Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Turkey

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus is the fifth wonder of the world. Its history is closely linked with the history of the temple of Artemis at Ephesus. It was built simultaneously with the second temple of Artemis, which was being rapidly restored after the fire. The building was constructed in an era when Caria was ruled by King Mausolus, so it was named after current ruler. King Mausolus was known for his tough-minded and inflexible nature. During his reign, the city of Halicarnassus was declared the capital of Caria.

Construction of the mausoleum in the capital began long before the ruler's death in 353 BC. Best architects and sculptors of ancient Greece were invited to build and decorate this place. According to available data, several hundred talented artists took part in the construction of the mausoleum. The tomb featured an impressive scale. There was a spacious courtyard, decorated buildings, as well as fine bas-reliefs and sculptures. Stone figures of lions, exquisite sculptures of gods and goddesses, as well as formidable warriors statues have to be mentioned.

When the king Mausolus died, the tomb has not been completed yet. Construction of the mausoleum was finished only in 350 BC. A grand building lasted nearly 2 000 years. During that time, the structure has experienced many important historical events, including numerous attacks by pirates and the conquest. The mausoleum was fully destroyed in the 15th century. Maltese took marble slabs and used them for the construction of the fortress, which bore the name of St. Peter. In 1966, fragments of bas-reliefs and statues of the once majestic tomb were found during archaeological investigations. As so, scientists managed to restore its image as closely as possible. Next - The Colossus of Rhodes