Ruler of Caria (r. 377-c. 350 b. c.e.)
Born: Date unknown; place unknown Died: c. 350 b. c.e.; Halicarnassus, Turkey Category: Government and politics; women
Life Named after her more famous predecessor who fought against the Greeks for the Persians at the Battle of Salamis in 480 b. c.e., Artemisia II (ahrt-uh-MIHZ - ee-uh) was the wife and also the sister of Mausolus. For twenty-four years (377-353 b. c.e.), Mausolus ruled a small section of the Persian Empire along the Aegean Sea in southwestern Turkey. From the capital in Halicarnassus, together they extended their territory over other cities and conquered the island of Rhodes. Although Persian, the couple admired the Greek culture and did their best to promote it in the cities under their rule. On the death of Mausolus in 353 b. c.e., Artemisia succeeded him. A revolt by the Rhodians occurred, and a fleet of ships was sent to capture the city of Halicarnassus. Learning of the attack, Artemisia commanded her navy to anchor in a secret location, and when the time was right, they attacked and defeated the rebellion.
Influence Artemisia ordered the construction of an Ionic-style tomb for her husband’s ashes. The greatest Greek artists were commissioned to create the tomb, which when complete was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Artemisia never lived to see the finished tomb, dying only three years after her husband. She also was entombed in the structure. The magnificence of the completed tomb resulted in the coinage of the word “mausoleum” after Mausolus, Artemisia’s husband.
Further Reading
Boardman, John, et al. Greece and the Hellenistic World. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1988.
Hornblower, S. Mausolus. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1982.
Lightman, Marjorie, and Benjamin Lightman. Biographical Dictionary of Ancient Greek and Roman Women: Notable Women from Sappho to Helena. New York: Facts On File, 2000.
John A. Nichols
See also: Halicarnassus Mausoleum; Mausolus.
World History
