List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia

This is a list of ancient cities, towns, villages, and fortresses in and around Thrace and Dacia. A number of these settlements were Thracian and Dacian, but some were Celtic, Greek, Roman, Paeonian, or Persian.

A number of cities in Thrace and Dacia were built on or close to the sites of preexisting Dacian or Thracian settlements. Some settlements in this list may have a double entry, such as the Paeonian Astibo and Latin Astibus. It is believed that Thracians did not build true cities even if they were named as such; the largest Thracian settlements were large villages. The only known attempt to build a polis by the Thracians was Seuthopolis., although Strabo considered the Thracian cities with "bria" ending polises. Some of the Dacian settlements and fortresses employed the traditional Murus Dacicus construction technique.

Note: Throughout these lists, an asterisk [*] indicates that the toponym is reconstructed.

Thracian and Dacian


Many city names were composed of an initial lexical element affixed to -dava, -daua, -deva, -deba, -daba, or -dova, which meant "city" or "town"  Endings on more southern regions are exclusively -bria ("town, city"), -disza, -diza, -dizos ("fortress, walled settlement"), -para, -paron, -pera, -phara ("town, village"). Strabo translated -bria as polis, but that may not be accurate. Thracian -disza, -diza, and -dizos are derived from Proto-Indo-European *dheigh-, "to knead clay", hence to "make bricks", "build walls", "wall", "walls", and so on. These Thracian lexical items show a satemization of PIE *gh-. Cognates include Ancient Greek teichos ("wall, fort, fortified town", as in the town of Didymoteicho) and Avestan da?za ("wall").

It is suggested that the "dava" endings are from the Dacian language, while the rest from the Thracian language. However "dava" towns can be found as south as Sandanski and Plovdiv. Some "dava" toponyms contain the same linguistic features as "diza" toponyms, e.g. Pirodiza and Pirodava. The first written mention of the name "Dacians" is in Roman sources. Strabo specified that the Daci are the Getae, identified as a Thracian tribe. The Dacians, Getae and their kings were always considered as Thracians by the ancients (Dio Cassius, Trogus Pompeius, Appian, Strabo, Herodotus and Pliny the Elder) and were said to speak the same language. The Dacian language is considered a variety of the Thracian language. Such lexical differentiation -dava vs. para, would be hardly enough evidence to separate Dacian from Thracian, thus they are classified as dialects. It is also possible that '-dava' and '-bria' mean two different things in the same language, rather than meaning the same thing in two different languages. Thus bria could have been used for urbanized settlements, similar in scale and design to those of the "civilised" peoples like Greeks and Romans, whereas '-dava' could mean a settlement which is rural, being situated in the steppe-like part of the Thracian lands.


