Historians have long been fascinated by Halicarnassus. The city possesses an impressive historical and cultural legacy that belies its modest size and absence from major historical events. From the Father of History himself, Herodotus, to the famous warrior queen Artemisia I, and the extraordinary Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Halicarnassus’ pedigree is considerable. Artists, historians, and poets alike made this legacy their subjects, and as a result the city has a significant cultural presence that is well worth studying. However, although some of these features have been examined individually, the legacy of the city as a whole has yet to be explored in any substantial manner. This paper aims to rectify this. It will detail the story of Halicarnassus, demonstrating how it rose to become a place of such rich culture. It will then explore the reception of the city throughout history, covering literature, art, and other aspects of popular culture from antiquity to the present day. In particular, three cases will be the focus of this study: Queen Artemisia I, the ruling couple Mausolus and Artemisia II, and the famed Mausoleum itself.

About Classics and Ancient History Seminars

All research seminars begin at 4 pm on Friday (with the exception of special Friends of Antiquities events). 

They will take place simultaneously in person and online.

The in-person venue is room E302 of the Forgan-Smith Building (building no. 1) on the St-Lucia campus of the University of Queensland.

Please contact Associate Professor David Pritchard d.pritchard@uq.edu.au or admin-hapi@uq.edu.au for the zoom link. 

For further information please contact the Seminar Convenor Associate Professor David M. Pritchard (d.pritchard@uq.edu.au or +61 401 955 160).

 

Venue

Room: 
302 Forgan Smith (Building 1) St Lucia