ETYM Latin mausoleum, Greek, from Mausoleus, king of Caria, to whom Artemisia, his widow, erected a stately monument.
A large tomb, usually above ground.
Monumental tomb, especially elaborate.
Large, free-standing, sumptuous tomb. The term derives from the magnificent sepulchral monument built for King Mausolus of Caria (died 353 BC) by his wife Artemisia at Halicarnassus in Asia Minor (modern-day Bodrum in Anatolia, Turkey); it was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, little remains at the site of the original monument, although some fragmentary sculptures from it are kept in the British Museum, London.
Later examples of mausolea include the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (5th century AD) at Ravenna, Italy, the Taj Mahal, and the sepulchral chapel built by Queen Victoria for Prince Albert at Frogmore, England.
das monumentale, etwa 46 m hohe Grabmal des Königs Mausolos von Karien ([a] 353 v. Chr.), in Halikarnassos. Das 185659 ausgegrabene M. galt im Altertum als eines der 7 Weltwunder; die Bez. M. übertrug sich auf ähnl. monumentale Grabanlagen.
urspr. das Grabmal des Königs Mausolos, des pers. Satrapen von Karien (-377 v.Chr. bis -353 v.Chr.), bei Halikarnassos, ausgeführt von griech. Architekten und Bildhauern, zählte zu den Sieben Weltwundern der Antike; später nannte man jedes monumentale Grabmal M.