Progress Review: ‘Reception of the City of Halicarnassus’ - Matthew Pearce

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.