Dava (Dacian)
Encyclopedia
Dava is a Geto-Dacian name for a city, town or fortress. Generally, the name indicated a tribal center or an important settlement, usually fortified. Some of the Dacian settlements and the fortresses employed the Murus Dacicus
traditional construction technique.
Many city names of the Dacians were composed of an initial lexical element (often the tribe name) affixed to -dava, -daua, -deva, -deba, -daba or -dova (<PIE
*dhe-, "to set, place")..
Most of these towns are attested by Ptolemy, therefore date from the 1st century CE.
Therefore dava 'town' derived from the reconstructed proto-Indo-European *dhewa 'settlement' .
Murus dacicus
Murus Dacicus is a construction method for defensive walls and fortifications developed in ancient Dacia sometime before the Roman conquest...
traditional construction technique.
Many city names of the Dacians were composed of an initial lexical element (often the tribe name) affixed to -dava, -daua, -deva, -deba, -daba or -dova (<PIE
Pie
A pie is a baked dish which is usually made of a pastry dough casing that covers or completely contains a filling of various sweet or savoury ingredients....
*dhe-, "to set, place")..
Most of these towns are attested by Ptolemy, therefore date from the 1st century CE.
Therefore dava 'town' derived from the reconstructed proto-Indo-European *dhewa 'settlement' .
List of davae
Below is a list of Dacian towns which include various forms of dava in their name:- AcidavaAcidavaAcidava was a Dacian and later Roman fortress on the Olt river near the lower Danube. The settlements remains are located in today's Enoşeşti, Olt County, Romania....
(Acidaua), a fortress town close to the DanubeDanubeThe Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
. Located in today's Enoşeşti, Olt County, Romania - AedavaAedavaAedava was a Dacian settlement located south of the Danube in Moesia . In his De Aedificiis, the 6th century AD historian Procopius placed Aedava on the Danubian road between Augustae and Variana. He also mentioned that Emperor Justinian Aedava (also known as Aedeva, Aedabe, Aedeba, Aedadeba) was...
(Aedeva, Aedabe, Aedeba or Aedadeba), placed by ProcopiusProcopiusProcopius of Caesarea was a prominent Byzantine scholar from Palestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the Emperor Justinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars of Justinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret History...
on the Danubian road between Augustae and Variana, in MoesiaMoesiaMoesia was an ancient region and later Roman province situated in the Balkans, along the south bank of the Danube River. It included territories of modern-day Southern Serbia , Northern Republic of Macedonia, Northern Bulgaria, Romanian Dobrudja, Southern Moldova, and Budjak .-History:In ancient...
(the present Northern BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
) - AiadavaAiadavaAiadava was a Dacian town in the Remesiana region, present day Bela Palanka, Serbia.After the Romans conquered Moesia in the 75 BC, the new castrum and municipium was known initially as Ulpianorum and then Remesiana and laid on the Via Militaris road, between Naissus and Serdica.Emperor...
(Aiadaba or Aeadaba), was a locality in the RemesianaRemesianaRemesiana was an ancient Roman city built after the Roman conquest of Moesia, in the area of the Dacian town Aiadava. It is located all around and under modern day city of Bela Palanka, Serbia....
region, present Bela PalankaBela PalankaBela Palanka is a town and municipality located in the Pirot District of south-east Serbia. According to 2011 census, the population of the town is 8,112, while population of the municipality is 12,051. In ancient times, the town was known as Remesiana...
, SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. - ArgedavaArgedavaArgedava was an important Dacian town mentioned in the Decree of Dionysopolis , and potentially located at Popeşti, a district in the town of Mihăileşti, Giurgiu County, Romania.- Decree of Dionysopolis :This decree was written by the citizens of Dionysopolis to Akornion, who traveled far away in a...
(Argedauon, Sargedava, Sargedauon, Zargedava, Zargedauon), mentioned in the Decree of DionysopolisDecree of DionysopolisThe Decree of Dionysopolis was written around 48 BC by the citizens of Dionysopolis to Akornion, who traveled far away in a diplomatic mission to meet somebody's farther in Argedauon...
, potentially the dava discovered at Popeşti, a district in the town of MihăileştiMihailestiMihăileşti is a town located in Giurgiu County, Romania. It administers three villages: Drăgănescu, Novaci and Popeşti.Popeşti village is the location of an important archeological discovery: a large Dacian settlement believed by some historians such as Vasile Pârvan and professor Radu Vulpe to be...
, Giurgiu CountyGiurgiu CountyGiurgiu is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Giurgiu.- Demographics :In 2002, it had a population of 297,859 and the population density was 84/km².* Romanians – over 96%* Roma – 3.5%, and others.- Geography :...
, RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and maybe BurebistaBurebistaBurebista was a king of the Getae and Dacians, who unified for the first time their tribes and ruled them between 82 BC and 44 BC. He led plunder and conquest raids across Central and Southeastern Europe, subjugating most of the neighbouring tribes...
's court/capital - ArgidavaArgidavaArgidava is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-References:*...
