Bodrum’s open air museum project launched

MUĞLA – DHA

A project prepared by the Culture and Tourism Ministry to transform the area of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, into an open air museum, was presented at a meeting on July 14. 

“We have prepared the environmental arrangement project of the Halicarnassus Mausoleum. The monumental tomb of the Karia Satrabu Mausolos, who gave the name to the mausoleum, was destroyed over time. Then, while a castle was built by the St. Jean Knights, a large part of it was taken there. The mausoleum is a cultural heritage in Bodrum that was unearthed during archeological excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World. But now, since the mausoleum has been completely demolished, there is only an excavation pit and there is very little evidence,” said the project official Hüseyin Sinan Omacan. 

“The other original piece was taken to the United Kingdom during the 19th century excavations and is being exhibited at the British Museum. Some of them are on display here, but they are not very important either. Yet, there are some difficulties for visitors in perceiving the mausoleum but the real reason for this is that the mausoleum is an excavation pit and has very few original pieces,” said the official. 

Omacan said thanks to the project, visitors would understand the mausoleum better. “Even though the original structure of the mausoleum has been lost today, there are traces about its environmental arrangement. Its podium, entrance terrace, and traces of the entrance are still there. What we will do is highlight traces of the mausoleum’s remaining plan. We will also tell the story of how the mausoleum was lost. The project has been approved by the Muğla Cultural and Natural Heritage Preservation Board. It will be realized in six months,” he said.