The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a magnificent tomb built in the 4th century BC in the city of Halicarnassus (modern-day Bodrum, Turkey). This structure was renowned not only for its colossal size and lavish decoration but also for its unique architecture, which blended Greek, Egyptian, and Near Eastern styles. Its name became universal—the word "mausoleum" entered many languages as a term for monumental tombs.
History of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
The mausoleum was constructed between 353–350 BC by order of Artemisia II, Queen of Caria, in memory of her husband and brother, Mausolus.
Mausolus, ruler of Caria, envisioned a grand tomb during his lifetime to immortalize his power. After his death, Artemisia (both his wife and sister) continued the project, hiring the finest Greek architects and sculptors. The tomb symbolized the wealth and might of the Carian Kingdom.
Architecture and Dimensions: Why Was It a Wonder?
The mausoleum was a fusion of a Greek temple, Egyptian pyramid, and Assyrian ziggurat. It stood approximately 45 meters tall (higher than a 15-story building!), making it one of the tallest structures of antiquity.
Structural Layers:
• Massive rectangular base (30×40 m) made of marble and greenstone.
• Colonnade of 36 Ionic columns supporting a pyramidal roof.
• Stepped pyramid roof, crowned with a quadriga (four-horse chariot) and statues of Mausolus and Artemisia.
Decorative Elements:
• Sculptures by Scopas, Leochares, Bryaxis, and Timotheus—the greatest artists of the era.
• Friezes depicting Amazonomachy (battle between Greeks and Amazons)—some preserved in the British Museum.
• Gold and bronze ornaments.
Its unprecedented design, colossal scale, and artistic brilliance earned it a place among the Seven Wonders.
Destruction of the Mausoleum
The mausoleum stood for nearly 19 centuries but was severely damaged:
• 12th–15th-century earthquakes destroyed the upper levels.
• Knights Hospitaller (15th century) dismantled parts to build Bodrum Castle (Castle of St. Peter).
• By the 16th century, only ruins remained.
Why Did "Mausoleum" Become a Universal Word?
The name Mausolus gave rise to the term for monumental tombs:
• Latin → Mausoleum
• English → Mausoleum
• French → Mausolée
• Russian → Мавзолей (Mavzoley)
It is the only Wonder whose name became a common noun.
Replicas Around the World
Inspired by the original, architects built numerous copies:
• Mausoleum of Augustus (Rome, 1st century BC)
• Mausoleum of Hadrian (Castel Sant`Angelo, Rome)
• Grant`s Tomb (New York, 19th century)
• Lenin`s Mausoleum (Moscow, 20th century)
What Remains Today?
At the original site in Bodrum:
• Foundation and wall fragments (open to visitors).
• Sculpture and relief fragments (some in the British Museum).
Artifacts in European Museums
During the Ottoman Empire, foreign archaeologists were permitted to export findings. Modern Turkey does not demand repatriation, as the removals were legal at the time. Most surviving relics were taken to Europe in the 19th century by archaeologists like Charles Newton.
1. British Museum (London) – Main Collection
• Statues of Mausolus and Artemisia (possibly from the top).
• Amazonomachy frieze (12 marble panels by Scopas & Leochares).
• Colossal lion statue (2.5 m tall).
• Fragments of the quadriga (chariot).
• Battle and hunting reliefs.
2. Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna)
• Marble heads of warriors.
• Horse statue fragments (possibly from the chariot).
3. Louvre (Paris)
• Relief panels of Greek warriors.
• Bearded male head (possibly Mausolus).
Though the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus is lost, its legacy lives on—in museums, language, and architecture. To see its remnants, visit Bodrum’s excavation site or the British Museum, where its grandeur is still preserved.
