Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus or Tomb of Mausolus was a grand tomb built between 353 and 351 BC in Halicarnassus (present-day Bodrum, Turkey). It was made for Mausolus, a leader from Caria, and his sister-wife Artemisia II. Two Greek architects, Satyros of Paros and Pythius of Priene, designed it.

The Mausoleum stood about 45 meters (148 feet) tall and was beautifully decorated with sculptural reliefs. These sculptures were made by four famous Greek artists: Leochares of Athens, Bryaxis of Halicarnassus, Scopas of Paros, and Timotheus of Epidaurus or Athens.

Because of its amazing beauty, the Mausoleum was chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Sadly, earthquakes destroyed it between the 12th and 15th centuries. Today, the word mausoleum is used to describe any above-ground tomb, thanks to this famous building.

Conquest

In the 4th century BC, Halicarnassus was the capital of the small kingdom of Caria, part of the Achaemenid Empire on the western coast of Asia Minor.

After the ruler Hecatomnus of Milas died in 377 BC, his son Mausolus took control. Mausolus grew his lands into the area of Lycia. He and his sister Artemisia ruled together for 24 years from Halicarnassus. Mausolus loved the Greek way of life and built many Greek-style cities along the coast.

Mausolus chose Halicarnassus as his capital and spent lots of money making the city beautiful with statues, temples, and marble buildings. When Mausolus died in 353 BC, Artemisia kept building his big tomb. After she passed away two years later, their ashes were placed inside the tomb that was not yet finished. The workers finished the tomb as a gift to Mausolus and to honor the art of sculpting.

Construction

Mausolus likely planned his tomb before he died, as part of the building work in Halicarnassus. After his death, his sister Artemisia carried on with the project and spent a lot of money on it. She sent people to Greece to find the best artists, including Scopas, who helped rebuild the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.

The tomb was built on a hill that overlooked the city. It stood in a special courtyard with a stone platform in the middle. A staircase with stone lions led up to the platform, which had statues of gods and goddesses along its walls. At each corner, stone warriors on horses guarded the tomb.

The tomb itself was a tall, square block covered with bas-reliefs showing exciting scenes. On top of this block were tall columns, and between them stood statues. The roof was shaped like a pyramid, and at the very top was a group of four large horses pulling a chariot with images of Mausolus and Artemisia inside.

History

Historians think it took more than two years to build the Mausoleum. It may have been started by Mausolus before he died or finished later by other leaders. The building looked like a temple but had slightly higher outer walls. It stood in Halicarnassus, which was controlled by the Achaemenid Empire in 353 BC. The Roman architect Vitruvius said it was built by Satyros and Pytheus. The Romans thought the Mausoleum was one of the greatest wonders of the world and named all their big tombs “mausoleums” after it.

We do not know exactly when or how the Mausoleum was destroyed. A writer named Eustathius said it was still a wonder in his time. Some believe it was ruined by an earthquake. When the Knights of St John of Jerusalem arrived in 1402, they found it in ruins and used many stones to build their castle at Bodrum. By the 19th century, only the foundations and some broken sculptures remained. The Mausoleum was famous for its beautiful design and sculptures.

Jar of Xerxes I

Main article: Jar of Xerxes I

A special jar made of calcite or alabaster was found at the Mausoleum. It had the name of the king Xerxes I on it in four different languages. This jar shows the close ties between the rulers of Caria and the Achaemenid Empire. It may have been a gift from Xerxes to Artemisia I, a skilled leader who helped during the Second Persian invasion of Greece.

Dimensions and statues

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a big and lovely building. It had a square shape and was surrounded by 36 columns. On top was a pyramid shape with 24 steps to the top. At the very top were four marble statues of horse chariots. The building also had many sculptures on it, like statues and carvings.

Some important writers, like Pliny the Elder, told us how tall the Mausoleum was. They said it was about 43 metres (140 feet) tall. Many big statues were found near the building, including 20 lion statues that were a little bigger than real lions. The sculptures on each side were made by different artists. People today are still learning more about the art of the Mausoleum.

Later history

The Mausoleum stood above the city of Halicarnassus for many years. It was not harmed when the city fell to Alexander the Great in 334 BC or during pirate attacks in 62 and 58 BC. It remained for sixteen centuries before earthquakes broke its columns and knocked down a bronze chariot.

In 1494, the Knights of St John of Rhodes built Bodrum Castle (Castle of Saint Peter). They used stones from the Mausoleum to help build the castle. Later, in 1522, more parts of the tomb were broken for the castle walls. Some polished marble from the tomb can still be seen in the castle today.

When the knights entered the base of the Mausoleum, they found a room with a large coffin. But by the next day, the tomb had been looted. Research shows that grave robbers had dug a tunnel under the grave chamber long before the knights arrived. It is believed that Mausolus and Artemisia were cremated, leaving only an urn with their ashes in the tomb, which explains why no bodies were found.

Discovery and excavation

In the 1800s, a British consul took some statues from Bodrum Castle. They are now in the British Museum. In 1852, an archaeologist named Charles Thomas Newton was sent to find more parts of the Mausoleum. He studied old writings and bought land to dig. He found walls, a staircase, and parts of the foundation.

Newton also found pieces of the decorations that once covered the walls and roof. These included statues of Mausolus and his sister-wife Artemisia. Some marble blocks were taken to Malta to help build a dock for ships. From 1966 to 1977, a researcher named Kristian Jeppesen studied the Mausoleum and wrote a book about it.

The Mausoleum was famous for its beautiful statues made by four Greek sculptors. Today, Bodrum still has a big castle, and pieces of the Mausoleum can be seen in its walls. Only the foundation of the Mausoleum remains, along with a small museum. The British Museum has some of the surviving statues and decorations.

Influence on modern architecture

Many modern buildings were inspired by the design of the Mausoleum of Mausolus. These include the Fourth and Vine Tower in Cincinnati, the Civil Courts Building in St. Louis, the National Newark Building in Newark, New Jersey, Grant's Tomb and 26 Broadway in New York City, Los Angeles City Hall, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, the spire of St. George's Church, Bloomsbury in London, the Indiana War Memorial (and in turn Salesforce Tower) in Indianapolis, the House of the Temple in Washington D.C., the National Diet in Tokyo, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh, and the Commerce Bank Building in Peoria, IL.

Gallery of 2nd-century replica site

In Milas there is a small copy of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus from Roman times. This copy is called the Gümüşkesen and shows details like the ceiling and capitals of the tomb.

Gümüşkesen in Milas

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Milas Gümüşkesen front

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Gümüşkesen in Milas detail of ceiling

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Gümüşkesen in Milas detail of ceiling

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Gümüşkesen in Milas detail of ceiling and capitals

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Gümüşkesen in Milas capital

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Gümüşkesen in Milas Lower part of tomb