Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, or short (Maussolleion Ancient Greek ὁ Τάφος τοῦ Μαυσσώλου; τὸ Μαυσσώλειον Ἁλικαρνασσεύς, τὸ Μαυσ (σ) ωλ (λ) εῖον τοῦ Ἁλικαρνασσοῦ - ho tou Taphos Maussôllou, tò Maussôleíon Halikarnasseús, tò Mausôleíon tou Halikarnassoû = "'s grave Latin Mausolus ";". sepulcrum Mausoli Halicarnasense "," Mausoleum Halicarnasense ") was the magnificent tomb of Mausolus (aka Mausolus, mouse solos Mausolos rare), Small King and the Persian satrap of Caria, and one of the" Seven Wonders "of the antiquity.

Construction
The mausoleum was built approximately 368 to 350 BC in Halicarnassus, the new capital of Caria in Asia Minor, in present-day Bodrum on the Aegean coast of southwestern Turkey today. On a 105 m to 244 m high rock terrace on a hillside, which was later enclosed by a wall as grave District (περίβολος - Peribolos), lifted it from the foundation. The foundation slab measured 32 m to 38.40 m, the building reached a height of approximately 46 m. The base set back slightly from three stages was made of green volcanic rock and covered with marble. Before each of the steps that were later built in the ratio 3:4:5, were standing sculpture in the round, in the bottom of the overriding plate riders battle scenes between the Greeks and Persians in about natural size, before darübergelegenen heroic figures in oversize and before the third hunting scenes in two normal . It rose an indoor ring - ie the form of a Peripteros (περίπτερος) or Pteron (πτερόν) - with 36 (9 ionic to 11) columns, between which were placed in oversize sculptures, statues of gods and those of the ruling house, which the tomb as Heroon yours did. The top end of the third stage (podium, 18.5 m) below the column and a band behind the pillars and the Quadrigasockel wore magnificent relief friezes with Amazon fights, chariot races and Lapiths and Kentaurenfights. The roof of the structure formed a 24-step pyramid (7 m) - according to the reign of the King - the top end of the tomb of a directed Mausolus and Artemisia marble quadriga on a pedestal with Fries (6 m, see below) on top of the pyramid which is attributed Pythis. Both the horses of the quadriga and other figures were provided with bronze Applications (bridles, weapons). The once famous sculptors were obliged: Bryaxis from Caria (north side), Leochares of Athens (west side), Timotheus (south side) and Scopas of Paros (east side). The finished building lit up in white marble glory.

Since the completion of his celebrity was such that the terms Maussoleion and mausoleum has since been synonymous with a great grave complex. The word "Maussol-Eion" itself means "the mouse Solos duly paid or" compare ( "Artemision - Temple of Artemis).

History
Antipater of Sidon, since it is part because of the beauty, the overwhelming overall impression and the precious statues and relief friezes on the classical canon of the Seven Wonders of the World, and was only in the 16th Century up to the foundations almost completely demolished.

The contract for the construction of his tomb was Mausolus' wife and sister Artemisia II, not even her husband, whose government in recent years. As architects and Satyros Pythis have survived, who wrote the book on a non-ancestral tomb. It was not completed until three years after Mausolus' and one years after Artemisias death by the artists on their own.

The mausoleum was certainly by an earthquake in the 12th Century, severely damaged, remained in its foundation, however, almost the entire Middle Ages preserved. 1404 and, according to eyewitness reports, even 1523, he was then stopped by the Knights of St John in order to gain material for their fortress of St. Peter. Understandably this is only of destruction associated with the retreat of the Crusaders from Rhodes, after they had already lost Cyprus and then to surrender before the army of Suleiman the Magnificent and had to leave Rhodes. In haste, here was one of the last Christian bridgehead built before 1530, the Knights finally conquered the island of Malta withdrew from them.

Already in the older parts of the castle built in 1404 there are architectural and relief items from the typical gray-green marble and cut stone that made up the core of Grabbaus. But 1497/98, when visiting the Florentine Bernardo Michelozzi and Bonsignore Bonsignori Asia Minor, were intact after their reports significant parts of the tomb. Thus, some fragments found their way to Europe. It is certain therefore that there was the final act of the tragedy of this wonder of the world really only 1523rd Responsible for the repair of the fortress commandant de la Tourette, namely, reported that after the discovery of the actual grave chamber, a large, marble-appointed room, without further ado, the relief panels and smashed the building was abandoned.

Reconstruction
Already since the 18th Century have been numerous attempts to reconstruct on the basis of ancient literary description by Pliny the Elder, the appearance of the building. They led to as many different and imaginative solutions. On a scientific basis, efforts were first made as 1857, a British excavation under CT Newton uncovered parts of the foundation and sculptures as well as components were found. But only by the Danish research and excavations from 1966 to 1977 by Kristian Jeppesen could be a complete and largely occupied by components to develop reconstruction. Frieze and sculptures of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus are now in the British Museum in London. Although the tomb no longer exists, comes to him in the architectural history as one of the most important and most outstanding works of Ionic architecture of the Late Classic crucial.

Today
At the site of ancient Halicarnassus, is today the tourist city of Bodrum. Its modern name, which means in Turkish so much as "underground vault," points out the still-buried remains of the mausoleum. Of the building is still deepening the grave chamber to see about eight feet below the present ground level and walk the remaining remnants of the building comprehensive sewerage system. In an adjoining room the remains of reliefs and building materials are on display.