VADIM GHIRDA and ANDREEA ALEXANDRUSun, August 24, 2025 at 6:02 AM UTC1 min read1 of 24A man blows a horn as history buffs wearing Dacian warrior and Roman soldiers outfits march in Iasi, Romania, Friday, July 11, 2025 ahead of the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)ASSOCIATED PRESSPOIANA, Romania (AP) — History buffs dressed as Roman soldiers and Dacian warriors clashed in front of a crowd in a reenactment of a struggle culminating in the Roman conquest of land in present-day Romania.Constantin “The Castor” Lapusneanu, a well-known Romanian tattoo artist and the man behind the Getodava historical reenactment festival, told The Associated Press that he was motivated by a “love of our ancient land and ancestors” and a desire to transmit that heritage to future generations.The event in northeastern Romania drew historical reenactment groups from elsewhere in Central Europe including Slovakia and the Czech Republic.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe reimagined battles took place in Poiana, a village outside the city of Iasi, near the border with Moldova, where Lapusneanu built a replica of an ancient fortress known as a Getic fortress.Though it is well known the Romans emerged victorious in the battles nearly 2,000 years ago, the reenactment this summer ended in a draw.Participants explained they simply want to focus on how the battles were fought.AdvertisementAdvertisement