Sacidava and Burticum. On a road bifurcation from Dacia Superior

Abstract

"Some of the toponyms conveyed by the Cosmography of the Anonymous Geographer of Ravenna are levied by modern critics either corrupt, or, simply, made-up. This is also the case of the toponym from central Dacia, Burticum, believed a double for Brutia (Rav. Cosm., 4.7, namely, the corrupt form of the same Brucla mentioned by the Tabula Peutingeriana, TP 8.2). Compiling the information from two itineraria, Tabula Peutingeriana and the Cosmography of the Anonymous Geographer of Ravenna, shows there were two access routes linking the road on the Olt river valley to the imperial road from central Dacia superior. From Caput Stenarum (Boiţa, Sibiu County), the road climbs to Cedonia (Guşteriţa, Sibiu County) where it bifurcates. The northern branch, described by Tabula Peutingeriana, ran from Cedonia to Sacidava (site La Zid between Doştat and Spring, Alba County) and reached Apulum (Alba Iulia, Alba County). The southern branch, recorded by the Anonymous Geographer of Ravenna, ran from Cedonia to Burticum (the mansio from Miercurea-Băi, Albele), intersecting the imperial road at Blandiana (Şibot or Vinţu de Jos, Alba County). "