traditional culinary, spiritual and medical
tourism.
The natural beauty and the areas characteristics led to the involvement of several public
personalities in conservation campaigns for the virgin Carpathian forests. Charles Prince of
Wales repeatedly stated to be a fan of Transylvania, spending several days per year in the heart
[25] [26][27]
of this magical place, further proving (if needed) the importance of this unique area.

Note: The Transylvania World concepts are an essential part of the association brand and their
usage has to quote the source and reference this website.

Source: http://www.transylvaniaworld.com/concepts/carpathian-mountains-legends-reality.html

DACIAN MYTHOLOGY

DACIAN MYTHOLOGY, ROMANIAN FOLKLORES SOURCE OF

INSPIRATION
Rich and diverse, the Dacian mythology was unfairly overshadowed by the Greek or Roman
mythologies. It stands out particularly for its wolf cult, for its fantastic characters such as the
werewolf or the vampire and for the unabandoned elements which gave birth to the Romanian
folklore.

DACIAN MYTHOLOGY | DEFINITION

The Dacian mythology, predecessor of the Romanian mythology, is freestanding, complex and it
is made up of myths, legends, heroes, fantastic creatures, rituals, stories and traditions, being
closely related to the main European mythologies, the Greek and the Roman ones. The Dacian
mythology was formed on Transylvanias current territory, being firmly rooted in Cucuteni Culture
the oldest European civilization, dating from 5600 BC 3500 BC, preceding by a few hundred
[1] [2] [3] [4]
years the human settlements from Sumer and Ancient Egypt.
The Dacian mythology, mainly focused on the theme of immortality, encloses a small but well
defined number of gods, and stands out especially through its wolf cult subsequently expressed
through the mythic character "the werewolf". After the Dacians were conquered by the Roman
Empire and the Romanian population was formed, Romanian mythology generated by taking
different elements from the Thracian, Greek and Roman mythologies, but mainly from the Dacian
mythology, resulting in a series of wonderful tales, full of magic and mystery, but still unknown on
international level.
Alongside the werewolf and the vampire, the Romanian mythology unveils a series of unique talelike characters, most of which still unknown on global level. Among them we can count legendary
heroes, fairies, witches, elves, and a whole spectrum of other fantastic creatures. These

creatures are the source through which complex universal themes are approached, such as
existentialism, immortality, atemporality, natures primordiality, or the cosmic themes of relativity,
cyclicality and universal balance.

THE DACIAN MYTHOLOGY | CONCEPT

Being characterized by aniconism (including the interdiction of writing and religious
representations), the Dacian (ancestors of todays Romanians) religion and indirectly their
mythology, although rich and complex, did not enjoy the same exposure as the Greek and Roman
mythology with whom it was closely related. Myths and legends were transmitted orally through
storytelling and customs, but little written evidence remains.
As the Cucuteni Culture (one of the oldest European civilizations) once flourished on
Transylvanias current territory, and since it was assimilated by the civilizations which spawned
the Thracian and Dacian peoples, this shows with certainty that some elements of the Dacian
mythology were borrowed from this culture. This way we can regard the Dacian mythology with its
original elements as being at least as old and important as the Greek and Roman mythologies.
Ever since the pre-Dacian period, 4000 BC, we can find elements which refer to the wolf cult in
Cucuteni Culture, such as painted ceramic objects which represent warriors with wolf heads.
However, throughout the existence of the Dacian people (168 BC 106 AC), their unique focal
point was the cult of the wolf, which alongside some well-defined deities outlines a complex
mythology.
The Dacians venerated a small pantheon of gods, their supreme deity being Zamolxe (Zamolxis).
Sometimes Zamolxe was mistaken for Gebeleizis, the god of thunder, lightning and rain. Zamolxe
was considered a god of the dead and the living, representing the underworld and life after death.
Sometimes Zamolxe was perceived as a prophet, represented as handsome man, a priest in
charge of the forces of nature, who also had a distinct power over wild animals (this is the starting
point for the legend of the Great White Wolf). Besides Zamolxe the Dacians also venerated
Bendis, the goddess of the moon, forests and charms, love and maternity, Derzis (Derzelas) the
god of human spirits vitality and Kotys (Cottyo), the mother-goddess. The essence of the
Dacians religion is the souls immortality. According to their beliefs, the soul travels to Zamolxes
realm after physical death. The Dacians would organize rituals in the citadel-sanctuary
Sarmizegetusa Regia (not to be mistaken for Ulpia Traiana), the capital of Dacia. The sanctuary
is still preserved, it can be visited in Transylvania and it is also very similar to the mysterious
monument of Stonehenge, England, or to the famous Mayan solar calendar.
Most of the Dacian deities find continuity in legends spread all over Transylvanias current
territory. The most important is the legend of the Great White Wolf, where we can find the first
mentioning of mans metamorphosis into a wolf, in other words the werewolf concept. In this
[5]
legend, Zamolxe turned a priest into a white wolf in order to protect Dacia from invaders. The
wolf was a focal point for Dacian rituals but also in times of war, when the warriors excelled on the
battlefield, attacking and behaving as wolfs. Even the Dacian battle flag, named `Draco`, had the
shape of a wolfs head. When air would enter its opened mouth, it would generate a strong
hissing sound, resembling the howl of a wolf.
Plenty of customs and habits related to the cult of the wolf have remained intact to this day in
Romania, on Transylvanias territory. This animal left plenty of marks upon Romanian culture,
materialized in mountains, cities, mountain passes, valleys, caves, forests, hills and people which
bear the name of this magic and imposing animal. Popular art also used the wolf motif in
ceramics and sculpture, including in decorative ecclesiastic sculpture.

