Famous Mausoleums

Mausoleums have served as burial sites for centuries. The Tomb of Mausolus was built between 353 and 350 BC in the ancient town of Halicarnassus, known today as the modern city of Bodrum in Turkey. Mausolus was a governor in the Persian Empire, and his tomb was considered to be so magnificent that it was identified as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

When discussing the history of mausoleums, it is important to mention the Tomb of Mausolus. As you probably have already figured out, the word mausoleum came from this tomb as a way of describing any tomb built on a grand or aesthetically pleasing scale. Unfortunately, the Tomb of Mausolus was damaged by an earthquake and eventually dismantled by European Crusaders in the 15^th Century.

But, there are plenty of amazing mausoleums standing today. Here is a list of some famous mausoleums from around the world:

1. The Taj Mahal in Agra, India, was built between 1632 and 1653 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife. It is an enormous structure constructed of white marble that is well recognized for its architectural beauty, reflecting pools, and beautiful ornamental gardens.
2. The Mausoleum of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC) is one of the more unusual mausoleums because of the life-like and life-sized figures of the Terracotta Army that adorn the site. The is located near the city of Xi’an in China. The tomb itself has yet to be excavated but the location has become one of the top tourist attractions in the land because of the spectacle of the army figures.
3. The Mausoleum of Hadrian, typically known as the Castel Sant’Angelo, is a towering cylindrical structure located in Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. Hadrian’s ashes were interred here one year after his death in 138 AD, along with those of his wife and his first adopted son. The ashes of subsequent emperors were also placed in this tomb. The building is currently used as a museum.
4. The Mausoleum of the Shirvanshahs is located in the Inner City of Baku, Azerbaijan. This mausoleum is rectangular in shape and is topped with a hexahedral cupola, which is decorated on the outside with multi-radial stars. Sultan Khalilullah I commissioned this mausoleum for his mother and son in the 15^th
5. Lenin’s Mausoleum can be found in Moscow, Russia, and has served as the resting place of the Soviet leader, Vladimir Lenin, since the year after his death in 1924. His embalmed body has been on public display since that time. Lenin’s corpse requires daily maintenance for preservation, and his sarcophagus is kept at a temperature of 61 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity of 80-90 percent. The corpse is given a chemical bath every 18 months.

Mausoleums are still used today as a viable option for interment. They are a unique way to preserve your legacy and that of your family. If you are interested in learning more about our mausoleums, please contact us at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery.