Halicarnassus Mausoleum: History of Construction and Architecture

Not far from the Turkish town of Bodrum is located one of the seven wonders of the world - the Halicarnassus mausoleum. It originated in this place is not accidental, because in ancient times here was the capital of the Persian satrapy Kariya, known as Halicarnassus.

History

The city of Halicarnassus was founded by the Greeks in the 2nd millennium BC. E. In the middle of the first millennium, he was under the rule of the Persian Empire. The Halicarnassus mausoleum was built in the 4th century. BC. As a burial vault for the satyr of Karius Mausol (377-335 BC) and his wife Artemisia II. Thanks to Mavsol, this structure began to be called the mausoleum (Greek Mausoleion). The construction of the tomb began even during the lifetime of Mausolus, although he did not live up to the final of construction. According to legend, Artemisia was the leader of the mausoleum, who loved her husband very much and dreamed of perpetuating his memory. Therefore, the Halicarnassus mausoleum is often called a monument of love. It attracts thousands of tourists.

Halicarnassus mausoleum struck the imagination of travelers for 1800 years, but in the 13th century it was destroyed by a strong earthquake. In the 15th century, on the ruins of the mausoleum, the Crusaders built the castle of St. Peter. For the erection of this building, the marble blocks of the former tomb were used. When the crusaders were expelled, this castle became the Turkish fortress of Bodrum. By the 19th century, from the mausoleum remained the foundation and several sculptures. St. Peter's Castle stands in Bodrum until now, and the stones of the mausoleum are visible in its structure. On the territory of the tomb itself you can see the ruins and a small museum of the history of Halicarnassus.

Architecture

The mausoleum in Halicarnassus at the same time played the role of a temple and a burial vault. Its construction was carried out by architects from Greece Satir and Pifej. No less important role in the creation of the mausoleum was played by such famous sculptors as Skopas, Brikasid, Leohar and Timofey.

As for architecture, there was a mixture of styles in this building. In addition, the tomb of Mausolus was unusual in its unusual shape and gigantic dimensions. The area of the Halicarnassus mausoleum was 5000 m², and the height - 20 m. The base was a 5-tier rectangle, which was faced with white marble slabs. The building was decorated with a sculptural frieze - marble reliefs depicting the battle of the Greeks with the Amazons. The length of the frieze described was 117 m. Now some of the reliefs of the tomb are in the British Museum.

The tomb was located in the peripter, which was placed on the ground. He, in turn, was surrounded by 39 11-meter columns. They served as a support for the roof. The latter was designed as a stepped pyramid, consisting of 24 steps. At the top of the roof, the architects arranged a marble quadriga. It was an ancient chariot drawn by four horses. In it were the sculptures of Mausolus and Artemisia. Inside the tomb were placed the marble sarcophagi of the royal couple. The statue of the riders and the marble lions at the foot of the mausoleum served as an excellent addition to the building. The Halicarnassus mausoleum was not like all the tombs that existed before it, therefore it was rightly considered a miracle of the world.