Cnidus

Cnidus, also known as Knidos, is an ancient Greek city-state located at the southwestern tip of the Datça Peninsula in present-day Muğla Province, Turkey. The site overlooks the Aegean Sea and the ancient harbor facilities, and its strategic position helped Knidos become a major trading center and cultural hub in Caria and Ionia from the Archaic through the Hellenistic periods.

Geography and archaeology

The ancient city occupied a promontory with access to natural harbors on both sides, a setting that supported maritime commerce. Archaeological remains include the city walls, an agora, a theatre, public baths, and a well-preserved harbor complex. Excavations have revealed a planned urban layout, with streets, public buildings, and monumental architecture that illustrate the city’s prosperity in the Hellenistic era. Inscriptions and material finds illuminate Knidos’ civic institutions, religious life, and commercial networks.

History and culture

Knidos emerged as a Carian settlement and later developed as a prominent Greek polis. It joined the Delian League in the 5th century BCE and maintained independence through much of the classical and Hellenistic periods before becoming part of Roman rule. The city was renowned for its wealth, sculpture, and architecture, and it minted its own coins. Among its most famous associations is the statue of Aphrodite of Knidos, attributed to Praxiteles, often cited as one of the great masterpieces of ancient Greek art and emblematic of the city’s artistic prestige.

Decline and legacy

Knidos declined after the region’s seismic and economic shifts in late antiquity, and the site was eventually abandoned. Today, Knidos remains an important archaeological and historical source for understanding urban planning, art, and maritime commerce in the ancient Greek world. The name Cnidus is the Latinized form of Knidos, reflecting its long usage in Classical and later sources.