The Dacian Wars 101–06 CE
When the Roman emperor, Domitian, launched a punitive expedition against the Dacians, he suffered humiliating defeat at Sarmizegethusa in 88 CE. The Dacian general that day, Decebalus, became their king, and secured an annual retainer from the Romans to keep the peace. When Trajan became emperor in 98 CE, he decided the Dacian threat had to be eliminated and, in 101 CE, invaded. On this occasion Trajan defeated the Dacians, again near Sarmizegethusa, and Decebalus sued for peace. Trajan consented and, in return, Decebalus was required to use monies donated to him to maintain a bridge Trajan had built over the Danube, which would provide his legions access to Dacia. Instead Decebalus used the Roman largesse to build fortresses, and continue to raid their territory. In 105 CE, Trajan invaded again, systematically destroying fortresses and then razing the capital, Sarmizegethusa. Decebalus committed suicide, and to this day is considered a hero in Romania.
When the Roman emperor, Domitian, launched a punitive expedition against the Dacians, he suffered humiliating defeat at Sarmizegethusa in 88 CE. The Dacian general that day, Decebalus, became their king, and secured an annual retainer from the Romans to keep the peace. When Trajan became emperor in 98 CE, he decided the Dacian threat had to be eliminated and, in 101 CE, invaded. On this occasion Trajan defeated the Dacians, again near Sarmizegethusa, and Decebalus sued for peace. Trajan consented and, in return, Decebalus was required to use monies donated to him to maintain a bridge Trajan had built over the Danube, which would provide his legions access to Dacia. Instead Decebalus used the Roman largesse to build fortresses, and continue to raid their territory. In 105 CE, Trajan invaded again, systematically destroying fortresses and then razing the capital, Sarmizegethusa. Decebalus committed suicide, and to this day is considered a hero in Romania.
Landmannalaugar in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, the Highlands, Iceland
Meteora: Greece's monasteries
Access to the monasteries was originally (and deliberately) difficult, requiring either long ladders latched together or large nets used to haul up both goods and people. This required quite a leap of faith – the ropes were replaced, so the story goes, only "when the Lord let them break".[11] In the words of UNESCO, "The net in which intrepid pilgrims were hoisted up vertically alongside the 373 metres (1,224 ft) cliff where the Varlaam monastery dominates the valley symbolizes the fragility of a traditional way of life that is threatened with extinction.
In the 1920s there was an improvement in the arrangements. Steps were cut into the rock, making the complex accessible via a bridge from the nearby plateau.
Access to the monasteries was originally (and deliberately) difficult, requiring either long ladders latched together or large nets used to haul up both goods and people. This required quite a leap of faith – the ropes were replaced, so the story goes, only "when the Lord let them break".[11] In the words of UNESCO, "The net in which intrepid pilgrims were hoisted up vertically alongside the 373 metres (1,224 ft) cliff where the Varlaam monastery dominates the valley symbolizes the fragility of a traditional way of life that is threatened with extinction.
In the 1920s there was an improvement in the arrangements. Steps were cut into the rock, making the complex accessible via a bridge from the nearby plateau.