Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Foundations of the tomb of Mausolus — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the origin of the word 'mausoleum'.
Built around 350 BC for Mausolus, the Persian satrap of Caria, and finished by his widow Artemisia, this marble tomb stood roughly 45 metres tall and was crowned by a four-horse chariot. Greek sculptors of the age worked its friezes, and it survived until a series of medieval earthquakes toppled it; the Knights Hospitaller later quarried its stone for Bodrum Castle. What remains today is the excavated foundation, scattered column drums, and a small exhibition explaining how the wonder once looked.
“To stand on the footprint of an Ancient Wonder that gave every 'mausoleum' its name.”
It is a quiet, shaded site a few streets uphill from the harbour — pair it with the castle and the ancient theatre for a half-day of Halicarnassus history.
Uneven excavated ground and low steps around the foundation.
Good to know
- Is Mausoleum at Halicarnassus free to visit?
- TL 100. Small entry fee for the open-air site; the finest sculptures are in the British Museum.
- How long should you spend at Mausoleum at Halicarnassus?
- ~45 min
- When is the best time to visit Mausoleum at Halicarnassus?
- Morning
- Is Mausoleum at Halicarnassus wheelchair accessible?
- Uneven excavated ground and low steps around the foundation.
