The Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus
By Molly Marshall

"I have lying, over me in Halicarnassus, a gigantic monument such as no other dead person has, adorned in the finest way with statues of horses and men carved most realistically from the best quality marble."

King Maussollos in Lucian's "Dialogues of the Dead"

Location

In the city of Bodrum (f.k.a. Halicarnassus) on the Aegean Sea, in south-west Turkey.

Description

The structure was rectangular in plan, with base dimensions of about 40 m (120 ft) by 30 m (100 ft). Overlying the foundation was a stepped podium which sides were decorated with statues. The colonnade supported a pyramid roof which was decorated with statues. A statue of a chariot pulled by four horses decorated the top of the tomb.The total height of the Mausoleum was 45 m (140 ft). This is broken down into 20 m (60 ft) for the stepped podium, 12 m (38 ft) for the colonnade, 7 m (22 ft) for the pyramid, and 6 m (20 ft) for the chariot statue at the top.The statues were carved by four Greek sculptors: Bryaxis, Leochares, Scopas, and Timotheus, each responsible for one side. Because the statues were of people and animals, the Mausoleum holds a special place in history as it was not dedicated to the gods of Ancient Greece.Since the nineteenth century, archaeological excavations have been going on at the Mausoleum site. These excavations together with detailed descriptions by ancient historians give us a good idea about the shape and appearance of the Mausoleum.

Videos

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