Introduction
The
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus is not the most famous of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World – yet it is the one most often referenced in day-to-day speech.
For it is from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, also known as the Tomb of
Mausolus, that we derive the English word “mausoleum,” meaning “a stone
building with places for the dead bodies of several people or the body of an
important person.”
The People
The
actual man who gave the Mausoleum its name was named Mausolus.[1]
The word “mausoleum” originally meant “in honor of Mausolus.” He became a
satrap in 377 B.C. over the kingdom of Caria following the death of his father,
and made Halicarnassus his capital. Caria, in Asia Minor, was on the western
side of Turkey, and Halicarnassus was on the coast. Mausolus was a huge fan of
Greek culture and design. He spoke Greek and the cities he founded often had a
distinctly Greek design.
Mausolus’
wife was named Artemisia[2]
and she was his sister as well as his wife. Together, they spent enormous
amounts of tax money on beautifying the city of Halicarnassus, putting up
statues, temples, multiple marble buildings, and a magnificent palace.
When
Mausolus died in 353 B.C.,[3]
Artemisia was heart-broken and inconsolable. We do not know whether it was her
or Mausolus who actually commissioned the building of the tomb, but once he
died, Artemisia spared no expense. She was ruler in his place, but ruled for
only two years before her death. Her remains were interred with his in the
mausoleum.
The
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
The
mausoleum was built with Scopas as the planner. He was the man who also had a
major part in the building of another Wonder of the Ancient World, the Temple
of Artemis at Ephesus. Whether it was Mausolus or Artemisia who commissioned
him is not known. But the fact remains – he was the best to be had. The
Mausoleum incorporated three styles – Egyptian, Greek, and Lycian. The Greek
and Egyptian are especially obvious to the casual observer, as we will discover.
It
was built on the top of a hill, overlooking the water and the city. The rock on
which it stood was excavated to a depth of 8-9 feet before it was built, over
the entire area over which it stood. At the top of the hill, there was an
enclosed courtyard in the center of which stood this building. An impressive
staircase led up into the courtyard, bordered by 24 stone lions.
This author had
some trouble finding the actual exact measurements of the building – though the
confusion is natural, due to the fact that it is impossible to ascertain them
with precision. The mausoleum was shaped like a rectangle. One source said that
it was 63 feet long, but it was unclear about which side was 63 feet. Another
stated that the perimeter was 400 feet – whether this number was merely of the
mausoleum or of the courtyard is not said. Either way, it was a significant
structure.
The exact height
is also difficult to discover. From her research, this author is inclined to
believe that it was about 147 feet tall.[4]
It was built from bricks covered in marble, with a variety of styles. The
sub-structure and first part of the mausoleum tapered up mildly, comprising the
first 1/3 of the building. This part was covered on each side by base reliefs
of action scenes from history, including pictures of Greeks fighting Amazon
women. Four of the best sculptors of the time had been commissioned to do these
reliefs, one for each side. They were Leochares, Bryaxis, Scopas of Paros, and
Timotheus.[5]
These sculptors did a beautiful job, and parts of their carvings have remained to
the present day.
That section was
topped by the next 1/3 of the building. It was notable for having 36 columns –
10 on each side, with the corners sharing. This was the most Grecian section of
the building. It is likely that statues also decorated this level.
The top and final
1/3 of the mausoleum was the Egyptian section, a pyramidal roof. It was
comprised of 24 steps, similar to a stepped pyramid. And that, in turn, was
topped by what one writer called the “penultimate work of sculpture” – four
horses pulling a chariot with two figures standing in it. These figures were modeled
after Mausolus and Artemisia. The stone wheels were over six feet in diameter,
and the chariot was made of bronze.
It is likely that
this amazing mausoleum was finished in approximately 350 B.C. Artemisia died in
351 B.C., two years after the passing of her husband. However, the sculptors
and workers who were currently working on the tomb decided to finish it anyway.
Whether they chose to do this out of love for Mausolus and Artemisia or out of
reverence for the beauty of what they were doing is unknown.
After their
deaths, Mausolus and Artemisia were buried in the tomb. It is likely that their
bodies were cremated and it was their urns placed inside. However, it could
have been coffins – we do not know for sure. The stairs into the burial chamber
were filled with rubble and stone, making future entrance impossible.
The Later History
of the Mausoleum
The
mausoleum was a long-lasting testament to the work of its builders. It stood
for 16 or 17 centuries, towering over the city of Halicarnassus. Many people came
to see it through the years. It stood unharmed as Alexander the Great conquered
the city in 334 B.C. Pirate attacks in 62 B.C. and 58 B.C. brought no damage to
it either.
There
are no records of the mausoleum throughout the New Testament era. It is not
entirely illogical to wonder if perhaps Paul, in his many travels, passed
through Halicarnassus and possibly saw this building. If he did indeed pass
through the city, we can be reasonably certain that he would have seen it, due
to how it presided over everything.
In the AD 12th century, however,
Eustathius (an ancient author) mentions it as a Wonder and as if it was still
standing at the time. However, shortly thereafter, a series of earthquakes
brought the mausoleum down. One source stated that it fell in AD 1304, which is
certainly a possible date. By AD 1404,[6]
only the base remained.
Knights of St.
John of Jerusalem arrived in the area in AD 1402 and recorded definitely at
that time that the mausoleum was in shambles. However, they were able to take
some of the carvings from the mausoleum to use in a stone castle that they
built. The stones could be clearly seen from 1494-1846.[7]
Discovery
Charles
Newton is credited with the official discovery of the Mausoleum at
Halicarnassus. The dates given for this discovery vary - one source claimed it
was in 1846, another claimed 1852. Whichever it was, in the mid-1800s, Newton
definitively discovered the tomb. The British government followed up by
commissioning an exploration three years later. This exploration brought back a
great deal of the marble to Britain, where it was put in the Mausoleum Room of
the British Museum.
Sadly,
no bodies or urns were found in the tomb. It had been plundered in antiquity.
However, 20 lions of the 24 who bordered the steps were discovered, some of
them in almost perfect condition. These also reside in the British Museum.
In
1972, there was still enough of the tomb left, despite the raiders of
antiquity, to be able to map out the layout of the underground burial chamber. Even
now, some of the stones used in the castle can be seen.
The
construction of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus influenced many buildings after
its discovery. While it has never been perfectly mapped out, due to a lack of
records, several buildings were built modeling it. The most significant,
perhaps, was Grant’s Tomb. But the greatest nod to this Wonder is the now
popular definition of the word “mausoleum.”
Conclusion
The
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a beautiful structure. That is the reason that
Antipater of Sidon chose to include it in his list of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World. While the other wonders were stunning in magnitude, this one was
beautiful. Antipater called it an “aesthetic triumph.” It was an architectural
wonder.[8]
[1]
Alternate spellings include, but are not limited to: Maussolus, Maussollos, and
Mausolos.
[2]
Alternatively, one source referred to her merely as Artemis.
[3]
One source said 355 B.C., but since many referred to 353 B.C., that is the
likely date.
[4]
Other sources claimed measurements including 135 feet (unreasonably low), 140
feet, 141 feet, and 148 feet.
[5] Alternatively
“Timotheos.”
[6]
One source said AD 1401.
[7]
Another source said that the marble carvings were taken around AD 1522.
[8]
Joseph J. Johnson supplied the final word.
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