Tombstone of King Mausolus of Halicarnassus

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus - one of the most impressive buildings of ancient culture. Like many other monuments of the time, it was a tribute to love. It was built as a tomb by order of inconsolable widow Artemisia for her husband Maussollos.

During the life of famous mausoleum of his greed and ability to benefit from the most. It was he who was the author of such absurd taxes as a tax on the hair! Probably because of their greed, he amassed his enormous wealth, which served as his wife for the creation of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Artemisia love was so great that she has not regretted enormous resources it took to build. However, it is believed that the tomb beginning built during the life of the king, and after his death was only completed, but there is no evidence for this hypothesis.

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus to be so large and rich that its proclaimed wonder of the world. Architecture of the building is really admirable. It consisted of three tiers, the lower of which was directly tomb for mausoleums and Artemisia. Huge chamber height of about 20 meters and an area of ​​5,000 square meters outside was finished with marble slabs. Second floor, surrounded by 36 columns, served as a repository for sacrifices. Completed the building of the pyramid and her chariot, which ran Mausoleum and Artemisia. Under the mausoleum was assigned to the widest street in the city.

In 1522 Halicarnassus Mausoleum was almost demolished by stones. Durable marble slabs were used to strengthen the fortress. Naturally, all jewels disappeared forever. Much later, archaeologists found fragments of statues of the king and queen, as well as the horse's head, almost untouched by time. Now finds are in the British Museum in London and the Archaeological Museum in Istanbul.