Halicarnassus

Halicarnassus ( Halicarnassus also German, Greek Ἁλικαρνασσός ) was an ancient Greek city ( a Doric foundation ) on the southwest coast of Asia Minor. The city lay on the territory of modern Turkish town of Bodrum.

History

Already in Linear B documents from Pylos, which date from the early 12th century BC, the name Zephyros is called. Among other things, because Zephyria is an old name of Halicarnassus, according to Strabo, it is assumed that Zephyros the Mycenaean name of a Bronze Age settlement on the territory of the later Halicarnassus is .. In the vicinity of Halicarnassus also a necropolis was discovered, whose graves contained Mycenaean pottery. Therefore, it is likely that Harlikarnassos - similar Iasos and Miletus - was already inhabited by Mycenaean Greeks.

Halicarnassus gained fame in classical antiquity through the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, which is counted to the classical Seven Wonders of the World. His most famous son is Herodotus, the father of history. The poet Heraclitus of Halicarnassus, and Dionysius of Halicarnassus, the historian also come from this city.

Since the year 480 BC, Artemisia ruled I, daughter of Adriani, as guardian of her son Pisindelis over Halicarnassus, including the islands of Kos and Nisyros included. On Greece campaign of Xerxes they participated with five ships on the part of the Persians. She advised Xerxes, who appreciated her wisdom and determination of the naval battle of Salamis from. In the 5th century BC, Halicarnassus was a member of the Delian League.

From 392 BC ruled as a Persian satrap Hekatomnos of Mylasa over Caria. With him the Dyanstie the Hekatomniden was founded, which was continued by all his children. He had three sons, mouse solos, Idrieus and Pixodarus; and two daughters, Artemisia II and Ada. Both were each married to their brothers mouse solos and Idrieus. Mouse Solos succeeded his father as ruler and made instead of the old Mylasa Halicarnassus the capital of his empire. In addition to a port, which was accessible only by a narrow channel, it had walls and watchtowers build both on land to be secured to the lake. A massive palace secured his views in all directions. Since mouse Solos despite his Carian descent had a great interest in Greek culture, he had, in addition to the military improvements of the city, among other things, build a Greek theater and a temple to Ares. After his death, his wife Artemisia II took over the rule of Caria and Rhodes. They summoned the most famous artists of Greece after Halicarnassus endowing the magnificent tomb for mouse solos, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Among other things, had artists like Leochares, Timotheus, Scopas or Bryaxis with this wonder of the world. The tomb had a base of 33 m × 39 m in size, about an Cella rose with colonnade of 36 Ionic columns, a pyramid eventually formed the roof, followed by a four-horse chariot and then the figures of the mouse solos and Artemisia stood ( Friese and the statue the mouse solos are today seen in the British Museum in London). 351 BC after the death of Artemisia mounted her brother Idrieus to the throne. Idrieus was again replaced after his death, BC 344 by his wife Ada as regent until their remaining brother Pixodarus 340 BC appropriated the throne. His son received Orontobates finally, after the death of his father, 335 BC, the satrap of Caria from Darius III. and thus ended the reign of the Hekatomniden.

334 BC, Halicarnassus was the last stronghold of the Persians against the conquest of Alexander the Great in Asia Minor ( Main article: Siege of Halicarnassus ). Memnon of Rhodes built the city and harbor from the base of operations of the Persian fleet. By a decree of the Great King Darius III. He was now commander in chief. Against the city was Alexander siege towers and battering rams used. After stubborn fighting, the troops withdrew Memnon of the harbor area and defended the base until the following year 333 BC The neutralization of Halicarnassus meant for Alexander the completion of the conquest of the west coast of Asia Minor.

From about 280 BC to 200 BC, Halicarnassus was part of the Ptolemaic empire.

Through the expansion of the Seleucids and the subjugation of the Greeks of Asia Minor cities of Rome was called into action. In the war against Antiochus III. was Halicarnassus on the Roman side, and kept so again for several decades its independence.

Since 129 BC, Halicarnassus was part of the Roman province of Asia.

Famous people

• Dionysius of Halicarnassus, historian
• Heraclitus of Halicarnassus, poet
• Herodotus, the "father of historiography "