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Mausoleum
at Halicarnassus
Turkey
Why this ancient Seven Wonders tomb was special
The 4th century BC Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was not only
imposing, it was ornately decorated (see picture) with columns
and statues. Its step-pyramid roof was crowned with a large
dramatic sculpture of four horses pulling a chariot carrying the
King Mausolus and his Queen Artemisia.
The marble tomb was as high as a modern 14 story building and,
from its strategic hillside location, overlooked Halicarnassus
and its bay.
Queen Artemisia commissioned the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus in
353 BC for her husband. In tribute to her husband, she spared
little expense in hiring some of the best craftsman and
sculptors of her day.
Interesting tidbits about
the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
King Mausolus was just an average provincial ruler of the vast
Persian Empire 2300 years ago. His life would not have made him
famous in history. His dead body did.
Queen Artemisia died two years after her husband (and brother)
King Mausolus. She was buried along side him in the Mausoleum of
Halicarnassus.
The tomb wasn't quite finished when Queen Artemisia died. The
builders decided to finish the building project because,
according to the Roman historian Pliny, the tomb was not just a
memorial to the royal couple, but also to the sculptor's art.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus stood reasonably intact for 17
centuries. Then, around 1400 AD, a series of earthquakes
gradually collapsed the tomb.
About a hundred years later, the Knights of St. John of Malta
were expecting an attack from an enemy. This motivated them to
take the available blocks from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
ruins to reinforce the walls of their crusader castle across the
bay.
No one knows what happened to the bodies of King Mausolus and
his queen - and of the artistic treasures that were likely
interred with them.
Little was remaining when I explored the Mausoleum at
Harlicarnassus site (2300 years after it was built). It is
uncertain whether the marble debris on the ground came from the
tomb or subsequent structures.
However, King Mausolus's name lives on in its modern word
derivation. Dictionaries define "Mausoleum" as a large, stately
tomb.
You can view some of the statues (and other items) that
apparently were part of the tomb in the British Museum.
The city of Halicarnassus is now named Bodrum.
Bodrum is now a major vacation destination. Its most popular
attraction, though, is not the Mausoleum at Halicarnnasus ruins
but rather the crusader castle that is partially made from the
tomb ruins. Bodrum is also known for its large fleet of
chartered wooden sail boats. They are quite charming and sail
the Turkish coast. Bodrum is a Hillman Wonders Bronze Medal
winner. Click the round green "top 1000 wonders list" button to
see my complete list of my Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal
winners.
مقبره هالیکارناسوس در ترکیه
مقبره
هالیکارناسوس در ترکیه مقبره هالیکارناسوس در4 قرن قبل از
میلاد نه تنها بسیار پرابهت و پر عظمت بود بلکه به صورت
زیبایی با ستونها و مجسمه ها تزیین شده بود. سقف این مقبره
با مجسمه هایی از اسبها تزیین شده بود اسبهایی که ارابه
شاه ماسولوس و همسرش ملکه آرتمیسیا را می کشیدند. ارتقاع
این مقبره مرمری به اندازه یک ساختمان 14 طبقه بود .
ازنقطه نظر استراﺘﮋﻳکی دامنه کوه درست مشرف به
هالیکارناسوس و خلیج آن بود . ملکه آرتمیسیا فرمان ساخت
این مقبره را در هالیکارناسوس بری همسرش در 353 سال قبل از
میلاد صادر کرد. ملکه این بنا را برای قدردانی از همسرش
ساخت و به این منظور بهترین هنرمندان و مجسمه سازان آن
زمان را گرد آورد. شاه ماسولوس تنها یک حکمران ایالتی
معمولی در بین امپراطوری های عظیم ایرانی در 2300 سال پیش
بود. ملکه آرتمیسیا دو سال پس از همسرش , شاه ماسولوس که
برادرش هم بود در گذشت. او در کنار شاه در مقبره
هالیکارناسوس دفن شد. این بنا در حدود 17 قرن پابرجا بود و
در 1400 سال بعد از میلاد بر اثر یک سری زلزله در هم فرو
ریخت.
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