(Argidaua, Arcidava, Arcidaua, Argedava, Argedauon, Sargedava, Sargedauon, Zargedava, Zargedauon), potentially BurebistaBurebistaBurebista was a king of the Getae and Dacians, who unified for the first time their tribes and ruled them between 82 BC and 44 BC. He led plunder and conquest raids across Central and Southeastern Europe, subjugating most of the neighbouring tribes...
's court/capital, located in today's VărădiaVaradiaVărădia is a commune in Caraş-Severin County, in the west of Romania. It is composed of two villages, Mercina and Vărădia.It is located near the border with Serbia, on the Caraş River....
, Caraş-Severin CountyCaras-Severin CountyCaraș-Severin is a county of Romania, in the historical region of Banat and few villages in Transylvania, with the county seat at Reșița.-Demographics:The county is part of the Danube-Kris-Mureș-Tisza euroregion....
, RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... - Bregedaba
- BuricodavaBuricodava- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
- BuridavaBuridavaBuridava was a Dacian town. situated in Dacia, later Dacia Apulensis, now Romania, on the banks of the river Aluta now Olt- Tabula Peutingeriana :- Etimology :The name is Geto-Thracian- Dacian town :...
or Burridava, today's Ocnele MariOcnele MariOcnele Mari is a town located in Vâlcea County, Romania. The town administers eight villages: Buda, Cosota, Făcăi, Gura Suhaşului, Lunca, Ocniţa, Slătioarele and Ţeica.-References:...
, Romania - ButeridavaButeridava- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
- CapidavaCapidavaCapidava is a South American spider genus of the Salticidae family .-Species:* Capidava annulipes Caporiacco, 1947 — Guyana* Capidava auriculata Simon, 1902 — Brazil* Capidava biuncata Simon, 1902 — Brazil...
or Kapidaua, a fortress town on the southern side of the lower DanubeDanubeThe Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway.... - CarsidavaCarsidava- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
or Karsidaua - CumidavaCumidavaCumidava was originally a Dacian settlement, and later a Roman military camp on the site of the modern city of Râşnov in Romania.-Etymology:...
, Comidava or Komidaua, ancient RâşnovRâsnovRâşnov is a town in Braşov County, Romania with a population of under 16,000.It is located at about 15 km from the city of Braşov and about the same distance from Bran, on the road that links Wallachia and Transylvania....
, Romania - DausdavaDausdavaDausdava was a Dacian town in Moesia between the Danube and the Balkan Mountains, in the region between Nicopolis and Abritus .- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia...
, Dausadava or Dausdavua, "The shrine of wolves", a fortress town close to the DanubeDanubeThe Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway.... - DesudabaDesudabaDesudaba was a Thracian town. Tribal district Maedica - See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
- DocidavaDocidavaDocidava was a Dacian town in north-western Roman Dacia.- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
or Dokidaua - Gildova or Gildoba, located alongside the VistulaVistulaThe Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
river - GiridavaGiridavaGiridava was a Dacian town, situated in Moesia, modern northern Bulgaria.- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
- Itadeba or ItadavaItadavaItadava was a Dacian town, in the territory of the fortress with unknown name near Burgaraca.- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
, in north eastern Republic of MacedoniaRepublic of MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991... - Jidava, near Câmpulung MuscelCâmpulungCâmpulung , or Câmpulung Muscel, is a city in the Argeş County, Wallachia, Romania. It is situated among the outlying hills of the Transylvanian Alps, at the head of a long well-wooded glen traversed by the Râul Târgului, a tributary of the Argeş.Its pure air and fine scenery render Câmpulung a...
, Romania - Jidova
- Klepidaua
- Kuimedaba
- MarcodavaMarcodavaMarcodava is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-References:*...
or Markodaua - Murideba
- Nentinava or Netindaua, ancient SloboziaSloboziaSlobozia is the capital city of Ialomiţa County, Romania, with a population of 52,710 in 2002.-Geography:Slobozia lies roughly in the middle of the county, on the banks of Ialomita River, at ca. east of Bucharest and west of Constanţa, important port at the Black Sea...
, Romania - Nentivava, ancient OlteniţaOltenitaOlteniţa is a city in Romania in the Călăraşi County on the left bank of the Argeş River where its waters reach the Danube through a network of streams and marshes.Oltenita stands just across the Danube from the Bulgarian city of Tutrakan.-History:...
, Romania - PatridavaPatridavaPatridava is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-References:*...
or Patridaua - PelendavaPelendavaPelendava was a Dacian town, today's Craiova, Romania.- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :...
or Pelendova, ancient CraiovaCraiovaCraiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief...
