SATRAPS of CARIA. Maussolos. Circa 377/6-353/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 15.24 g, 12h). Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly right / Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding scepter with left hand. SNG Kayhan 872; Traité II 91; SNG Copenhagen 590. Near EF, toned.
Maussollos, the son of Hekatomnos, succeeded his father as satrap and semi-independent king of Caria in 377 BC in conjunction with his sister-wife, Artemisia. During 366-360 BC, he joined the Great Satraps’ Revolt against Artaxerxes II, but soon re-allied himself with Persia. Having moved his capital from Mylasa to Halikarnassos early in his reign, Maussollos turned his eye to the Aegean and began fomenting discord between Athens and her allies. He expanded his sphere of influence to include northern Crete, Ionia, Pamphylia and Pisidia; he annexed Rhodes, Chios, and Kos. An important figure in the diffusion of Hellenism, in 367 BC he began the creation of his tomb, a 100 x120 ft. structure decorated by some of the greatest sculptors of the time; it was henceforth colloquially known as the Mausoleum and was renowned as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
