Watch List notes:

COINS OF THE GREEK WORLD
CARIA
Satraps

Artemisia II, 353-350. Bronze medal n. d. (1538/1564). by Alessandro Cesati, called "il Grecchetto". ΑΡΤΕΜΙΣΙΑΣ ΒΑ - ΣΙΛΙΣΣΑ Bust with veil to l. Rev. The Mausoleum of Halikarnsassos. MAYΣΩΛΕION below. 27.16 g. Attwood (Cesati) 948. Lawrence (Cavino) 75. Very rare. Attractive ochre-brown patina. Extremely fine.

Artemisia II was the sister and wife of Mausollos, Satrap of Caria. Upon the death of her father Hekatonos in 377, the residence moved from Mylasa to Halicarnassus. Mausollos became ruler of Caria and his sister/wife was made coregent. Having no children, Artemisia II ruled Caria for two years 353/352 until 351/350 alone. She was able defeat a Rhodian attack and was able to conquer the island in return. She also brought Herakleia ad Latmos under her rule. Nevertheless, she remained loyal to her suzerainArtaxerxes III of Persia.According to ancient sources she was deeply in love with her brother/husband and erected in his memory the fabled Mausoleum in Halikarnassus, one of the antique wonders of the world. She supposedly died of grief in two years after her brother's death. The Mauloleum was a three story structure of green volcanic stone, masked with marmor and richly decorated with statues depicting battle and hunting scenes, Ionic columns, heroes, gods, members of the dynasty, Amazons and centaurs. At the very top was a marble quadrigae driven by Mausollos and Artemisia, sculpted by Pytheos. It was damaged inan earthquake in the 12th century but remaine extant through the Middle Ages. The Knights of St. John dismantled it in 1404 and 1523 (when the funerary chamber was discovered and destroyed) to secure building material for their fortress St. Peter.Ever since, grand funerary buildings have been called mausoleums.