 * Abydos
 * Acidava (Acidaua), a fortress town close to the Danube, located in today's Piatra-Olt, Olt County, Romania
 * Acmonia or Agatapara
 * Abdera
 * Acatapara
 * Aedava (Aedeva, Aedabe, Aedeba or Aedadeba), placed by Procopius on the Danubian road between Augustae and Variana, in Moesia (the present Northern Bulgaria)
 * Aedeva, modern Pernik
 * Ahypara
 * Aiadava (Aiadaba or Aeadaba, ), a locality in the Remesiana region in present-day Bela Palanka, Serbia
 * Aizis (Aixis, Aixim, Airzis, Azizis, Azisis, Aizisis, Alzisis, Aigis, Aigizidava*, Zizis), mentioned by Emperor Trajan in Dacica
 * Alaaibria
 * Amutria (Amutrion, Amutrium, Ἀμούτριον), a Dacian town close to the Danube, possibly today's Motru, Gorj County, Romania
 * Apulon (Apoulon, Apula), a fortress city close to modern Alba-Iulia, Romania from which the Latin name of Apulum is derived
 * Arcina (Arcinna), a fortress town in Wallachia
 * Apsynthus, the Thracian name for Aenus
 * Arcobadara
 * Argedava (Argedauon, Sargedava, Sargedauon, Zargedava, Zargedauon, Αργεδαυον, Σαργεδαυον), mentioned in the Decree of Dionysopolis, potentially the dava discovered at Popești, a district in the town of Mihăilești, Giurgiu County, Romania and maybe Burebista's court or capital
 * Argidava (Argidaua, Arcidava, Arcidaua, Argedava, Argedauon, Sargedava, Sargedauon, Zargedava, Zargedauon, Ἀργίδαυα, Αργεδαυον, Σαργεδαυον), potentially Burebista's court or capital, located in today's Vărădia, Caraș-Severin County, Romania
 * Artanes, modern Lom
 * Arutela
 * Apulon, capital of the Apuli
 * Atipara
 * Authiparu
 * Bergula
 * Berzobis, ancient Bârzava, Romania
 * Bataldeua
 * Bazopara
 * Bediza
 * Belaidipara
 * Bendipara
 * Beodiza
 * Bergula, modern (Luleburgaz)
 * Beripara
 * Beroea, modern Stara Zagora
 * Bessapara of the Bessi tribe, today Sinitovo
 * Bizye, capital of the Odrysae
 * Bolbabria
 * Bortudiza
 * Bospara
 * Bregedava
 * Breierophara, near modern Komotini
 * Brentopara
 * Briparon
 * Buaipara
 * Buricodava
 * Buridava (Burridava), today's Ocnele Mari, Romania
 * Burtudiza
 * Busipara
 * Buteridava
 * Cabassus
 * Capidava (Kapidaua), a fortress town on the southern side of the lower Danube
 * Caria, modern Shabla
 * Carsidava or Karsidaua
 * Cedonia, near Sibiu
 * Chesdupara
 * Cleipadava
 * Crenides
 * Cumidava (Comidava, Komidaua), ancient Râșnov, Romania
 * Cumlideva
 * Cypasis
 * Danedebai,
 * Dausdava (Dausadava, Dausdavua), "The shrine of wolves", a fortress town close to the Danube
 * Debelt
 * Dentheletica, capital of the Dentheletae tribe, modern Kyustendil
 * Desudaba or Maedius of the Maedi tribe, modern Sandanski
 * Diacum
 * Dierna
 * Dinogetia, located above the Danube delta
 * Docidava or Dokidaua
 * Dodopara
 * Drabeskos
 * Drobeta, located on the left bank of the Danube at Turnu Severin
 * Drusipara
 * Egeta
 * Ergines
 * Eumolpias, later Pulpudeva translating Philippopolis, the name resulted in modern Plovdiv, prehistoric settlement
 * Gatae
 * Gazoros
 * Gellipara
 * Genucla, settlement located south of the Danube
 * Germania, "hot water", modern Sapareva Banya, site of the Dentheletae tribe
 * Germisara "hot water"
 * Gildova (Gildoba), located along the Vistula river
 * Giridava
 * Hesdupara
 * Iamphorynna, capital of the Maedi tribe