The Dacian mythology further generated a series of distinct tales and fantastic characters in
Romanian mythology, most of them unique on international level. In Romanian tales we can find
legendary heroes, fairies, witches, pucks and plenty other fantastic creatures. These creatures
represent the source through which complex universal themes are approached, such as
existentialism, immortality, atemporality, natures primordiality, or the cosmic themes of relativity,
[6] [7] [8] [9]
cyclicality and universal balance.
`Immortality and eternal youth` is just one example of a
Romanian tale, whose origins are lost in the mists of time, with its name alone proof for the
philosophical themes approached in its pages.
Although the following comparison is a stretch, its purpose is to describe the potential of tale-like
characters with origins in the Dacian mythology and to offer this image to the reader who is not
familiar with Romanian folklore. As an exercise of imagination we can identify, starting from the
premise that Fat-Frumos is the stereotypical positive hero, we can make numerous analogies
with famous characters from successful series. Ft-Frumos has all the characteristics of a knighthero (being the equivalent of Prince Charming), being brave, pure-hearted, honest and
[10] [11] [12]
powerful, being led by his love for justice and Ileana Cosnzeana.
We can compare Ft-Frumos to Boromir from the highly successful series Lord of the Rings. Both
share the same characteristics, such as loyalty for the kingdom, friends and duty, and they have
the same physical characteristics (tall, handsome and powerful). Although Ft-Frumos rarely dies
and Boromirs death is an extremely important moment in the LOTR trilogy, we have to mention
the fact that even after death Boromir is seen as a hero who sacrificed himself in order to help
[13]
others.
At the same time, the popular character Jon Snow from Game of Thrones can be seen as the
series Ft-Frumos. In a world full of questionable moral standards, Jon Snow, just like FtFrumos, stands out for his righteous spirit, his noble standards and his courage, never changing
his honest morals even though they bring nothing but danger in the GOT world.
Ileana Cosnzeana represents another stereotype, being the feminine equivalent of Ft-Frumos
and having a series of noble qualities such as bravery, an independent spirit, modesty and
[14]
righteousness. Ileana symbolizes the concept of ideal feminine beauty, youthfulness and pure
heart but she also has magical healing powers.
An equivalent for Ileana could very well be Galadriel from Lord of the Rings (even though in
LOTR her lineage is from the elven tribes) who shares the same characteristics, such as physical
[15]
beauty, long golden hair, kindness, righteousness and a general good-hearted nature.
Ileanas equivalent from Game of Thrones is surely Sansa Stark. Sansa is a young, feminine and
beautiful lady, passionate about music and poetry, living her life trying to find a prince to fall in
[16]
love with, while the malefic `Zmeu` is similar to the dark lord Sauron from `Lord of the Rings`.
Of course these are just some exercises of the imagination, but the Romanian tales have
sufficient characters people can identify with other characters from successful series, such as
`The Hobbit`, `Lord of the Rings` or `Harry Potter`. Hobbits, elves, gnomes, orcs, wizards, fairies,
heroes with powers over nature, animated objects, and magical animals all of these are fairly
akin to characters from Romanian tales. There are plenty of characters and tales with huge
potential, full of mysticism, magic and a philosophical background, still unknown on international
level. Transylvania World intends to promote them and include them in the Transylvania brand.
Note: The Transylvania World concepts are an essential part of the association brand and their
usage has to quote the source and reference this website.

