Halicarnassus

A Greek city on the west coast of Turkey (once Asia Minor), the birthplace of the 5th-century BC historian Herodotus. Formed part of the Delian league, its peak period was as capital city of Mausolus (satrap), who ruled Caria from 377-353 BC. He built walls, public buildings (agora, theater), and the famous Mausoleum (one of the Seven Wonders of Ancient World) as his funerary temple, of which nothing now remains but fragments preserved in the British Museum. Halicarnassus' sack by Alexander The Great in 334 BC is the last major event on record. Virtually all traces of ancient Halicarnassus has now unfortunately disappeared under modern Bodrum. Some sections of the city wall survive, and the site of the mausoleum, the tomb of Mausolus, is known.

[Bodrum]. An Ionian Greek port on the west coast of Caria, Asia Minor, lying opposite the island of Cos. Possibly a very early foundation (traditionally dated to the 9th or 10th century bc), it was famous in antiquity for its Mausoleion and as the birthplace of the 5th-century bc historian, Herodotus. In the classical period it shows an Ionian Greek culture, strongly coloured by local Carian influences. As Persian satrapy, it became the capital of Carian dynasts, one of whom, Mausolus (377-353 bc) was especially responsible for the distinction of its agora, theatre and temples, to which he added his own palace. The fine view afforded by the town from the sea is described by Vitruvius. Its sack by Alexander the Great in 334 bc (for having the impudence to resist) is the last major event on record, after which the town seems to have retreated into obscurity. Virtually all trace of ancient Halicarnassus has now unfortunately disappeared under modem Bodrum. Some sections of the city wall survive, and the site of the mausoleum, the tomb of Mausolus, is known. From its materials a great castle of the Knights of St John was later constructed in the 15th century.