Artemisia II of Caria
Artemisia II (Greek Ἀρτεμισία; † 351/350 BC) was the eldest daughter of Hekatomnos and sister and wife of the Persian satraps and de facto king of Caria Mausolus of Mylasa. Artemisia II was building owner of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, botanist and physician.
Life
Artemisia grew well on her father's farm, the Carian dynasts Hekatomnos in Mylasa on ( only Mausolus moved the residence to Halicarnassus ). Mausolus was followed by 377 BC his father as ruler of Caria and could, even though he was under the suzerainty of the Persian king, obtain a fairly independent position of power. His sister wife Artemisia should have acted as co-regent. This seems clear from preserved inscription fragments of treaties and decrees, even if Mausolus was the most politically clearly more dominant partner. So gave the siblings in a joint decree Knossos the proxeny.
After Mausolus ' death the childless Artemisia reigned two years by 353/352 bis 351/350 BC alone Caria. At the change of government, the Rhodians from the Hekatomniden dynasty sought to become independent and even wanted to conquer Halicarnassus. But Artemisia had secretly bring a well- equipped, manned with soldiers fleet in a hidden and unspoilt harbor of Halicarnassus, while the rest of the citizens at their behest welcomed the investing in the main harbor Rhodians and they pretended their submission. As now invaded the Rhodians in the city, Artemisia ran out with their fleet from the hidden harbor and seized the denuded of their team Rhodian ships. The previous land islanders were defeated and Artemisia rode their fleet to Rhodes. There she was able to land without hindrance, because the residents believed that their compatriots would victoriously. So Artemisia got the island under their control and put to death noble Rhodians, and establish as a victory monument two statues. Their site tags the Rhodians later and made it inaccessible; He therefore called Abaton. Demosthenes urged 351 BC in his 15th speech about the freedom of the Rhodians to attack Caria to rid Rhodes.
By a stratagem succeeded Artemisia also to bring the apparently fallen Heraclea on Latmos back under its rule. Having not had the same city can take, she organized at the nearby grove of the mother of the gods, a true feast that involved numerous musicians. The spectacle was apparently so grandiose that the residents moved out of their city to attend the celebration. Then broke the lurking in ambush Carian soldiers into the denuded of defenders Heraclea and conquered it. Compared to their overlord Artaxerxes III. Artemisia remained, however, in continuation of the course of her deceased husband's brother by a prudent policy.
The tradition emphasizes Artemisias incomparable love for her brother and husband as well as her great pain of its loss. After his death, she took the legend after his ashes mixed with water to him to be his living grave, and completed to his eternal memory almost (not preserved ) Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, which was one of the seven wonders of the world. For the decoration of this famous tomb of Mausolus Artemisia called the most important Greek artists. They also hosted a highly doped speech contest should be held at her late husband in the laudatory obituaries. Famous Greek speakers such as Theopompus, Naucrates Erythrai and Theodectes attended, and allegedly even Isocrates. As the winner of this Agon Theopompus emerged.
Before mourning her beloved husband Artemisia languished, according to the ancient sources there and survived him only two years. Their successors were also married to each other siblings Idrieus and Ada.