The Dacian king's sculpture | The Highest Rock-Sculpture of Europe

The Dacian king's sculpture — Decebalus, the last king of Dacia (87-106 AD). Dacia, the pre-Roman name for Romania. High relief carving on the wall of a mountain near Orsova in Romania. The tallest 42.9 meters, rock sculpture of Decebalus in Europe. It is the fourth most visited sculpture in the world. Rushmore/Georgia. Buddha-Bamiyan/Afganistan (down in 2001 by Taliban-militant).

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It was created between 1994 and 2004 on a rocky outcrop at the Danube's Iron Gates. These gates form the border between Serbia and Romania. It can be found near Orsova, Romania. The carved face located on the opposite bank of the Danube river, and it was chosen because of its cliff. This is the same place that belonged to Serbia. The stone wall was built by 12 sculptors over a period of ten years to create a rock statue face patriot King that is more than 40m high.

It was ordered by Iosif Constantin Dragan, a Romanian businessman. Twelve sculptors took 10 years to complete the project. Florin Cotarcea from Orsova was the lead artist and sculptor. Dragan's website states that the rock was purchased by a businessman in 1992. After which Mario Galeotti, an Italian sculptor, assessed the site and created an initial model. The initial six years involved the dynamiting of the rock to create the basic shape. The remaining four years were dedicated to finishing the detail.

A Latin inscription is found under Decebalus's face. It reads: "DECEBALUS RX—DRAGAN FECIT", ("King Decebalus - Made by Drăgan") This rock face statue carving was located opposite an old memorial plaque, which was carved into the rock on the Serbian bank facing Romania. The Tabula Traiana plaque, also known as the Tabula Traiana is a record of Trajan's completion of Trajan’s military road along the Danube. It also commemorates Trajan's final defeat of Decebalus in 105 and the incorporation of the Dacian kingdom into Rome. Dragan asked the Serbs for a huge head of a Roman Emperor to be carved as if they were facing Decebalus on opposite sides of the river. But the Serbs declined.

Photo by Flickr/Morten Nielsen