 * Itadeba (Itadava)
 * Isgipara
 * Ismara
 * Istria (Olbia)
 * Jidava, near Câmpulung Muscel, Romania
 * Jidova
 * Kabyle of the Kabileti tribe, capital of the Odrysae
 * Keliadeva
 * Keirpara
 * Keriparon
 * Kipsela, modern Ipsala
 * Kirpiza
 * Kistidiza
 * Klepidaua
 * Krabnopara
 * Krasalopara
 * Kuimedaba
 * Longinopara
 * Lygos, modern Istanbul
 * Malva, a Dacian settlement where Roman Romula was built
 * Marcodava (Dacia) (Markodaua)
 * Maskiobria
 * Melsambria, modern Nessebar
 * Melta, modern Lovech
 * Murideba
 * Mutzipara* Napoca, ancient Cluj-Napoca, Romania
 * Naulochas, modern Obzor
 * Nentinava (Netindaua), ancient Slobozia, Romania
 * Nentivava, ancient Olteniţa, Romania
 * Netindava
 * Nipsa near Panisus
 * Oescus of the Triballi tribe
 * Odryssa or Uscudama, modern Edirne, capital of the Odrysae or Bessi tribe
 * Onokarsis, capital residence of the Odrysae, possibly modern Starosel
 * Orsudisza
 * Ostudiza
 * Patridava (Patridaua)
 * Pelendava (Pelendova), ancient Craiova, Romania
 * Perburidava
 * Perperikon
 * Pinon
 * Piroboridava
 * Petra, fort of Maedi
 * Petrodava (Petrodaua), located in Piatra Neamț
 * Piroboridava (Piroboridaua)
 * Pizos
 * Polondava
 * Polymbria
 * Potaissa (Patavissa), ancient Turda, Romania, also named as Patruissa
 * Predava
 * Priskupera
 * Quemedava, mentioned by Procopius in Dardania
 * Ramidava (Rhamidaua)
 * Ratiaria
 * Recidava
 * Remesiana
 * Romboses
 * Rusidava (Rusidava)
 * Ruconium
 * Sacidava (Sacidaba)
 * Sagadava
 * Salmydessos, modern Kıyıköy, residence of the Odrysae
 * Sandava
 * Sangidaua
 * Sarmizegetusa (Sarmisegetuza), Decebalus's capital and holy place
 * Scaidava (Skedeba)
 * Scaptopara, of the Dentheletae tribe, modern Blagoevgrad
 * Scaripara
 * Scedabria
 * Scelabria
 * Scept
 * Selymbria, modern Silivri in European Turkey
 * Serdica of the Serdi tribe, modern Sofia
 * Setidava (Setidaua), mentioned by Ptolemy as a thriving settlement
 * Seuthopolis
 * Singidava (Singidaua)
 * Sintica of the Sintoi tribe
 * Skaripara
 * Skaskopara
 * Spinopara
 * Stratopara
 * Strupil
 * Subzupara
 * Sucidava (Suvidava, Sukidaua), located in Corabia, Olt County, Romania
 * Susudava, mentioned by Ptolemy as a thriving settlement
 * Sykidaba
 * Tamasidava (Tamasidaua)
 * Tarpodiza
 * Tapae, a Dacian outpost guarding Sarmisegetuza and the site of two major battles between Dacians and Romans
 * Teichos, residence of the Odryssae
 * Therma of the Mygdones tribe, modern Thessaloniki
 * Thermidava, placed by Ptolemy on the Lissus-Naissus route. The toponym is most probably a misreading of a settlement which most scholars in contemporary research locate near present-day Banat, Serbia.
 * Thynia, town of the Thyni
 * Tibiscum
 * Tirista (Tsirista)
 * Tranopara
 * Tranupara
 * Tsgipera
 * Tsierna (Dierna)
 * Tyrida
 * Tyrodiza
 * Urdoviza, modern Kiten
 * Utidava (Utidaua)
 * Zalcdaba
 * Zaldapa
 * Zargidava (Zargidaua)
 * Zburulus
 * Sarmicegetusa
 * Zeugma
 * Zesutera
 * Zidava
 * Zikideva
 * Zimnicea, site where Alexander the Great fought the Dacians
 * Ziridava (Ziridaua), identified archaeologically with Pecica, Arad, Romania
 * Zirmai
 * Zisnudeba
 * Zisnedeva (Zisnudeva, Zisnudeba), located in Dacian Moesia
 * Zucidaua
 * Zurobara
 * Zusidava