Source http://www.transylvaniaworld.com/concepts/dacian-mythology-romanian.html

In Romania we have a saying that the Forest is brother

with its folk. This saying stands for a timeless, ancient
connection of the people and their Forests.
Romanias forests provided its inhabitants shelter, food
source, raw material sources for households and served as
Temples for their connection with the Divinity. Whether we
enquire the Dacian culture or gaze upon modern history, we
discover the Forest as an element of honor and great
importance in the lives of the romanians.
Romanias forests hold paths to mystical realms, powerful
spaces that inspire, awaken us, award us a sense of growth and
a feeling of belonging.
Through this project we are privileged to shed a light on
the beauty, mysteries, inspiration and meaning of the
Romanian forests, the unique place you purchased a piece of all
the above elements, combined.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations on the purchase of your product. You may

find piece to piece variations in the grain, texture and tone of
this handcrafted material.
The woods natural characteristics such as knots,
grain pattern, cracks & slight color variations enhance its
authentic, unique appearance.
Under certain climate or usage challenges,
the material might naturally expand or contract developing
narrow surface splits , but these slight developments are
characteristic and will not compromise the structural integrity
or appearance of your piece.
This product
ist to be carefully coated with high quality lacquer. It will not
have effect if coffee, tea, water or wine is prior spilled upon.
Please keep the product away from harsh chemicals, do
not scratch its surface with sharp tools like knifes, forks, etc.
Our product cleaning recommendation is to
use a damp cloth. A . can be used for yearly
maintenance of this product.

Ancient Romania, once known as Dacia.

In large part, our true legacy has been lost in the fog of
time, shrouded in mystery, leaving us mostly clues to unravel
our heritage.
Dacians were known as fierce warriors, led by king
Decebal, who ruled between 87-106AD. Over time, Rome came
to both fear and respect him. He tested roman patience to its
limits by raising an army of 40-50.000strong.He used it to
defeat attacking roman legions in 87AD, kiling a general and
capturing his legion standard ( a very bitter thing for an army).
This early victory established Dacia as an increasingly
dangerous enemy of the roman empire the dacians would not
be subjugated to roman rule up until 106 AD.
Seen from the air, the Carpathian Mountains and their
forests are a daunting natural barrier against invadors.
Amidst the forests lies Sarmisegetusa, the remote
mountain sanctuary, the center of power at the very heart of
the Dacian tribal kingdom. To this day,the ruins still exude a
special mistery.
Within its walls, it held Dacias enormous hoard of gold and
silver. High walls and guard towers protected the spiritual
sanctuary, its treasure and the kings residence. Surrounding

valleys were protected by a strategically positioned hill-top

fortresses.

Blidaru was one of the fortresses protecting the sanctuary

capital.Impressively sided, entering its deep valleys, shrouded
in mist, one can understand the challenge facing Trajans
legions as they marched deeper into uncharted Forest .
It is believed that this folk did not have an army, was
rather a warrior force which gathered at kings or clan chieftains
call whenever necessary; after battle returning to their farms,
pastures and their minds.

The bridge of Apolodor

To support the movements of his troops, Trajans architect

and engineer- Apolodorus of Damascus designed and
constructed an enormous bridge across the wide river of
Danube.
Almost 1 mile long, the wood cross bridge resting on 21
stone pieers remained unsurpassed in length for 1000 years in
Europe.

In 106 AD, emperor Trajan had decimated Dacia, its riches

now his.Some 250 tonnes of gold, 500tonnes of silver,
enormous amounts of salt and a vast landscape to be colonised.
Dacias spoils replenished Romes depleted treasury.

Clues of the hardyness of those people is still to be found

today in the homes and rythms of the romanian villagers, a
lifestyle gone unaltered by the ages.They can be seen
subsisting in the forested valleys,with a few cows,sheep or pigs
that they might own, vegetable patches and a place to gather
seasonal hay