The ancient city of Knidos, which dates back to the 4th century BC, was famous for its richness as well as its eroticism. Knidos; Datça is a Carian city located in Tekir Cape at the western end of the Reşadiye peninsula. It was the leading art and cultural center of the period. Knidos is one of the most interesting and mysterious ancient cities of Anatolia. Just as Smyrna, Izmir, has both Ion and Aiol characteristics and differentiates it from other Greek cities in western Anatolia, so is Datça. It has both Doric and Carian characteristics, both of which are influenced by the Doric tribes of immigrants from continental Greece, as well as Carian characteristics from Anatolia. A unique city in this respect. In addition, the strategic importance of the city is undeniably special, but what is more striking is that it was one of the centers of sex tourism in western Anatolia, like Pompeii in Italy, in ancient times.
In ancient times, when sexuality could not be spoken in great terms, people determined the place where they could freely fantasize as Knidos. At that time, sexuality was hidden, but happens in very exciting way. The ruins of the brothel are the most important findings that bring the sexual life in Knidos to the present day. The city, which became famous for its brothels in those ages, is becoming a haunt of sailors and Arab merchants coming from distant lands. Most of the oil lamps extracted in Knidos are made of couples making love. The works of ancient writers also mentioned this oil lamp tourism.
On the other side; Famous mathematician, astronomer and philosopher Eudoksos, the most important sculptors of the period, Faros Skopos and Bryaksis, the architect of the Lighthouse of Alexandria Sostrates, the king of Persia whom the physician who rescued from a relentless disease, lived in Knidos. Homer and Thukydides are among the authors who gave information about the location of this ancient city.
Above all, the most important and mysterious thing that makes this place very special is the circle-shaped Aphrodite temple. There is a rare round temple in Datca in the Greek world. It resembles the Delphoi temple in Greece. Rising up on the hill and seeing a bay, Knidos is already located in a very geographical location. The fact that the city possesses one of the most interesting and mysterious structures of Greek civilization and crowned with Aphrodite makes this place even more unique.
Aphrodite temple ruins and DATÇA LOCAL PERSON Aphrodite
Praksiteles, the famous sculptor of the time, made of white hard marble is the first naked statue of the goddess Aphrodite’. A self-confident, naked statue that reveals all its charm with a smile on its slightly open lips, naked and enchanting people with its beauty.
Knidos, famous for its contributions to eroticism as well as its wealth, exhibited the naked Aphrodite statue, the only example of its time, and tourists from other Greek cities visited Knidos, which was difficult to access to see the extraordinary Aphrodite statue. It is rumored that the statue was taken many years later by a Byzantine emperor to Istanbul and many copies were made. No small piece of the statue was found during the excavations in Knidos. From all this glory, there is only a path of heart-shaped marble columns.
According to Historian Herodotus of Halikanassos, when the Persians came to invade Kinidos in the 6th century BC, the Knidos tried to separate the city from the mainland by digging a canal between the current Gökova and Hisarönü gulfs in the Balıkaşıran position and tried to prevent the invasion. But after they started digging the canal there were many accidents and they sent ambassadors to the Apollo oracle center in Datça Delphoi to get the opinion of the city’s leading gods. God Apollon said to the ambassadors in an angry voice; “Do not build walls in Berzahta, do not dig channels. If Zeus wanted it, he would have made it an island. ” Warning to the people of Datca from ancient times, from Apollon and from Zeus. Do not spoil the nature of Datça.
Ruins of the Temple of Apollo
Builted by both Dor and Karia influence Antique Knidos
Trekking in Datça is like navigating the depths of history…
The Datca Peninsula hiking trail is mainly composed of forested and maquis. The rugged hiking route from Old Datça to the south and west crosses the bays and extends to the ancient city of Knidos and Deveboynu lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula. The views of the 12 Aegean island are wonderful. The narrowest part of the route passing through the northern part of the peninsula is Balıklaşan. There is a road to Sedir (Cleopatra) Island. The route starting from Akçapınar and following the old Muğla-Marmaris road ends at Akyaka.
DATÇA; You should go, you should be seen, when you tired you should rest in Datca PHAROS. Pharos Hotel was named after the lighthouse made by Sostratos of Knidos. It was named after because of it builded on the island of Pharos. This lantern is the oldest known and described precisely lantern. It can be seen from far distances with its tower which is about 120 meters high. It became famous enough to be considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Pharos Hotel is a cute and beautiful boutique hotel run by two world sweet people, Hüseyin Bey and his wife Gülen. It is designed not to contradict the beautiful nature of Datça. Without damaging the natural texture, as if placed inside of Datça. Although it is more recent, it seems that it has been there for years and is waiting for you as a guest. Olive trees, lemon trees, sea smell and friendly staff are waiting for you to relax when you are not swimming in the bays.