Unknown names

 * Aghireșu
 * Ardan
 * Ardeu
 * Arpașu de Sus
 * Augustin
 * Băile Tușnad
 * Băleni-Români
 * Bănița
 * Bâzdâna
 * Beidaud
 * Bocșa
 * Boroșneu Mic
 * Boșorod
 * Botfei
 * Breaza
 * Bretea Mureșană
 * Bucium
 * Căpâlna
 * Cernat
 * Cetățeni
 * Cioclovina
 * Clopotiva
 * "Costești-Blidaru"
 * "Costești-Cetățuie"
 * Cotnari
 * Coțofenii din Dos
 * Covasna
 * Cozia
 * Crăsanii de Jos
 * Crivești
 * Crizbav
 * Cuciulata
 * "Cucuiș - Dealul Golu"
 * "Cucuiș - Vârful Berianului"
 * Cugir
 * Cârlomănești
 * Dalboșeț
 * Densuș
 * Divici
 * Drajna de Sus
 * Dumitrița
 * Eliseni
 * Feldioara
 * "Fețele Albe"
 * Grădiștea de Munte
 * Iedera de Jos
 * Feleac
 * Jigodin
 * Liubcova
 * Mala Kopania
 * Marca
 * Mataraua
 * Merești
 * Moinești
 * Monariu
 * Monor
 * Moșna
 * Ocolișu Mic
 * Odorheiu Secuiesc
 * Olteni
 * Orăștie Mountains
 * Petrila
 * Petroșani
 * "Piatra Roșie"
 * Pietroasa Mică
 * Pinticu
 * Pisculești
 * Poiana cu Cetate
 * Polovragi
 * Ponor
 * Popești (Călărași)
 * Porumbenii Mari
 * Praid
 * Racoș
 * Racu
 * Radovanu - Gorgana I
 * Radovanu - Jidovescu
 * Roadeș
 * Rovinari
 * Rușor
 * Sacalasău
 * Satu Mare (Harghita)
 * Satu Nou
 * Sânzieni
 * Seimeni
 * Socol
 * Sprâncenata
 * Stâncești
 * Stoina
 * Șeica Mică
 * Tășad
 * Telița
 * Teliu
 * Tilișca
 * Timișu de Jos
 * Turia
 * Unip
 * Uroi
 * Valea Seacă
 * Viișoara Moșneni
 * Zemplín
 * Zetea

Thraco-Illyrian

 * Chesdupara
 * Daradapara
 * Scupi of the Dardani tribe
 * Sirmium

Thrace, from Strymon to Nestos

 * Amphipolis, founded by colonists from Athens
 * Akontisma
 * Antisara
 * Creston, modern Kilkis
 * Datos, founded by colonists from Thasos
 * Drabeskos
 * Eion, founded by colonists from Athens
 * Ennea Hodoi
 * Galepsus, founded by colonists from Thasos
 * Gasoros
 * Heraclea Sintica
 * Krenides, founded by colonists from Thasos
 * Mastira, mentioned by Demosthenes (341 BCE) in his "The Oration on the State of the Chersonesus". This town was unknown to the scholar Harpocration (100-200 CE), who suggests that instead of "Mastira" we should read "Bastira", a known Thracian town of that name.
 * Myrkinos, founded by colonists from Miletus in 497 BC
 * Neapolis, founded by colonists from Thasos, modern Kavala
 * Oesyme, founded by colonists from Thasos
 * Paroikopolis
 * Pergamos
 * Phagres, founded by colonists from Thasos
 * Philippi, founded by Philip II of Macedon, rebuilt Crenides
 * Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv)
 * Pistyros, founded by colonists from Thasos
 * Sirra, founded by Philip II of Macedon, rebuilt town of the Siriopeoni, modern Serres
 * Skapte Hyle
 * Skotoussa
 * Tristolos

Thrace, from Nestos to Hebros

 * Abdera, founded by colonists from Klazomenai
 * Ainos (Poltymbria) founded by colonists from Alopeke, Mytilene, and Kyme
 * Bergepolis, founded by colonists from Abdera
 * Doriskos
 * Drys, founded by colonists from Samothrace
 * Dikaia, founded by colonists from Samos
 * Kypsela
 * Larissa
 * Maroneia, founded by colonists from Chios
 * Menebria, founded by colonists from Samothrace on a town named Melsambria, modern Nessebar
 * Orthagoria
 * Sale, founded by colonists from Samothrace
 * Stryme, founded from colonists from Thasos
 * Zone, founded by colonists from Samothrace

Inland Thrace

 * Alexandropolis Maedica
 * Beroea, founded by Philip II of Macedon   in 342 BC
 * Philippopolis| Pulpudeva (Philippopolis), today's city of Plovdiv in Bulgaria, founded by Philip II of Macedon in a town formerly called Eumolpias.
 * Stanimachos, founded by colonists from Istiaia, modern Asenovgrad
 * Pistiros, founded by Pistyrians from the coast

