A witness of history - Ovidiu's Tower
In the commune of Turnu Ruieni you can find a medieval building of great historical importance, a guardian of time that dominated the dreamy landscape for hundreds of years. Over time, the keep heroically resisted erosion, and today you can admire the magnificence of the ruins of the tower on the top of Stârminiţa Hill (420 m altitude). The construction with a quadrilateral section is about 12 meters, in the past it had a probable height of about 13.5 meters, while the interior was built storied, on four levels.
A monument of ancient times
The dating of the objective is uncertain, being lost in the mists of time. Most likely, its appearance can be established in the 14th century Hungary, because the constructive style is one used at that time in our region. In the area of Haţeg there are similar vestiges dated from that period, an example being the defense tower of the Cetăţii Colţ church, located near the village of Râu de Mori in Hunedoara county. An element that strengthens the dating of the keep in the 14th century is the discovery of a coin minted and in circulation at the time of King Charles I Robert of Anjou (1307-1342).
The first probable documentary attestation of the keep is recorded by the historian Pesty Frigyes, a spirited and rigorous researcher of this land, as a document issued by the Oradea Chapter on July 25, 1467, in which a turris lapidea (in Latin, stone tower) is mentioned ) as belonging to members of the Mutnok noble family. The theory was also taken into account that this family would have built this tower, as part of the defense obligations that the local nobles had in this borderland often trampled by the Ottoman invaders.
The first probable documentary attestation of the keep is recorded by the historian Pesty Frigyes, a spirited and rigorous researcher of this land, as a document issued by the Oradea Chapter on July 25, 1467, in which a turris lapidea (in Latin, stone tower) is mentioned ) as belonging to members of the Mutnok noble family. The theory was also taken into account that this family would have built this tower, as part of the defense obligations that the local nobles had in this borderland often trampled by the Ottoman invaders.
A century later, Petrus Petrovici de Suraklin, in his capacity as Ban of Caransebeş - Lugoj, carried out a project to fortify the fortresses of the mentioned cities. He strengthened the defensive system of the area including by building observation towers with a quadrangular base, 18-30 meters high. For the protection of the tower, military guards were brought to play the role of outposts. Probably within this program the construction at Turnu Ruieni was renovated and strengthened, it already existed in those times.
The archaeological research carried out in the area brought to light the Roman vestiges near this tower, which led to the possibility that in that place, before the construction of the medieval tower, there was an ancient objective with a similar purpose. The statement is also reinforced by the existence in the masonry of the keep of some elements of Roman construction, such as limestone slabs, reused, included especially at the corners of the masonry and at the firing niche existing in one of the walls of the tower.
The town of Turnu Ruieni, formed by the merger of the two neighboring villages, Turnu and Ruieni, takes its name from this observation tower.
The archaeological research carried out in the area brought to light the Roman vestiges near this tower, which led to the possibility that in that place, before the construction of the medieval tower, there was an ancient objective with a similar purpose. The statement is also reinforced by the existence in the masonry of the keep of some elements of Roman construction, such as limestone slabs, reused, included especially at the corners of the masonry and at the firing niche existing in one of the walls of the tower.
The town of Turnu Ruieni, formed by the merger of the two neighboring villages, Turnu and Ruieni, takes its name from this observation tower.
The myth behind the legend
"Ovidiu's Tower" got its name from the legends that from ancient times captured the imagination of the locals.
The best-known legend says that the name of the tower comes from the ancient Roman poet Ovidiu (Publius Ovidius "Naso"), exiled to Tomis, on the shores of the Black Sea. The author of the Art of Love, of Tristels and Pontices, would have passed through this area and stopped here for a while, either on the way to the place of exile, or during his visits to Dacia, after which he set off for Tomis.
Moreover, the legends were woven even further and were even taken up by different credulous historians of the times. They also found in the words attributed to Ovid the origin of the name of the city of Caransebeş. According to the legends, upon arriving in our lands, the poet would have suddenly fallen in love with them (probably seduced by the wonderful view offered to the viewer from the promontory of the observation tower) and would have exclaimed: Cara mihi sedes! This sentence, which in Latin means My Beloved Land!, sounds somewhat similar to the name Caransebeş, and fevered minds immediately picked up the idea and found an explanation for what historians have not found even to this day.
The best-known legend says that the name of the tower comes from the ancient Roman poet Ovidiu (Publius Ovidius "Naso"), exiled to Tomis, on the shores of the Black Sea. The author of the Art of Love, of Tristels and Pontices, would have passed through this area and stopped here for a while, either on the way to the place of exile, or during his visits to Dacia, after which he set off for Tomis.
Moreover, the legends were woven even further and were even taken up by different credulous historians of the times. They also found in the words attributed to Ovid the origin of the name of the city of Caransebeş. According to the legends, upon arriving in our lands, the poet would have suddenly fallen in love with them (probably seduced by the wonderful view offered to the viewer from the promontory of the observation tower) and would have exclaimed: Cara mihi sedes! This sentence, which in Latin means My Beloved Land!, sounds somewhat similar to the name Caransebeş, and fevered minds immediately picked up the idea and found an explanation for what historians have not found even to this day.