, Romania - PerburidavaPerburidava- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
- PetrodavaPetrodavaPetrodava is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-References:*...
or Petrodaua located in Piatra NeamţPiatra NeamtPiatra Neamț , , ; is the capital city of Neamţ County, in the historical region of Moldavia, eastern Romania. Because of its privileged location in the Eastern Carpathian mountains, it is considered one of the most picturesque cities in Romania... - PiroboridavaPiroboridavaPiroboridava was a Dacian town mentioned by Ptolemy, and archaeologically identified at Poiana, Galați, Romania.- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
or Piroboridaua - Pulpudeva, originally named Eumolpias by the Dacians. Philip II of MacedonPhilip II of MacedonPhilip II of Macedon "friend" + ἵππος "horse" — transliterated ; 382 – 336 BC), was a king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.-Biography:...
conquered the area in 342-341 BC and renamed the city Philippoupolis , of which the later Dacian name for the city, Pulpu-deva, is a reconstructed translation. Today's city of PlovdivPlovdivPlovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
in Bulgaria. - QuemedavaQuemedava- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Illyria* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- Further reading :Quemedava was an ancient Dacian city in Dardania mentioned by Procopius.- See also :* Dacian davae...
, mentioned by Procopius in Dardania - RamidavaRamidava- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
or Rhamidaua - RecidavaRecidava- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
- RusidavaRusidavaRusidava was a Dacian town mentioned in Tabula Peutingeriana between Acidava and Pons Aluti, today's Drăgășani, Vâlcea County, Romania.- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
or RusidavaRusidavaRusidava was a Dacian town mentioned in Tabula Peutingeriana between Acidava and Pons Aluti, today's Drăgășani, Vâlcea County, Romania.- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**... - SacidavaSacidavaSacidava was a Dacian town between Cedonia and Apulon.- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
or Sacidaba - Sagadava
- SandavaSandavaSandava is a genus of moths of the Noctuidae family.-Species:* Sandava scitisignata Walker, 1862* Sandava xylistis Swinhoe, 1900-References:**...
- Sangidaua
- ScaidavaScaidavaScaidava was a Dacian town between Iatrus and Trimammium .- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
or Skedeba - SetidavaSetidavaSetidava, mentioned by Ptolemy in his Geography, was an outpost of Dacian nationality in northern regions. This town, with the typical Dacian name on -dava, was placed in Ptolemy's Germania, beyond Kalisia, e.g. north of the present Kalisz in Poland...
or Setidaua, mentioned by Ptolemy as a thriving settlement - SingidavaSingidavaSingidava is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-References:*...
or Singidaua - SucidavaSucidavaSucidava is a Dacian and Daco-Roman historical site, situated in Corabia, Romania on the north bank of the Danube...
, Suvidava or Sukidaua located in CorabiaCorabiaCorabia is a small Danube port located in Olt County, Romania, which used to be part of the now-dissolved Romanaţi County before World War II...
, Olt County, Romania - Susudava, mentioned by Ptolemy as a thriving settlement
- Sykidaba
- TamasidavaTamasidavaTamasidava was a Dacian town mentioned by Ptolemy.- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
or Tamasidaua - Thermidaua or Germidava, a town in Dalmatia, probably found by immigrants from Dacia and mentioned by Ptolemy, near Scodra
- UtidavaUtidavaUtidava is a genus of moths in the family Lymantriidae.-References:*...
or Utidaua - ZargidavaZargidavaZargidava was a Dacian town mentioned by Ptolemy.- See also :* Dacian davae* List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia* Dacia* Roman Dacia- External links :**...
or Zargidaua - ZiridavaZiridavaZiridava is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.Species include:*Ziridava asterota Prout 1958*Ziridava baliensis Prout 1958*Ziridava brevicellula Prout 1916*Ziridava cedreleti Prout 1958*Ziridava dysorga Prout 1928...
or Ziridaua - Zisnedeva, Zisnudeva or Zisnudeba, located in Dacian MoesiaMoesiaMoesia was an ancient region and later Roman province situated in the Balkans, along the south bank of the Danube River. It included territories of modern-day Southern Serbia , Northern Republic of Macedonia, Northern Bulgaria, Romanian Dobrudja, Southern Moldova, and Budjak .-History:In ancient...
- Zucidaua
- Zisnudeba
- ZusidavaZusidavaZusidava is a genus of moths belonging to the subfamily Drepaninae....
See also
- List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia
- Dacian languageDacian languageThe extinct Dacian language may have developed from proto-Indo-European in the Carpathian region around 2,500 BC and probably died out by AD 600. In the 1st century AD, it was the predominant language of the ancient regions of Dacia and Moesia and, possibly, of some surrounding regions.It belonged...
- DaciaDaciaIn ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range...
- PolisPolisPolis , plural poleis , literally means city in Greek. It could also mean citizenship and body of citizens. In modern historiography "polis" is normally used to indicate the ancient Greek city-states, like Classical Athens and its contemporaries, so polis is often translated as "city-state."The...
External links
- Dacian Davae in Enciclopedia Dacica (Romanian)
- Dacian materials and construction techniques in Enciclopedia Dacica (Romanian)
- Sorin Olteanu's Project: Linguae Thraco-Daco-Moesorum - Toponyms Section (Romanian, partially English)
- Lists of Dacian fortresses, towns and citadels