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”
Kindos is an ancient city, about 35 kilometres distance from Datca and at the end of the peninsula of the same name. The road from Datca is paved and reasonably maintained, making it suitable for all vehicles. The road for Knidos starts in Datca, to the right of the main highway and at the beginning of the town boundaries. Scenery…
This must have been a gorgeous city. We still have the view and with some imagination the ruins become buildings.
We weren't expecting much because we had an old guide book and the site must have been excavated recently. In fact they are still at it. One gets a good feeling of what this town with its two interlinked ports must have been like in its heyday. The vows from the hill over the sea are staggering.
There are better beaches in the area. We didn't see the ruins cause it was too hot. The only restaurant there is overpriced.
there is lots to see and great views and you can get there by boat or by road.
it is a difficult place to reach because of the road, but well worth the trip. I like the view, especially when you are travelling along the dangerous rod, if you can sit back and relax, which is difficult to do, the view is excellent. The ancient Greek town is really interesting, highly recommend it.
If you are visiting Datca, take a boat tour to Knidos, and swim in the turquiose bays. It is a historical place you have to buy tickets to visit the entire place.
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.
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 road from Datça to Knidos was beautiful, highly recomended