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The mayor of Bodrum in Turkey has announced plans for a full scale replica of King Mausolus' Mausoleum to be built. Only ruins currently remain at the site of the structure which was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The mayor says that the thousands of visitors to the site would benefit from the model which will allow them to better appreciate the ancient tomb.

The Mausoleum was said to be built of white marble and stood to a height of approximately 50 metres. The massive structure was built so well that it remained intact for over 1500 years until an earthquake in 1304 caused significant destruction. Further damage was caused later in 1522 when materials were taken from the site to build a nearby castle. Some of the marble blocks taken can still be identified within the walls of the castle in Bodrum harbour today. Alongside several statues from the original site, a frieze from the original walls is now housed in the British Museum although a copy of it remains on the site for tourists to see.

The original Mausoleum was built in honour of King Mausolus by his wife Artemisia who spared no expense in its construction. The best architects, artists and sculptors were recruited from Greece and the huge structure took several years to complete. The original building had 36 columns supporting a pyramid-shaped roof. The roof area carried several statues, the biggest of which was of four huge horses pulling a chariot. Many buildings around the world have been modelled on it including City Hall in Los Angeles and the House of the Temple in Washington DC which was completed in 1915.

The site of the Mausoleum is just a few hundred meters north of the harbour in Bodrum.