Optatiana was a
fort
A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...
in the Roman province of Dacia. The ruins are located on the left bank of
Almaș
Almaș () is a commune in Arad County, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia t ...
river, in the village of
Sutoru.
It was located on the former road between
Napoca and
Largiana/
Porolissum
Porolissum was an ancient Roman city in Dacia. Established as a military fort in 106 during Trajan's Dacian Wars, the city quickly grew through trade with the natives and became the capital of the province Dacia Porolissensis in 124. It is one of ...
and like the other forts of
Limes Porolissensis
Located in present-day Romania, ''Limes Porolissensis'' was the frontier of the Roman Empire in Dacia Porolissensis, the northernmost of the three Roman Dacia, Dacian provinces. It was a defensive line dating from the 2nd century AD after the Co ...
it was constructed in two phases: an initial wood and earth structure, and a second one from stone.
During the second phase it reached a size of 165x 200m. It is possible that numerus Mauretorum was stationed at the location.
See also
*
List of castra
Castra (Latin, singular castrum) were military forts of various sizes used by the Roman army throughout the Empire in Europe, Asia and Africa.
The largest castra were permanent legionary fortresses.
Locations
The disposition of the castra refl ...
External links
Roman castra from Romania - Google MapsEarth
Notes
Roman auxiliary forts in Romania
Ancient history of Transylvania
Historic monuments in Sălaj County
Limes Porolissensis
{{Dacia-stub