What Are Mausoleums for?
Stone buildings on cemetery grounds that house the dead above ground are mausoleums. They provide an alternative to underground burial. Mausoleums can provide better use of space and are used when cemeteries start to run out of burial plots. A mausoleum can be used by one family as a means of locating all the family burials in one location.
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History
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The original mausoleum was built by the Greek Queen Artemisia to house the remains of her husband, King Mausolus. Built at his death in 353 B.C. the structure at Halicarnassus, a city along the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor, became known as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The modern day word "mausoleum" comes from King Mausolus' name. The original mausoleum no longer exists but some of its remains and the statues of the King and Queen are on display in the mausoleum room of the British Museum.
Monuments
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Many famous rulers have used mausoleums as monuments to themselves. An example is Emperor Augustus of the Roman Empire. He built his mausoleum as one of his first acts, completing it in 28 B.C. It was a circular building with a diameter of 295 feet and a height of 137 feet. Augustus and other members of his family who followed him as emperors had their ashes placed in the mausoleum. Today the mausoleum is closed to the public as it sits in ruins, awaiting restoration.
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Memorial
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A memorial mausoleum. The Taj Mahal in India is the ultimate example of a mausoleum built as a memorial. Built by the Emperor Shah Jahan, it remains today as his enduring tribute to his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 during childbirth, after 19 years of marriage. Construction on the 42-acre site took 22 years and the labors of approximately 20,000 workers. In 1998 a restoration project was begun and is still ongoing.
Advantages
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Mausoleums offer advantages over underground burial. The controlled environment provides protection for the burial locations as opposed to the damage to a tombstone caused by rain and inclement weather. Visitors enjoy the controlled environment of the mausoleum. It offers security and peace of mind.
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References
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