See full version: The Mausoleum at; Halicarnassus
The Mausoleum, considered one of theSeven Ancient Wonders of the World, retained its grandeur for nearly 1,800 years, until earthquakes in the 15th century destroyed part of the structure. Eventually, nearly all of the stone was taken away to be used in nearby building projects, particularly for a Crusader castle.
Much of the Mausoleum was made out of marble and the entire structure reached 140 feet high. Although large, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was known more for its ornate sculptures and carvings. Most of these were painted in vibrant colors. [links]
When Mausolus died in 353 BCE, his wife Artemisia, who also happened to be his sister, was grief stricken. She wanted the most beautiful tomb built for her departed husband. Sparing no expense, she hired the very best sculptors and architects that money could buy. more
There were also friezes that wrapped around the entire building. These were extremely detailed and included scenes of battle and hunting, as well as scenes from Greek mythology that included such mythic animals as centaurs. [links]
The structure of the Mausoleum was made up of three parts: a square base on the bottom, 36 columns (9 on each side) in the middle, and then topped by a stepped pyramid that had 24 steps. All of this was covered in ornate carvings, with life-size and larger-than-life statues abounding. here
Mausolus was descended from the indigenous herdsmen of the area, called Carians, but appreciated Greek culture and society. Thus, Mausolus encouraged the Carians to leave their lives as herdsmen and embrace the Greek way of life.
Upon the death of his father in 377 BCE, Mausolus became the satrap (a regional governor in the Persian Empire) for Caria. Although only a satrap, Mausolus was like a king in his realm, ruling for 24 years.
After 1,800 years, the long-lasting Mausoleum was destroyed by earthquakes that occurred during the 15th century CE in the region. During and after that time, much of the marble was carried away in order to build other buildings, most especially a Crusader fortress held by the Knights of St. John. Some of the elaborate sculptures were moved into the fortress as decoration. [links]
Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Halicarnassus also spelled Halikarnassos, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The monument was the tomb of Mausolus, ruler of Caria, in southwestern Asia Minor. It was built in his capital city, Halicarnassus, between about 353 and 351 bce by his sister and widow, Artemisia II. The building was designed by the Greek architects Pythius (sources spell the name variously, which has cast doubt on his identity) and Satyros. The sculptures that adorned it were the work of four leading Greek artists—Scopas, Bryaxis, Leochares, and (most likely) Timotheus—each of whom was responsible for a single side. [links]
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According to the description by the Roman author Pliny the Elder (23–79 ce ), the monument was almost square, with a total periphery of 411 feet (125 metres). It was bounded by 36 columns, and the top formed a 24-step pyramid surmounted by a four-horse marble chariot. Fragments of the Mausoleum’s sculpture that are preserved in the British Museum include a frieze of battling Greeks and Amazons and a statue 10 feet (3 metres) high, possibly of Mausolus. The Mausoleum was probably destroyed by an earthquake between the 11th and the 15th century ce , and the stones were reused in local buildings.
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So the logical conclusion would be that it was destroyed somewhere between the 12th century and 1402 by a massive earthquake. Ruins of the mausoleum / FollowingHadrian / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
19. There is a story that the Knights who were doing the fortifications found the chamber containing the tomb of Mausolus and Artemisia II. They took a short break and returned to the chamber the day after, only to find out that the chamber was completely plundered. Even the bodies were removed. A logical explanation is probably that the chamber had been plundered a long time ago by graverobbers that dug tunnels, and the bodies weren’t actually buried in the tomb but cremated.
7. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus is sometimes also simply referred to as “The Tomb of Mausolus.”
The mausoleum was such an incredible construction that it earned a spot in Antipater of Sidon’s list of 7 wonders of the ancient world.