Last updated on .

Knidos (Κνίδος) is an archaeological site at the very end of Datça Peninsula, about a 45 minute drive from the town of Datça.

 

Brief History of Knidos

Knidos, or Cnidus, was an ancient Greek city in the Caria (Καρία) region. It was originally situated at the site of the modern town of Datça, but relocated to the present site in the 4th century BC. The city was partly on the mainland and partly on an island connected by a causeway.

Lower terrace of Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Lower terrace

Knidos became very wealthy through trade thanks to its position at the south of the Aegean Sea. It was an important city during the Byzantine period when many churches were built. Excavations first took place from 1857 to 1858 under British archaeologist Sir Charles Thomas Newton (1816-1894). Many findings are now on display in the British Museum in London. Excavation continues today.

Stairs to the upper terraces at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Stairs to the upper terraces


 

Visiting Knidos

At the end of the road is a small parking lot. Follow the path through the gates until you come to the ticket booth and main entrance. Admission for foreigners is 5€ (as of May 2024) and the site is open daily. There are many structures that have been excavated and even partially reconstructed since my first visit in November 2013, but information in English is still somewhat limited. Visit the official website for more info.

Path to the archaeological site
Path to the archaeological site
Ticket booth and gift shop
Ticket booth and gift shop

 

Lower Terrace of Knidos

The path just inside the entrance to the archaeological site takes you through the middle of the lower terrace. It’s lined with building fragments, column drums and capitals, and altars. There’s information for some of them, but during my visits most of the info has been in Turkish only.

Path inside the entrance
Path inside the entrance

First is an example of an entablature, which is a collection of horizontal roof elements sitting atop one another. The architrave is at the bottom, the frieze block is in the middle, and the cornice block is on top. Surviving entablatures found at Knidos were built in the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders. This specific entablature dates to the 2nd century during the Roman period.

Roman period entablature (2nd century)
Roman period entablature (2nd century)

Next is a collection of round altars, which were found all over Knidos, especially in the necropolis. They were used since the 6th century BC and were placed in front of graves. The altars were often decorated with garlands, bull heads, or snakes.

Altars
Altars

Finally, you’ll notice a limestone block with graffiti of the Hieros Gamos (Holy Marriage). It was originally located at the south terrace wall on the Sanctuary of Apollo at Emecik. The image depicts a man on the left with his hand stretched out to a woman’s chin. The woman, with wavy hair down to her chest, is taking his phallus in her hand.

Block with graffiti of the Hieros Gamos
Block with graffiti of the Hieros Gamos


 

Temple of Dionysus / Church C

Halfway down the path is the Temple of Dionysus, which was built during the Hellenistic period. It was identified as such due to the friezes depicting scenes of the life of Dionysus.

Temple of Dionysus and Church C at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Temple of Dionysus and Church C
Temple of Dionysus and Church C at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Temple of Dionysus and Church C

A three-aisled church known as Church C was built into the ruins of the temple before the 6th century. The narthex is to the west and the apse is to the east. The best-preserved part of the church is the apse.

Temple of Dionysus and Church C
Temple of Dionysus and Church C
Apse of the Temple of Dionysus and Church C
Apse
Apse of the Temple of Dionysus and Church C
Apse

 

Small Theatre

The small theatre is on the east side of the archaeological site overlooking the Commercial Harbor (today’s marina). You actually walk past it on your way to the entrance and can see it from outside the fence.

Small theatre in November 2013 at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Small theatre in November 2013
Small theatre at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Small theatre

The theatre had a capacity of 5,000 and had vaulted entrances to the east and west. It was first built in the 2nd century BC but the current appearance dates to the 1st or 2nd century AD. The stage building was probably two stories high and had niches decorated with statues. Local limestone and marble was used in the theatre’s construction.

