Research questions for a book

[Nathan Ross]

The only question I've got left is about the sack of Sarmizegetusa: does anyone have more info on what kind of end the siege had, i.e. a rape-and-pillage operation, or a fairly controlled surrender?

The only evidence we have, as far as I know, (sadly Trajan's own account of the campaign is lost...) is Book 68 of Cassius Dio and Trajan's Column.

Dio says very little about the second campaign, only a couple of anecdotes. The Dacian capital was captured, but we don't learn how.

Interpreting the column is a fun game, and its reliability is questionable, but with nothing to contradict it, plates LXXXIII - XCV from the Cichorius plates, showing the siege and capture of large Dacian fortification, may well represent the fall of Sarmezigetusa. The defenders sally out, engines are used against the defences, and finally (it appears) the Dacians themselves set fire to their own city to prevent it falling to the enemy. That doesn't stop the Romans looting the place at their leisure though (Plate XCIV). After this there are further scenes, but these appear to represent the flight and capture of Decebalus and the final subjegation of Dacia.

So it's up to you, really - if the Romans stormed the city, it probably did turn into the customary bloodbath. But if the Dacians surrendered first (perhaps with a hardcore setting fire to the place before the Romans could occupy it) there might not have been that much left anyway. The column depicts a number of Dacians killing themselves - perhaps some Masada-type situation?

Thanks for the offer of acknowledgement, btw. Personally speaking, my 'online handle' is fine!

- Nathan