Halicarnassus

Halicarnassus was an ancient Greek city in Caria, in Anatolia. It was in southwest Caria, on a good spot on the Gulf of Gökova. Today this area is part of Bodrum, Turkey.

The city is most famous for the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, also called the Tomb of Mausolus. This tomb gave us the word "mausoleum". It was a very grand building, made between 353 and 350 BC. It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Halicarnassus was different from most Greek cities because it kept a monarchical system of government, even when kings were rare elsewhere. While nearby Ionian cities fought against Persian rule, Halicarnassus stayed loyal to the Persian Empire. This changed when Alexander the Great captured the city after the siege of Halicarnassus in 333 BC.

The city was first called Zephyria. It began as a small settlement on an island that later joined the mainland. Over time, it grew to include several Carian settlements and the older town of Salmacis. Today, the place is marked by the Castle of St. Peter, built much later by the Knights of Rhodes in 1404 AD.

Etymology

The name Halicarnassus has an interesting history. The ending "-assos" in the ancient Greek name suggests it came from an older language. Researchers think "-karnassós" might mean "fortress" in the Luwian language. This idea shows the city may have taken its name from the Carian language, spoken in the area with Greek. The Carian name for the city might have been written as alos k̂arnos in old inscriptions.

History

The city of Halicarnassus has a long and interesting history. During the Late Bronze Age, people lived nearby, as shown by old tombs. In the Iron Age, Greeks settled there.

Important figures like Medusa, Athena, and Poseidon appeared on its coins.

The Hekatomnid dynasty ruled the city under the Persian Empire. Hecatomnus started the dynasty, and his son Mausolus moved the capital to Halicarnassus. Mausolus and his sister Artemisia built many beautiful buildings, including a huge tomb for Mausolus, called the Mausoleum. This tomb became one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

When Alexander the Great came to Caria, a local leader gave him control of the fortress at Alinda. After a battle, Halicarnassus was set on fire by retreating Persians. Though the city never fully recovered, it stayed important through history.

Archaeological notes and restorations

The ancient city of Halicarnassus is now partly part of the modern town of Bodrum, but its walls can still be seen. Many important buildings, like the Theatre of Halicarnassus, can also be found.

Excavations in 1857 led by Charles Newton helped uncover the ruins of the famous Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Researchers restored its design, which had five parts: a base, a row of columns, a pyramid shape, a pedestal, and a chariot statue on top. The base was covered in carvings and statues. The columns likely had statues between them. The pyramid led up to a statue of Mausolus, the ruler for whom the tomb was built. Many artists have tried to show how the mausoleum looked, but each version has its own ideas about the details.

See also House of Charidemos.

Notable people

Halicarnassus was home to many famous people from ancient times. One of the best known was Artemisia I, the Queen of Halicarnassus. She fought in the Battle of Salamis. The city was also where Herodotus lived. He was a Greek historian who wrote many stories about the past. Other famous people from the city included poets, athletes, and leaders.