alos k̂arnos 𐊠𐊣𐊫𐊰 𐊴𐊠𐊥𐊵𐊫𐊰 (in Carian) Ἁλῐκαρνᾱσσός (in Ancient Greek) Halikarnas (in Turkish) | |
 The ruins of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. | |
  Shown within Turkey  Halicarnassus (The Aegean Sea area) | |
| Location | Bodrum, Muğla Province, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Region | Caria |
| Coordinates | 37°02′16″N 27°25′27″E / 37.03778°N 27.42417°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Associated with | Herodotus |
Halicarnassus (/ˌhælɪkɑːrˈnæsəs/ HAL-ih-kar-NASS-əs; Latin: Halicarnassus or Halicarnāsus; Ancient Greek: Ἁλῐκαρνᾱσσός, Halikarnāssós; Turkish: Halikarnas; Carian: 𐊠𐊣𐊫𐊰 𐊴𐊠𐊥𐊵𐊫𐊰 alos k̂arnos) was an ancient Greek city in Caria, in Anatolia.[1] It was located in southwest Caria, on an advantageous site on the Gulf of Gökova, which is now in Bodrum, Turkey.[2] The city was famous for the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, also known simply as the Tomb of Mausolus, whose name provided the origin of the word "mausoleum". The mausoleum, built from 353 to 350 BC, ranked as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
Halicarnassus' history was special on two interlinked issues. Halicarnassus retained a monarchical system of government at a time when most other Greek city states had long since rid themselves of their kings. And secondly, while their Ionian neighbours rebelled against Persian rule, Halicarnassus remained loyal to the Persians and formed part of the Persian Empire until Alexander the Great captured it at the siege of Halicarnassus in 333 BC.
Zephyria was the original name of the settlement, and the present site of the great Castle of St. Peter built by the Knights of Rhodes in 1404 AD.[2] It was built on what was originally an island, which gradually expanded to include several Carian settlements on the mainland.[1] However, in the course of time, the island topographically united with the mainland, and the city was extended to combine with the existing Salmacis, an older town of the native Leleges and Carians,[2] and site of the later citadel. The first settlers were originally Dorians from the Peloponnese, but this was soon forgotten.
- ^ a b Livius.org Halicarnassus/Bodrum "Usually, Greek settlers first occupied an island near a native settlement; later, they settled on the mainland. We may assume that the first Greeks built their houses on the island that was later known as the Royal Island. Today, it is no longer an island, but an impressive castle built in the age of the Crusades. The native settlement probably was at the Salmacis hill, which was crowned by a sanctuary of Hermaphroditus.", "Later, the Greeks settled on the mainland. To the northeast of the island, they founded a marketplace to trade with the natives. The new Greek settlement itself was to the northwest.", "The Greeks thought that Halicarnassus was a "Dorian" city: its first settlers were from the Peloponnese and belonged to this tribe. The city was really proud of this descent, but in fact, the Dorian nature of the population was soon forgotten."
- ^ a b c One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Hogarth, David George (1911). "Halicarnassus". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 837–838.
