Statue of Trajan and the She-wolf

The Statue of Trajan and the She-wolf is a bronze sculpture standing on the steps of the National Museum of Romanian History, rising approximately 2.15 meters (7 feet) tall. The emperor holds a wolf that appears suspended above his hands, creating a striking image of power and connection between two civilizations.

The sculpture was created by artist Vasile Gorduz and unveiled in 2011, commemorating Emperor Trajan who conquered the region of Dacia between 98 and 117 CE. This conquest marked the start of Roman rule in what is now modern Romania.

The statue blends Roman and Romanian identities by showing the emperor alongside a wolf that recalls the ancient Capitoline symbol of Rome.

The monument sits on the museum steps along Calea Victoriei, one of the city's main streets and easily reached on foot. You can view the sculpture freely from outside and use the expansive steps as a vantage point for observing the street and surrounding area.

The sculpture became significant enough that identical copies were placed in Seville and Rome, spreading its symbolic message across the Mediterranean. The original suffered damage to the wolf's tail in 2017, an incident that highlighted how exposure affects public monuments.