Statue of Decebalus, Rock relief at Iron Gates, Romania.
The Statue of Decebalus is a 55 meter tall and 25 meter wide relief carved into the limestone cliffs along the Danube shore near Orșova. The face looks downstream, while one hand grips the rock and a sword points upward.
Work on the relief began in 1994 and ended after ten years of carving by a team of 12 sculptors. The patron chose this location at the Iron Gates because the Dacian wars of the 2nd century took place here.
The modern name connects the last Dacian king with a widely visible gesture carved into the rock. Families and travelers usually photograph the relief from the water, while tour boats slowly pass by the rock face.
The relief is best seen from the river, as no roads lead directly to the rock face. Boats often stop for a few minutes so passengers can view the monument up close.
The Latin inscription at the base names the patron alongside the ancient king. On the opposite bank of the Danube stands the Tabula Traiana, a Roman memorial plaque from the year 103.
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