West wall of the small theatre
West wall
Small theatre at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Small theatre
Copy of a statue in the small theatre
Copy of a statue
Chair at the small theatre
Chair


 

Stoa

A long stoa lines the north side of the lower terrace, running between Theatre Street to the east and Harbor Street to the west. It was built during the Hellenistic period and measures 132 meters long by 13 meters wide. The stoa collapsed in the 3rd century and was excavated between 1996 and 2006.

Stoa at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Stoa
Looking east down the stoa at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Looking east
East end of the stoa
East end

The stoa contained 27 rectangular shops measuring 5 x 4 meters under the columned gallery. The outer walls were covered in marble and opus sectile mosaics with marble from North Africa and Italy. The inner walls were lined with plaster.

Shops behind the stoa at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Shops
Shops under the stoa
Shops
Inside of a shop under the stoa
Inside of a shop

The columned gallery was built in the Corinthian order with grayish white marble columns. It was added to the stoa in the 1st or 2nd century AD and was 7.5 meters high.

West end of the stoa at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
West end of the stoa
Gallery of the stoa
Gallery

 

Heroon of Symmachos

On the westernmost stall of the stoa you’ll find a reconstruction of the Heroon of Symmachos. It was built between 115 and 130 to honor Symmachos, a benefactor of Knidos. It measures roughly 6 x 6 meters and features two piers on each end and two columns at the entrance. The walls and floor are covered with opus sectile panels.

Heroon of Symmachos at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Heroon of Symmachos

The back of the heroon has three podiums on which statues were once exhibited. The statues on the left and right podiums were never found. The original statue from the middle is on display in the Knidos Hall of the Marmaris Museum, and a copy sits on the center podium in the heroon.

Heroon of Symmachos
Heroon of Symmachos

An inscription on the righthand podium indicates the building’s dedication to Symmachos:

Demos (people), Boule (assembly), Mnemonion (board ol notables) and Gerousia (board of elders) honoured the benefactor Symmachos, son of Symmachos, grandson of Aristokleidas: dedicated to the gods.

Inscription in the Heroon of Symmachos
Inscription


 

Harbor Street

Harbor Street runs north to south along the west end of Knidos. It leads from the lower terrace up to the upper terraces.

Harbor Street at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Harbor Street
Harbor Street at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Harbor Street
Looking down from the top of Harbor Street
Looking down from the top of Harbor Street

 

Military Harbor

At the south end of Harbor Street is the Military Harbor, which was used for the protection of Knidos. The mouth of the harbor was fortified with a series of towers.

Military Harbor
Military Harbor
Military Harbor at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Military Harbor
Entrance to the Military Harbor at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Entrance to the harbor
Entrance to the Military Harbor
Entrance to the harbor
Tower at the entrance of the Military Harbor at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Tower


 

Fountain of Boulakrates

Next is the Fountain of Boulakrates. It’s a cylindrical structure made of white marble sitting on a pedestal measuring 3 x 3 meters. It was built in the 1st century BC by Boulakrates, who at the time was responsible for the city’s water supply. The fountain was reconstructed using a combination of original and new material.

Fountain of Boulakrates at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Fountain of Boulakrates

 

Church D

Just west of Harbor Street is Church D. This three-aisled church measured 36 x 16 meters and was first excavated in the late 1960s and early 1970s by American archaeologist Iris Love (1933-2020). It was excavated again in 2014 and partially reconstructed.

Church D
Church D
Church D at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Church D
Apse of Church D
Apse

Architectural elements are organized in the areas around the church. You’ll be able to see columns and other fragments including column capitals with crosses.

Architectural fragments of Church D
Architectural fragments
Column capital with a cross from Church D
Column capital with a cross

 

Shops Along Harbor Street

Across the street from Church D is a complex of seven rooms believed to be used as shops. They were built during the Late Classical or Early Hellenistic periods and used up until the 7th century. Sometime during the Roman period, Room 4 was converted to an elegantly decorated heroon, with the addition of a columned façade and marble walls and floors.

