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Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Short answer: The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum, Turkey) was a tomb about 45 m high, completed around 351 BC. It was built for Mausolus, a satrap of Caria under the Persian Achaemenid Empire, and his sister-wife Artemisia II, who oversaw the work after his death.

Its architects were Satyros and Pythius of Priene, and its sculpture is credited to leading Greek sculptors. It was so famous that 'mausoleum' became the general word for a grand tomb. A series of earthquakes between the 12th century and 1402 wrecked it, and the Knights of St John reused its stones; demolition was complete by 1494. The footage shows renderings of the tomb and its ruins, with the presenter. This is No. 5 in his Seven Wonders of the Ancient World series.

VideoWrite-up2 sources

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What should you know about Mausoleum at Halicarnassus?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Mausolus was a satrap of Caria.

    DD-100-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Satrap of Caria)

  2. Earthquakes destroyed the tomb in the Middle Ages.

    DD-100-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Artemisia II)

Video transcript: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: Every Mausoleum Is Named After One Man's Tomb

The 7 Wonders of the Ancient World No. 5 the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus DID YOU KNOW? The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a monumental tomb built for Mausolus a Persian satrap in the 4th century BC and his wife Artemisia. After Mausolus' death Artemisia commissioned the construction of a grand tomb in his honor. The mausoleum was an impressive blend of architectural styles adorned with intricate sculptures and reliefs. The word mausoleum eventually became a generic term for any grand tomb owing to the fame and splendor of this particular structure. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus stood for centuries until it was destroyed by a series of earthquakes in the Middle Ages. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 34.6s Reel ·

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Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: Every Mausoleum Is Named After One Man's Tomb Instagram Reel · · 34.6s

The write-up

Every mausoleum is named after one man's tomb. Mausolus of Caria gave his name to the word.

  1. Exhibit A

    Satrap of Caria

    Mausolus ruled Caria as a Persian satrap.

  2. Exhibit B

    Artemisia II

    His sister-wife Artemisia II oversaw the tomb after his death.

  3. Exhibit C

    About 45 m

    The tomb stood about 45 m high.

  4. Exhibit D

    A new word

    'Mausoleum' came to mean any grand tomb.

  5. Exhibit E

    Earthquakes

    Earthquakes between the 12th century and 1402 wrecked it.

Questions people ask about Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

What was Mausolus?

He ruled Caria for the Achaemenids.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Satrap of Caria) · Wikipedia: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Who oversaw the tomb after his death?

His sister and wife.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Artemisia II) · Wikipedia: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

About how tall was it?

About 148 ft.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (About 45 m) · Wikipedia: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

What word comes from Mausolus?

Any grand tomb.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (A new word) · Wikipedia: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus; Wikipedia: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

What destroyed it?

Between the 12th century and 1402.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Earthquakes) · Wikipedia: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What was Mausolus?

    1. A Persian satrap of Caria
    2. A Roman emperor
    3. An Egyptian pharaoh
    4. A Greek poet
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A Persian satrap of Caria He ruled Caria for the Achaemenids. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Satrap of Caria) · Wikipedia: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

  2. Who oversaw the tomb after his death?

    1. Artemisia II
    2. Cleopatra
    3. Croesus
    4. Phidias
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Artemisia II His sister and wife. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Artemisia II) · Wikipedia: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

  3. About how tall was it?

    1. 45 m
    2. 5 m
    3. 150 m
    4. 300 m
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 45 m About 148 ft. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (About 45 m) · Wikipedia: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

  4. What word comes from Mausolus?

    1. Mausoleum
    2. Museum
    3. Monument
    4. Marble
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Mausoleum Any grand tomb. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (A new word) · Wikipedia: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus; Wikipedia: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

  5. What destroyed it?

    1. Earthquakes
    2. A flood
    3. Arson
    4. Lightning
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Earthquakes Between the 12th century and 1402. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Earthquakes) · Wikipedia: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Mausoleum at Halicarnassus." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-100, last updated Nov 29, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/mausoleum-at-halicarnassus/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/mausoleum-at-halicarnassus/ · Last updated

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