The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

You may have heard of the term mausoleum.

Today, this term is used to describe a burial tomb; however, did you know that the term is derived from the name of one of the ancient wonders of the world?

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus is the fifth of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This tomb was built for the Persian ruler, Mausolus, by his wife Artemisia. It was built in 351 BC, in what is today known as Bodrum, Turkey.

The tomb is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World because of the beauty of its craftmanship, and its massive size. It is estimated that the tomb was 135 feet tall, and was decorated with ornate sculptures. Most of the mausoleum was built out of marble, and was surrounded by a courtyard with a staircase leading up to the tomb. Two giant lion sculptures stood at the base of the staircase. Over time, the tomb was gradually ruined by a series of earthquakes. It was eventually dismantled by a group of knights (Knights of St. John Malar) who used portions of the temple to build a castle.

Take a virtual tour of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus by viewing the following xtheatronN video, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. As you tour the mausoleum, observe the features of the mausoleum and share your observations with your parent or teacher at the conclusion of the video:

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was created as the final resting place for King Mausolus by his wife. Like many of the structures of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was built to inspire and to have a lasting impact.

To continue learning about this remarkable creation, move on to the Got It? section to test your historical knowledge of this ancient wonder by answering a few true or false questions.