Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Mausoleum

at Halicarnassus

Turkey

Why this ancient Seven Wonders tomb was special

The 4th century BC Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was not only imposing, it was ornately decorated (see picture) with columns and statues. Its step-pyramid roof was crowned with a large dramatic sculpture of four horses pulling a chariot carrying the King Mausolus and his Queen Artemisia.

The marble tomb was as high as a modern 14 story building and, from its strategic hillside location, overlooked Halicarnassus and its bay.

Queen Artemisia commissioned the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus in 353 BC for her husband. In tribute to her husband, she spared little expense in hiring some of the best craftsman and sculptors of her day.

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Interesting tidbits about

the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

King Mausolus was just an average provincial ruler of the vast Persian Empire 2300 years ago. His life would not have made him famous in history. His dead body did.

Queen Artemisia died two years after her husband (and brother) King Mausolus. She was buried along side him in the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus.

The tomb wasn't quite finished when Queen Artemisia died. The builders decided to finish the building project because, according to the Roman historian Pliny, the tomb was not just a memorial to the royal couple, but also to the sculptor's art.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus stood reasonably intact for 17 centuries. Then, around 1400 AD, a series of earthquakes gradually collapsed the tomb.

About a hundred years later, the Knights of St. John of Malta were expecting an attack from an enemy. This motivated them to take the available blocks from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus ruins to reinforce the walls of their crusader castle across the bay.

No one knows what happened to the bodies of King Mausolus and his queen - and of the artistic treasures that were likely interred with them.

Little was remaining when I explored the Mausoleum at Harlicarnassus site (2300 years after it was built). It is uncertain whether the marble debris on the ground came from the tomb or subsequent structures.

However, King Mausolus's name lives on in its modern word derivation. Dictionaries define "Mausoleum" as a large, stately tomb.

You can view some of the statues (and other items) that apparently were part of the tomb in the British Museum.

The city of Halicarnassus is now named Bodrum.

Bodrum is now a major vacation destination. Its most popular attraction, though, is not the Mausoleum at Halicarnnasus ruins but rather the crusader castle that is partially made from the tomb ruins. Bodrum is also known for its large fleet of chartered wooden sail boats. They are quite charming and sail the Turkish coast. Bodrum is a Hillman Wonders Bronze Medal winner. Click the round green "top 1000 wonders list" button to see my complete list of my Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal winners.

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