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How Tsarist Russia looted late Roman treasures from Ottoman lands?

Excavation of the Baths of Zeuxippos, in front of the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Türkiye, 1900s. (Photo via David Talbot-Rice)
Excavation of the Baths of Zeuxippos, in front of the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Türkiye, 1900s. (Photo via David Talbot-Rice)
May 08, 2025 03:48 PM GMT+03:00

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, archaeology was weaponized by European powers to justify territorial ambitions through historical narratives.

While Western Europe looked to Ancient Greece and Rome, Tsarist Russia pursued a different civilizational inheritance: the Late Roman (known as Byzantine) Empire.

Seeing itself as the rightful heir to Byzantium and the guardian of Orthodoxy, Russia launched a quiet campaign to lay cultural and political claim to Ottoman lands.

Russian Archaeological Institute in Istanbul: A cultural frontline

Founded in 1894, the Russian Archaeological Institute in Istanbul operated for two decades as a state-sponsored research center, conducting widespread surveys and excavations throughout the Ottoman Empire.

Under the leadership of Fyodor Ivanovich Uspensky, the institute did more than academic study—it systematized the smuggling of antiquities from Türkiye to Russia.

Byzantine obsession and strategic ambitions

Russian scholars focused heavily on Byzantine remains, using research as a means of reinforcing Russia’s political presence.

This was part of a broader imperial ideology that positioned Moscow as the “Third Rome,” spiritually and historically succeeding Constantinople. Russia’s strategic interest in Orthodox Christian sites, particularly in Istanbul, Jerusalem, and across Anatolia, was not only religious but also territorial.

Looting under the guise of science

Artifacts were often removed under the pretense of scholarly preservation. In many cases, archaeological findings—manuscripts, icons, sculptures, and sacred relics—were shipped directly to Russian museums, including the Hermitage and the Imperial Public Library in St. Petersburg.

One example is the Codex Purpureus Petropolitanus, a 6th-century gospel manuscript discovered near Kayseri in 1896 and swiftly acquired through diplomatic maneuvering funded by Tsar Nicholas II.

Cultural theft and the Ottoman response

Although the Ottoman government tried to curb these activities through legal reforms and museum-building efforts, their attempts were largely ineffective due to the geopolitical imbalance.

While Ottoman officials raised objections to Russian excavations and object removals, such as during the Pateli necropolis dig, diplomatic pressure often forced their hand.

From holy lands to hermitage: Scope of the operation

Russian expeditions reached far beyond Anatolia, with institutions like the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society operating extensively in Jerusalem and surrounding regions.

Led by figures like Antonin Kapustin, these missions acquired sacred objects and even large sculptures, many of which are now on display in Russia.


Today, thousands of artifacts from Ottoman-era excavations reside in Russian collections.

May 08, 2025 03:51 PM GMT+03:00
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