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”
Two harbours – one military and one commercial – dating from Roman times. Large area where you can wander freely looking at the way ancient buildings were laid out. Beautiful sea. Not crowded.
the road heading to Knidos is amazing along the sea!! You can stop and swim on the beaches you pass by. Knidos is nice and there is one cafe you can take a break.
Over the years we have visited much has changed. The kiosk that sold cold drinks is now a restaurant and now there is a proper entrance into the historical site. Interesting drive from datca, a few hairpin bends and mad Turkish drivers going 100 miles an hour but it all adds to the fun of driving in turkey. Much more…
PRO: Stunning place, quiet, nice people.
CONS: It is kinda far and there are no good restaurants.
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The agora, the theatre, an odeum, a temple of Dionysus, a temple of the Muses, a temple of Aphrodite all of them moved to famous museums of world but Knidos is still a great city.
The city, architecture of city plan and view from lighthouse all awesome.
Cons:
Food prices over average.
Enjoy the history on peninsula between Agean Sea…
Öncelikle knidos antik kenti cok onemli ve cok degerli bir antik kenttir. Badem cicekleri ve zeytin agacları arasından giden zevkli fakat bi o kdr da dar bir yol. Karsıdan nseidos adası rahatca gorulebilior yolda giderken. İçerisi bir o kdr harika cunku gecmiste insan kavimleri yasadıgı için guzel ama turkce acıklama nerdeyse hic yok gbi bi sey. Cogunlukla ingilizce, almanca ve…
Artefacts in Knidos could have been better presented. Presenting the rich history with vibrant culture may have placed Datca on the world map.
the road from Datça to Knidos was beautiful, highly recomended
The setting is beautiful, with two small harbours of crystalline water. However, if you do it in July like I did, you really will not want to wander for hours under the sun. The road to get to Knidos is basic, to say the least, and you should allow some 45 minutes of careful driving, but it is worth it.
There are better beaches in the area. We didn't see the ruins cause it was too hot. The only restaurant there is overpriced.