Cumidava (castra)

Castra Cumidava was a fort in the Roman province of Dacia. It is located at 4 km northwest of the city Râşnov, 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 hectares.

Cumidava
Ruins of the Northeastern gate (2013)
Location within Romania
Alternative name(s)Comidava, Komidava [1]
Known also asCastra of Râșnov
Founded2nd century AD
Place in the Roman world
ProvinceDacia
Administrative unitDacia Apulensis
Administrative unitDacia Superior
LimesTransalutanus
Nearby water(Bârsa)
Directly connected to(Drumul Carului)(Brașov-Șprenghi)
Structure
— Stone structure —
Size and area124 m × 118 m (1.46 [2] ha)
Construction techniqueOpus incertum [2]
— Wood and earth structure —
Size and area114 m × 110 m (1.2 [2] ha)
Stationed military units
Cohorts
VI Nova Cumidavensium Alexandrina [3]
Location
Coordinates45.618707°N 25.441580°E / 45.618707; 25.441580
Altitude608 m (1,995 ft)
Place name
TownRâșnov
CountyBrașov
Country Romania
Reference
RO-LMIBV-I-s-A-11283
RO-RAN40376.01
Site notes
Recognition National Historical Monument
Discovery year1856 [2]
ConditionRuined
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 plan of castra.

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

  • List of castra

Notes

  1. L'Année épigraphique: revue des publications épigraphiques relatives a l'antiquité romaine, Académie des inscriptions & belles-lettres (France) Presses Universitaires de France., 1968,
  2. Raport ştiinţific privind derularea proiectului Strategii defensive şi politici transfrontaliere. Integrarea spaţiului Dunării de Jos în civilizaţia romană (STRATEG)
  3. Istoria României, Transilvania, Volumul I, Capitolul II - Etnogeneza românilor, de Dr. Ioan Glodariu Archived 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Morgan 2009, p. 223.
  5. Treptow & Bolovan 1996, p. 35.
  6. Dumitru Protase, Istoria Romanilor: Daco-Romani, Romanici, Algeni, Academia Romana, Sectia de Stiinte Istorice si Arheologie, Editura Enciclopedica, 2001,
  7. Pintilie, Alin-Sebastian. "Castrul roman Cumidava". Retrieved 2013-05-06.
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