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Did the Romans ever set out on archaeological journeys, such as those in Egypt or Mesopotamia, to search for ancient relics?The civilizations of the Levant and the Middle East existed long before the Romans, much like how the Romans came before us. Did they ever attempt to excavate ancient ruins and document them as we do today?Steve Theodore:
Not in the way we understand it today; the idea of methodically seeking out the unknown was not a concept that crossed their minds.
While they did have a general interest in the past—the iconic image of Emperor Trajan, strolling alone through the ruins of Babylon, comes to mind—they did not conceive of a long-term, focused effort to reconstruct history from its physical remnants.
Like many ancient civilizations, the Romans were deeply invested in their own history. As their empire grew, they also supported the antiquarian interests of their subjects and allies. A Roman with public spirit—or, later, an emperor seeking favorable publicity—could always fund the restoration of an ancient temple or the revival of a forgotten ritual as both a pious act and a way to preserve their heritage. Augustus, for instance, had a particular fondness for such projects because they aligned well with the conservative, patriotic image he wanted to project during his reign. He revived old ceremonies (such as the Lupercalia), refurbished sacred spaces (one of his proudest achievements was the restoration of 82 temples), and backed research into the preservation of ancient traditions (such as the works of Varro).
One of the most notable examples of Roman respect for antiquity is the Lapis Niger, one of the oldest surviving Latin inscriptions. This inscription was part of a ritual complex constructed in the earliest days of the Republic, though the site was likely destroyed during the Gallic sack of Rome in 390 BCE. The site was not rebuilt but, at some point in the 1st century BCE, it was covered with a pavement and a protective wall to shield it from the elements and from trespassers. Later generations were unsure of the site's purpose—many believed it was the tomb of Romulus, though various conflicting stories existed—but they clearly took measures to preserve and honor the site.
The Lapis Niger site. The ‘roof’ is a carefully crafted covering from the 1st century BCE, while beneath it lies the original monument from five centuries earlier. | L. Allen Brewer via Flickr
The same site with the roof removed, revealing the ancient site beneath the Augustan pavements. | Indissoluble Indissoluble via Flickr
The stone itself. | Giovanni Dore via Wikimedia CommonsMany other Romans also delved into the mysteries of the past—from Emperor Claudius, who authored a 20-volume history of the Etruscans, to the lesser-known bureaucrat John Lydus, who composed treatises on obscure Roman rituals during Christian Byzantium five centuries later. However, the main difference between their interest in antiquities—what the Greeks termed archaiologia—and modern archaeological practices is that accurate description was, at best, a secondary priority. For instance, no ancient record discusses or attempts to interpret the inscription on the Lapis Niger itself, despite it being visible when the site was restored. A modern archaeologist would never fail to document such an artifact without transcribing the inscription.
Reviving an ancient rite or restoring an old site was a highly public, political affair with an agenda that had little to do with anything we would consider science. While discussing the origins of obscure customs or deciphering cryptic texts was an engaging pursuit, those financing such endeavors were always focused more on the present than on the past.
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