Gümüşkesen Grave Monument

Gümüşkesen Grave Monument

Gümüşkesen is an impressive funerary complex situated in Milas, Turkey, dating back to the 2nd century AD. Made of gray-white marble, the monument stands at a towering height of 8.45 meters.

Some experts believe that the Gümüşkesen tomb was modeled after the famous Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The structure was constructed on a flat platform, as the land slope dictated, using marble quarried from Sodra Mountain.

Gümüşkesen Grave Monument

The burial chamber is divided into three sections, with the middle floor surrounded by columns that were used for religious ceremonies. The attic level is also supported by these columns. The lower floor, made of large rectangular marble blocks, contains an entrance door that is slightly shifted off-axis. Four evenly spaced pillars support a larger roof, which once held sarcophagi that have since been removed.

On the second floor, the columns feature capitals adorned with acanthus leaves that were once covered by wooden balustrades. A hole on the north side of the middle floor narrows down like a funnel, likely used for pouring holy liquid or sacrificial blood into the burial chamber during religious ceremonies.

The tomb's ceiling is decorated with an intricate geometric and floral pattern, showcasing the remarkable masonry skills of the builders and emphasizing the importance of the person buried within the tomb.