Cnidus

Knidos

Κνίδος (Ancient Greek)
The port of Knidos
Shown within Turkey
Alternate name	Cnidus
Location	Yazıköy, Muğla Province, Turkey
Region	Caria
Coordinates	36°41′09″N 27°22′30″E / 36.68583°N 27.37500°E / 36.68583; 27.37500Coordinates: 36°41′09″N 27°22′30″E / 36.68583°N 27.37500°E / 36.68583; 27.37500
History
Associated with	Eudoxus, Ctesias, Sostratus
Events	Battle of Cnidus
Site notes
Excavation dates	1857–1858
Archaeologists	Charles Thomas Newton
Public access	Yes
Website	Knidos Archaeological Site

Knidos or Cnidus (/ˈnaɪdəs/; Greek: Κνίδος) was an ancient Greek city of Caria and part of the Dorian Hexapolis, in south-western Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. It was situated on the Datça peninsula, which forms the southern side of the Sinus Ceramicus, now known as Gulf of Gökova. By the 4th century BC, Knidos was located at the site of modern Tekir, opposite Triopion Island. But earlier, it was probably at the site of modern Datça (at the half-way point of the peninsula).

It was built partly on the mainland and partly on the Island of Triopion or Cape Krio. The debate about it being an island or cape is caused by the fact that in ancient times it was connected to the mainland by a causeway and bridge. Today the connection is formed by a narrow sandy isthmus. By means of the causeway the channel between island and mainland was formed into two harbours, of which the larger, or southern, was further enclosed by two strongly built moles that are still in good part entire.

The extreme length of the city was little less than a mile, and the whole intramural area is still thickly strewn with architectural remains. The walls, both of the island and on the mainland, can be traced throughout their whole circuit; and in many places, especially round the acropolis, at the northeast corner of the city, they are remarkably perfect.

Knidos was a Hellenic city of high antiquity. According to Herodotus' Histories) (I.174), the Cnidians were Lacedaemonian colonists; however, the presence of there argues for foundation or later influence by other Doric Greeks, possibly Argives. Diodorus Siculus (Bibliotheca Historica 5.53) claimed that Cnidus was founded by both Lacedaemonians and Argives. Along with Halicarnassus (present day Bodrum, Turkey) and Kos, and the Rhodian cities of Lindos, Kamiros and Ialyssos it formed the Dorian Hexapolis, which held its confederate assemblies on the Triopian headland, and there celebrated games in honour of Apollo, Poseidon and the nymphs.