Statuia lui Decebal Deva

The statue of Decebalus in Deva depicts the last king of the Dacians, the one who led the struggle against the Roman Empire under Emperor Trajan at the start of the second century. Set in the town, it belongs to a series of monuments raised in Transylvania to mark the Dacian origin of the Romanian people and to keep alive the memory of ancient resistance. Decebalus is shown in a dignified pose, with royal insignia, evoking the figure of the ruler who chose death over captivity after the fall of the capital Sarmizegetusa. Hunedoara County, where Deva lies, is the very heart of the old Dacian kingdom, with many mountain fortresses, which gives the monument special meaning for the area.

Above the town watch the ruins of the medieval fortress, reachable by cable car. Visitors can link the statue to a tour of the Dacian sites nearby. A short stop is enough to grasp its symbolism.