Archaeology
BodrumHalikarnassos, HalicarnassusPlace descriptionAccording to Herodotus, Halikkarnassos was founded by Dorian colonists and was one of the six members of the Dorian Confederacy. The original inhabitants were Lelegians and Karians. From the mid 6th century BC onwards, it was probably a part of the Lydian empire of Croesus. After the king was defeated, the city became a part of the Archaemenid Empire. During the first half of the 4th century BC, the city and the whole of Karia were ruled by Hekatamns and Maussollos. The later chose Halikarnassos as the capital of his kingdom. The city was rebuilt by Maussollos on a gridiron plan. New inhabitants settled in the city, which was fortified with walls still visible today. A theatre and the temple of Ares might have been built by Maussolus. After he died, his sister Artemisia became the ruler and built him a Mausoleum in the centre of the town. This building was reckoned to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was covered with white Proconnesian marble. According to Virtruvius, the architects were Satyrus and Pytheos, whereas the sculptures were the works of the most famous sculptors: Scopas, Bryaxis, Timotheus, and Leochares. However, the Mausoleum experienced decline from Antiquity till the Middle Ages and it was ultimately destroyed by the Rhodian knights in 1522. Stones of the monuments were reused in the castle of Bodrum. During the campaign of Alexander the Great, the city was one of the most important strongholds of the Persian Empire and was defended by the Greek mercenary leader Memnon of Rhodes. During the war between Antiochus III and the Roman Republic, Halikarnassos pursued a pro-Roman attitude. After that, it became impendent for a short period of time. However, during the early 1st century BC, it became a target of Mithridates of Pontus and the Cilician pirates. In 58BC, the city was annexed and came under the province of Asia. During the civil wars, it sided with Julius Caesar and followed his policy towards the Jews. |