Knidos A Guide To The Ancient Site

Knidos is a hidden treasure, situated on the far southwest coast of Turkey – an ancient city in a setting of great natural beauty, remote, and yet redolent with history. Its rocky landscape dotted with patches of unspoilt wild vegetation combines with a pleasantly mild climate to give added attraction to the charm of this archaeological site, where winds provide a cool breeze even in hottest summer months. Because of its location at the end of a long peninsula, Knidos is hard to reach by road, and most visitors prefer to arrive by sea. However, those who choose to use the difficult overland route are rewarded with a journey through an attractive but changing landscape of pine forests, red and black rocky outcrops formed from cooled lava, and almond and olive groves, a main source of income for the local people. The last stage of the road passes through the ancient cemetery or necropolis area. Finally, one reaches the spot from where there is a uniquely beautiful view, and one looks out across theterraced slopes and harbours of Knidos.

Although excavations have been carried out at the site for many years, Knidos, because of its remote and isolated location, has remained unspoilt and has not been overwhelmed by a large volume of tourist traffic. This book is intended to provide visitors with a brief history of this important ancient city and an easy guide to the site as it is today.

The surviving ruined buildings and monuments are described in a set order, as listed in the contents, so that visitors are given the best route to follow. Those buildings that are most visible and whose excavation has been completed are listed first and in greater detail, while others, such as the Large Theatre, which are difficult to reach, or areas that are still being excavated or studied, like the Sanctuary of the Muses and the Necropolis, are described more briefly.