The first location of Cnidus was half-way along the Datca peninsula. The residents moved it to its present site both on the Island of Tropium and on the mainland in about 365 B.C. The island is now connected to the mainland by a low, narrow isthmus which forms two small good harbors. Its citizens grew wealthy from commerce; the peninsula was famous for its wine. It was a center of culture: two theaters and an odeum suggest many hours of entertainment.
The city also had a good medical school. Praxiteles’ most famous statue, that of the nude Aphrodite, was bought by the city after the people of Cos rejected it in favor of a more modest and less celebrated woman. The original of the Cnidus statue is still being hunted; the best copy is in the Vatican Museum.
Ctesias, the Persian historian, was a native of Cnidus as was Sostratus, the builder of the Pharos at Alexandria. The Pharos was a lighthouse considered one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Eudoxus, one of the great astronomers, was also born in Cnidus. He perhaps was the head of Plato’s Academy when Aristotle joined it in Plato’s absence in 367 B.C. Eudoxus had his own school later in Cyzicus. He made a map of the stars and invented the horizontal sun dial.
There were a number of temples in the city, among them ones to Dionysus and Aphrodite. Games were celebrated there in honor of Apollo and Poseidon. The agora, the Temple of Aphrodite, the odeum, and two theaters can be seen in the ruins, thanks to recent excavations.
Cnidus was the last landfall mentioned in Asia Minor in Paul’s journey from Jerusalem to Rome. He had been put on an Egyptian ship in Myra which sailed up the coast to Cnidus; because of headwinds they took a good many days to reach it (Acts 27:7). They probably did not anchor there because of the inclement weather which continued and in fact got much worse. Instead, they went on to Fair Havens in Crete where Paul advised them to winter, but, a southerly breeze springing up, the captain put out to sea again hoping for a better harbor. The wind changed and “for days on end there was no sign of either sun or stars, a great storm was raging, and our last hopes of coming through alive began to fade” (Acts 27:20).
They had run out of food before Paul saw a vision in which he was promised safe journey for himself and all on board. After two weeks they were shipwrecked, but all were saved: some swam to land, some paddled ashore on planks or parts of the broken ship. It was the island of Malta where they landed and then spent the winter. With better weather they continued on to Rome where according to tradition Paul immeasurably strenghtened the church, wrote some of his undying letters, was tried as an incendiary in the great fire during the reign of Nero, and was executed.
Knidos Lion “This colossal lion weighs some six tons. Made from one piece of marble, it was mounted on a base crowning a funerary monument. The monument itself was square with a circular interior chamber and a stepped-pyramid roof. It is a type of funerary monument inspired by the greater tomb of Maussollos, built about 350 BC”
If you are going out onto this peninsula it is worth a visit, but do not expect anything on the scale of Ephesus. Afterwards it is nice to have a swim in the sea to cool down.
The best time to visit this place is in April when the flowers are blooming , the weather cooler and you will probably be the only visitors. As many have stated the restaurant there is over priced so take supplies with you. I have visited many times and still haven't seen it all. I particularly love the remains of the…
there is lots to see and great views and you can get there by boat or by road.
Well perhaps not quite Ephesus but the ruins are very extensive and you can explore where you will. Information is a little sparse but well worth a visit just for the beauty of the place. Served by a little bar next door with expensive (but not outrageous) drinks.
This is a huge Graeco-Roman site – covers about 7 kms – and one could spend a day there exploring. Its interest is not just archaelogical and historical but also biblical. It is well-signed in English and the bonus is the wonderful views on all sides not just of the countryside but of the coast and some of the Greek…
worth a visit, we travelled by boat so only got to spend 1hr there so no where near long enough would recommend visit by car
the history is amazing and a must for any history buffs
Knidos was the reason we went to Datca, and the drive to it which was well under and hour was fun. Up steep hills, cliffs, goats, pine trees, the ocean on both sides, villages, and once you reach Knidos which takes a bit of an imagination to see how it once was, if its June its HOT! But the ruins…
This historical site is located just on the corner of Eagean and Mediterrenean Seas. A must see.
Whilst the city itself consists mostly of low level remains of buildings that might interest only genuine archeology buffs rather than tourists more accustomed to the ruins of Rome, the natural setting is one of the most stunning you can imagine. It is also remote and untouched by modern development.
Referred to in the book of Acts, made it of significance to me, may not be the case for most, but the scenery getting there was awesome