[Grammar] going as far back as

[nininaz]

Hello,

Masks have a long history in Western civilization, going as far back as the Greeks.They were first used in religious rituals toimpersonate the god Dionysus.


why used 'ING' form of verb 'go' ?
what is the meaning of phrase?

Thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

There is a history going back as far as the ancient Greek civilisation.

 

[nininaz]

You meant:
There is a history that is going back as far as the ancient Greek civilisation., which 'that is 'omitted?

 

[Raymott]

You meant:
There is a history that is going back as far as the ancient Greek civilisation., which 'that is 'omitted?

No, there's a history that goes back to ancient Greece.
"Going" is the present participle, and it's used here as part of an adjectival phrase.

Here's a page that compares English and Italian present participles. It might help.
http://tutorino.ca/grammatica/2007/10/10/gerunds-vs-present-participles-in-italian.html