Translated by Matt Canty, Francine Gardner, and haiducul
 Dacian's were divided into two classes: the aristocracy (tarabostes) and the common people (comati).
The aristocracy alone had the right to cover their heads and wore a felt hat (hence pileati, their Latin name). They formed a privileged class, and it is supposed they were the predecessors of the Romanian boyars.
The second class, who comprised the rank and file of the army, the peasants and artisans, might have been called capillati (in Latin). Their appearance and clothing can be seen on Trajan's Column.
Dacian's had developed the Murus Dacicus, characteristic of their complexes of fortified cities, like their capital Sarmisegetusa in today's Hunedoara (Romania). The degree of Dacian urban development can be seen on Trajan's Column and in the account of how Sarmisegetusa was defeated by the Romans. The Romans identified and destroyed the water pipelines of the Dacian capital, only then being able to end the long siege of Sarmisegetusa.
Greek and Roman chroniclers record the defeat and capture of Lysimachus in the 3rd century BC by the Getae (Dacians) ruled by Dromihete, their military strategy, and the release of Lysimachus following a debate in the assembly of the Getae.
The cities of the Dacians were known as Dava, Daua, Deva, Deba or Daba.
1. In Dacia: Acidava, Argedava, Burridava, Dokidava, Carsidava, Clepidava, Cumidava, Marcodava, Netindava, Patridava, Pelendava, Piroburidava, Petrodava,Rhamidava, Rusidava, Sacidava, Singidava, Setidava,Tamasidava, Utidava, Zargidava, Ziridava, Sucidava – 26 names altogether.
2. In Lower Moesia (the present Northern Bulgaria) and Scythia minor (Dobrudja): Aedeba, Buteridava, Giridava, Dausdava, Capidava, Murideba, Sacidava, Scaidava (Skedeba), Sagadava, Sukidaua (Sucidava) – 10 names in total.
3. In Upper Moesia (the districts of Nish, Sofia, and partly Kjustendil): Aiadaba, Bregedaba, Danedebai, Desudaba, Itadeba, Kuimedaba, Zisnudeba – 7 names in total.
Gil-doba, a village in Thracia, of unknown location.
Thermi-daua, a town in Dalmatia. A Grecized form of Germidava perhaps.
Pulpu-deva, (Phillipopolis) today Plovdiv in Bulgaria. |
Asoc. Cult. Enciclopedia Dacica
