The ancient city of Knidos is situated on Cape Tekir, at the most western point of the Reşadiye Peninsula in Datça District of Muğla province. It is one of the most significant ancient cities on the western Anatolian coast, where the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea meet. As the ancient geographer Strabon stated, Knidos is a "double city" in appearance, comprising the mainland and the island part called "Kap Krio". The city is terraced due to the mountainous structure of the land. The sea between the island and the mainland was subsequently filled in order to obtain two separate ports. The smaller port to the north was used for military purposes, while the southern port on the other side is allocated for merchant ships. The tower on the north harbour and the remains of the breakwater covering the harbour can be seen here. The city of Knidos was established according to the grid plan layout developed by Hippodamus of Miletus, an ancient Greek architect and urban planner. Four broad streets, parallel to each other in the east-west direction, are intersected with a steep street in the north-south direction. Streets and side streets sometimes intersect each other directly or with stairs. On the mainland, there are the Acropolis and fortification walls, while on the east are the Demeter Sanctuary and the Great Theatre. Seven churches are known to exist in various parts of the city, as well as a villa from the Hellenistic period and an odeion on the south. The Sanctuary of Moses is located to the north of this part of the city. To the northeast of the mainland is a temple in the Corinthian order. To the west is the Round Temple Terrace, and just below is the Apollo Terrace. The Apollon Karneios festivities were held in this area. The edifice is accessed via an entrance on the east and west, with a street running between the terraces. A large sewage system has been identified in this area, along with the remains of the Bouleuterion. To the south of the terrace, there are remains of a temple known as the Pink Temple, which is distinguished by the color of its stones. To the north of the Great Harbor, there are the Small Theatre and the area called Dionysus Terrace, which is named for the temple of Dionysus. Additionally, there is a roofed colonnade extending to Port Street. The stoa (roofed colonnade) dates back to the early Hellenistic period in the 2nd century A.D. The Port Street runs from the small harbor to the Propylon. To the west of this street is the 'D' Church, while in the southern part a fountain structure has been uncovered. The inscription states that "The fountain was commissioned and presented to the public by Boulakrates, the city's waterworks manager." At the island part (Kap Krio), rows of shops, workplaces and settlements inhabited until around the 5th century AD were found. The necropolis of the city is located at the eastern entrance, and the various types of graves, which are spread over a large area of 7 kilometres, are noteworthy. Knidos was renowned for its wines, which were exported throughout the ancient Mediterranean. Since the beginning of the 6th century BC, the city played an important role in the Hellenistic world. In addition to being an important trade centre of antiquity, Knidos has also been a city of culture and the arts. The Aphrodite sculpture, created by the renowned 4th-century BC sculptor Praxiteles, is regarded as a significant archaeological find and contributes to the city's reputation.
DATÇA KNIDOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
