During my month in Romania, I visited the ancient Dacian capital Sarmizegetusa Regia which now consists solely of the ancient stone foundations that demarcate ancient buildings. My goal was to take images where viewers can feel as if they are walking among the ruins. I experimented with some monochrome images to differentiate the colors in the series from the consistent greens and browns of the location. The mystical connection of the site appears through the shape and form of the foundations, geometrically and aesthetically reminiscent of Stonehenge and other sites with holy meaning.
Sarmizegetusa Regia stands on the top of a mountain and is where the last Dacian King, Decebalus, made his final stand resisting the Roman Empire’s control. This site is one of beauty and tranquility, where the stone itself provides contrast and texture among the sea of grass and open space. There are many theories about these ruins, however, the most plausible and accepted theory is that most of these ruins were temples to Dacian Gods. Today, anyone can visit this site to walk among the ruins as well as drink from the natural spring water, which is said to have healing properties.
