DENSUS CHURCH
At Densus exists a bizarre but very elegant church.
It is very near from the former Roman Dacia capital - Colonia Ulpia Traiana
Augusta Sarmizegetusa. This strange building from the Hateg County was the object
of many controversies between scientists, eager to find its origins.
Some had considered that the church was first a mausoleum for Roman general
Longinus Maximus, killed by the Dacians; others that it was a temple for Mars god;
Nicolae Iorga said that the monument dates from 14th century, and art historian Vatasescu
in the last quarter of the 13th century.
Many investigations were made. But the monument is still its mystery.
It is assumed that the old church was modified along the centuries, especially at the end of
the 13th. Built from river rocks, bricks with Roman inscriptions, funerary stones,
canalizations, etc., taken from Ulpia Traiana, the Densus church has a bizarre aspect,
being admired but also looked with astonishment.
In the interior some fragments of painting are kept. The paintings from the upper naves
and altar are signed by the artist Stefan (signature that can be seen till today) and
are revealing the great artistic skills of the master.
The features of the painting send us to those of the St. Nicolae Church from Curtea de Arges,
built in the 14th century. The resemblance is telling us that a master from Vallachia
was present here in Transylvania.
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