Regarding Roman Emperors and their fate, a significant mystery has baffled historians and archaeologists alike for centuries: Where are the tombs and remains of the most prominent Roman Emperors?
This question appears simple because one might assume archaeological evidence will provide the answers. However, the topic is complex and unravels a series of historical questions, along with cultural and societal changes, and the consequences of political rivalries and the relentless march of time.
The Mausoleum of Augustus, standing as a rare surviving proof of the magnitude and grandeur of Imperial Rome, reopened its doors to the public in 2021 after extensive archaeological research and detailed restoration.
Rome’s first emperor commissioned this beautiful and unique circular tomb in 28 BC. According to what experts have discovered over the years, it once housed the remains of Augustus himself, along with those of Tiberius, Claudius and other members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. However, to the surprise of many, it is now empty of any imperial tombs.
The fate of most Roman Emperors’ remains is complicated and proof of the brutal forces of time and memory.
Many emperors of the Roman Empire’s early years were cremated rather than ceremonially buried. Their ashes were stored in urns within grand mausoleums designed to provoke awe in those witnessing them. However, these urns fell victim to the tumultuous history of Rome with the numerous sacks of the eternal city. The fact that some long-forgotten invaders decided to ruin a monument of Rome often left behind empty graves, stripped of the core element of their existence: the remains of the once-mighty Emperors.
The transition to Christianity in the empire’s later years was another important factor bringing significant changes in burial practices. Once Christianity took over the Roman Empire, its emperors were placed in sarcophagi rather than cremated, as Christian dogma (both Catholic and Orthodox) did not approve of cremation. Only in 1963 the Roman Catholic Church allowed cremation under certain prerequisites. Nonetheless, even these more substantial remains have largely disappeared from the historical record, much to the disappointment of Roman history fans.
Among the few surviving tombs of Roman Emperors, some notable sites still exist as confirmed archaeological evidence of them being once a place of imperial rest.
Apart from the Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome, in Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki, the Rotunda of Galerius is believed by archaeologists to have been constructed as a mausoleum for Emperor Galerius himself. Although a theory, many people still think this was the most probable reason for its construction. Other theories suggest it was a temple or even a mausoleum for Emperor Constantine the Great.
Constructed around 306 AD, it was part of Thessaloniki’s impressive imperial complex that included the Arch of Galerius and his palace. The famous Rotunda, which survives today, was later turned into a Christian church and then a mosque following the Ottoman conquest.
While it is associated with Galerius, his remains have not been found there, as historical evidence suggests he was buried elsewhere. Emperor Galerius was buried in Gamzigrad, in present-day Serbia. The site is known as Felix Romuliana.
Beyond Greece, other notable tombs include the Mausoleum of Hadrian. This site is now known as the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome. Originally built for Emperor Hadrian, this structure later housed the remains of several emperors, including Marcus Aurelius.
The Mausoleum of Diocletian in the Croatian city of Split is part of his palace complex there. Archaeologists believe it served as his burial site, too. This structure is now integrated into a Christian cathedral. The Mausoleum of Honorius in Ravenna, Italy, was used for Emperor Honorius and other members of the then-Roman imperial family. It was later converted into a Christian church before being, unfortunately, demolished.
Finally, in Constantinople (modern Istanbul in Turkey), the Monastery of Constantine Lips (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Λίψ) contains the remains of Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos—the only Roman (Byzantine) emperor whose remains have been definitively identified by archaeologists. The Pantokrator Monastery in Constantinople was also famously used as a burial site for several Comnenian and Palaiologian emperors.
