In 377 BC, the City ofHalicarnassus was the capital of a small kingdom along the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor. It was in that year that the ruler of this land, Hecatomnus of Mylasa, died and left control of the kingdom to his son, Mausolus Hecatomnus, a local satrap to the Persians, had been ambitious and had taken control of the neighboring cities and districts. Mausolus in his time, extended the territory even further so that it finally included most of southwestern Asia Minor.
Mausolus with his queen Artemissa, ruled over Halicarnassus and the surrounding territory for 24 years. Mausolus, though he was descended from the local people, spoke Greek and admired the Greek way of life and government. He founded many cities of Greek design along the coast and encouraged the Greek democratic traditions.
When he died (353 B.C.) leaving his queen Artemisia, who was also his sister (it was their custom to marry their own sister), broken –hearted. As a tribute to him, she decided to build him the most splendid tomb in the known world. She sent messengers to Greece to find the most talented artists of the time.
The tomb was erected on a hill overlooking the city. The whole structure sat in an enclosed courtyard. At the center of the courtyard was a stone platform on which the tomb itself sat. A staircase, flanked by stone lions, led to the top of this platform. Along the outer wall of this were many statues depicting gods and goddess. At each corner stone warriors, mounted on horseback, guarded the tomb.
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| Photo credit: Google |
At the center of the platform was the tomb itself. Made mostly of marble, the structure rose as a square, tapering block to about one-third of the Mausoleum’s 140 feet height. This section was covered with relief sculpture showing action scenes from the Greek myth/history.
Today these works of art stand in the Mausoleum Room at the British Museum. There the images of Mausolus and his queen forever watch over the few broken remains of the beautiful tomb she built for him.
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| Photo credit: Google |
Built for her husband but become the world’s wonder.
Resources: http://www.unmuseum.org
En.wikipedia.org
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