Shops along Harbor Street
Shops along Harbor Street
Room 4 / Heroon at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Room 4 / Heroon


 

Upper Terraces at Knidos

The upper terraces at Knidos contained more structures used for worship as well as government buildings. There are also some great views from up there. It’s possible to spot four Greek islands and a hidden cove.

Upper terraces at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Upper terraces
Upper terraces
Upper terraces
View from the upper terraces
View from the upper terraces
View from the upper terraces
View from the upper terraces
Hidden cove
Hidden cove

 

Propylon

At the top of Harbor Street is the Propylon. It was built in the Ionic order during the Early Hellenistic period and provided an entrance to the Temple of Apollo. The Propylon measured 11 x 8 meters and had 4 columns along the façade. The city’s drainage system ran under the structure.

Propylon at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Propylon
Propylon
Propylon
Door of the Propylon
Door


 

Temple of Apollo

The Temple of Apollo was laid out in an east to west direction with the entrance at the east. It measured 19 x 11 meters and contained a colossal statue of Apollo. Only the knee and fragments of the leg were found.

Temple of Apollo (rear) and altar (front) at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Temple of Apollo (rear) and altar (front)
Temple of Apollo
Temple of Apollo

The altar sat in front of temple. It measured 11 x 7 meters and was made of blocks covered with grayish blue marble. Friezes of nymphs discovered at the site are on display at the Marmaris Museum. They were sculpted by Theon of Antioch and Zenotodos of Knidos in the early 2nd century BC.

Altar of the Temple of Apollo
Altar
Altar of the Temple of Apollo at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Altar

 

Tholos

At the highest point of the archaeological site is the Tholos, which was made of gray marble and built in the 2nd century. The entrance was via a set of steps to the east and the cella was surrounded by columns topped with Corinthian capitals. The Tholos has been associated as the Temple of Aphrodite.

Tholos at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Tholos
Tholos at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Tholos

The foundations of buildings survive to the east and west of the Tholos. They were used as treasuries or store rooms. A longer building to the east may have been used for religious ceremonies or to accommodate guests.

Foundations to the west of the Tholos
Foundations to the west
Foundations to the east of the Tholos
Foundations to the east


 

Bouleuterion

On a terrace east of Harbor Street is the Bouleuterion dating to the Roman period. It was where council members met.

Bouleuterion at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Bouleuterion

 

Corinthian Temple

A Corinthian temple sits a few steps away. It was built during the reign of Hadrian in the early 2nd century. Nearby is a sundial.

Corinthian Temple
Corinthian Temple
Corinthian Temple
Corinthian Temple
Sundial
Sundial
Sundial at Knidos on Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Sundial

 

Church B

The final major structure on the upper terraces of Knidos is Church B. It was a three-aisled basilica built south of a Doric stoa. The church had three apses, a mosaic floor, and a synthronon. We noticed a very interesting inscription in Arabic dating to an Umayyad invasion in the 670s.

Church B
Church B
Panel with a cross from Church B
Panel with a cross
Mosaic floor from Church B
Mosaic floor
Arabic inscription near Church B
Arabic inscription


 

Commercial Harbor / Knidos Marina

Finally, south of the theatre is the Commercial Harbor, which was used for trade during ancient times. Today, it’s outside of the archaeological park and serves as the Knidos Marina. In the summer, there are all kinds of boats and yachts moored there, but in the low season, it’s usually completely empty.

Commercial Harbor
Commercial Harbor
Commercial Harbor
Commercial Harbor

The marina features a pier that juts out into crystal clear water. I would love to have jumped right into the water and had a nice swim.

Pier
Pier

 

Knidos Lighthouse

If you have more time to spend, I would suggest taking the hike out to the Knidos Lighthouse. It sits on a cape at the westernmost point of the Datça Peninsula. You can walk to it in about 20 or 30 minutes. The best time to go is before sunset, when you can watch the sun go down over the island of Kos.

Cape at Knidos, Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Cape
Knidos Lighthouse
Knidos Lighthouse

 

Map of Knidos

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

Write A Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Jump To