Thracian Chersonesos

 * Aegospotami (Aegospotamos)
 * Alokopennesos, founded by colonists from Aeolis
 * Araplos
 * Callipolis
 * Chersonesos (Agora), founded by colonists from Athens
 * Derris
 * Elaious, founded by colonists from Athens
 * Ide
 * Kardia, founded by colonists from Athens
 * Kressa
 * Krithotai, founded by colonists from Athens
 * Limnae, founded by colonists from Miletus
 * Madytos, founded by colonists from Lesbos
 * Pactya, founded by colonists from Athens
 * Paion
 * Sestos, founded by colonists from Lesbos

Propontic Thrace

 * Athyra
 * Byzantion, founded by colonists from Megara on a town called Lygos, modern Istanbul
 * Bisanthe, founded by colonists from Samos
 * Daminon Teichos
 * Ergiske
 * Heraclea (Perinthus)
 * Heraion, founded by colonists from Samos
 * Lysimachia
 * Neapolis (Thracian Chersonese), founded by colonists from Athens
 * Orestias, rebuilt
 * Perinthus, founded by colonists from Samos
 * Rhaedestus, founded by colonists from Samos
 * Serrion Teichos
 * Selymbria, modern Silivri in European Turkey, of Thracian etymology
 * Tyrodiza, of Thracian etymology

West Pontic coast

 * Aegyssos, modern Tulcea
 * Aquae Calidae
 * Ahtopol, founded by colonists from Athens
 * Anchialos, modern Pomorie, founded by colonists from Appolonia
 * Apollonia, modern Sozopol, founded by Ionians
 * Berga, founded by colonists from Thasos
 * Bizone, founded by colonists from Miletus, modern Kavarna
 * Krutoi, modern Balchik founded by Miletian colonists
 * Dionysopolis, modern Balchik, founded by colonists from Miletus
 * Heliopolis, modern Obzor
 * Histria, founded by colonists from Miletus
 * Kallatis (Callatis), founded from colonists from Herakleia Pontike, modern-day Mangalia, Romania
 * Mesembria, modern Nesebar, settled during the 6th century BC by Dorians from Megara
 * Odessos, modern Varna, founded by colonists from Miletus
 * Nikonion, founded by colonists from Istros
 * Salmydessos (from IE *salm-udes, "salty water"; cf. Greek álmē, "sea water, brine"; ýdos, "water")
 * Tomis, modern Constanta, rebuilt Scythian town

Other

 * Aison
 * Brea, founded by colonists from Athens,
 * Gazoros
 * Heraclea Sintica on a tribe of the Sintoi tribe
 * Kossaia

Persian

 * Boryza (city)
 * Doriscus

Roman



 * Abritus
 * Acumincum
 * Ad Medium
 * Agura Piatra (Regianum)
 * Appiaria
 * Apros
 * Aquis
 * Augustae
 * Augusta Traiana (formerly Beroe, later Stara Zagora)
 * Burgenae
 * Camistrum
 * Caenophrurium
 * Cypsella
 * Deultum, rebuilt Debelt
 * Deltum
 * Diocletianopolis (modern Hisarya)
 * Doracium
 * Durorstorum, modern Silistra
 * Drobeta
 * Gensis
 * Hadrianople, rebuild Uscudama
 * Justiniana Prima
 * Margus
 * Marcianopolis, modern Devnya
 * Maximianopolis
 * Morisena
 * Montana
 * Nicopolis ad Istrum
 * Nicopolis ad Nestum, rebuilt Alexandrupolis
 * Novae
 * Oescus
 * Pautalia, modern Kyustendil
 * Pescium, modern Peć
 * Plotinopolis, modern Hissarya,
 * Porolissum
 * Resculum (castra Remesiana)
 * Sexagnita Prista, modern Ruse
 * Sirmium
 * Theranda
 * Traianopolis
 * Transmarisca, modern Tutrakan
 * Tropaeum Traiani
 * Turres, modern Pirot
 * Ulmetum
 * Ulpiana
 * Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa
 * Valve, modern Vratsa
 * Vicianum, modern Vučitrn
 * Viminacium
 * Zaldapa
 * Zikideva
 * the rest after conquest

Celtic

 * Dunonia, modern Vidin
 * Malata
 * Naissus, modern Niš
 * Noviodunum
 * Serdica, modern Sofia
 * Singidunum, modern Belgrade
 * Taurunum
 * Tylis