ARCHEO TOUR - TRAJANS COLUMN
IV and V DACIAN CAMPAIGNS
We are now in spring of 105AD and the Second Dacian War begins. Trajan is welcomed by the inhabitants of a city.
The legionaries construct new fortifications.
The Dacians attack a Roman fort,
but are defeated.
Trajan celebrates a sacrifice. In the background we can see the Drobeta Bridge, built by Apollodorus of Damascus in less than 2 years. It was 1,150m long and bridged the Danube by means of 24 stone pylons.
The Roman army marches on
and reaches a fortress.
The legionaries leave the fortress to harvest grain.
Near to the Dacian capital, Sarmizegetusa, a huge battle begins.
With ferocious hand-to-hand fighting
the Romans overwhelm the defenders.
Sarmizegetusa is under siege. The Romans scale the walls with ladders.
A Dacian chief gives homage to Trajan.
The Dacians put a district of Sarmizegetusa to the torch, in order to slow the Roman advance.
Death and despair in a besieged city.
The last water is distributed,
as people die.
The Dacians attempt a last desperate counter-offensive
but pushed back by the legions they flee, as Decebalus looks on.
The Romans find the treasury of Decebalus and load the gold onto mules.
The loyal Dacians commit suicide.
Dacian leaders surrender to Trajan.
The Roman cavalry chases Decebalus.
Decebalus flees,
followed by his last loyal followers.
The cavalry catch up
and Decebalus is surrounded.
He commits suicide so as not to fall into Roman hands.
The Romans extinguish the last fires of Dacian resistance
and burn the last fortified towns.
Dacia is conquered and becomes a Roman province.
THE END
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