KNIDOS (Cnidus) Ancient City Datça Turke
Knidos (Cnidus)
Ancient City, Turkey
Written By: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
See Article History
Cnidus, ancient Greek city on the Carian Chersonese, on the southwest coast of Anatolia. The city was an important commercial centre, the home of a famous medical school, and the site of the observatory of the astronomer Eudoxus. Cnidus was one of six cities in the Dorian Hexapolis and hosted the Dorian games every four years. The Cnidians claimed they were of Spartan origin.
First founded on the southern coast of the Reşadiye peninsula, it was moved in c. 330 bc to Deveboynu Burnu (Cape Kriyo), where a small island was artificially joined to the mainland. One of the two harbours thus created served ships of war, the other merchant shipping. Cnidus founded colonies on Lipara, north of Sicily, and at Black Corcyra (modern Korčula, Croatia) in the Adriatic Sea.
After a vain attempt to convert their peninsula into an island, the Cnidians submitted to the Persians soon after 546 bc; they supported Athens in the Delian League against Persia but revolted against Athens in 412. Cnidus became a democracy in the 4th century bc and was under Ptolemaic control in the 3rd century. It was a free city within the Roman province of Asia, enduring until the 7th century ad, when it was abandoned.
C.T. Newton, excavating the site in 1857–59, found a marble statue of the seated Demeter there. Later excavation revealed the axial plan of the ancient city, a few private dwellings, and numerous public buildings. The most significant of these is the Temple of Aphrodite, a circular Doric temple, excavated by Iris C. Love in 1970. At this site Love found the marble base and fragments of the famous statue of Aphrodite sculpted by Praxiteles in the 4th century bc. The statue, one of the most celebrated in classical antiquity, was purchased by the people of Cnidus after the citizens of the Cos had rejected it on account of its nudity.
www.britannica.com/place/Cnidus
www.triphistoric.com/historic-sites/knidos
The Lion of Knidos
www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collecti...
DEMETER FROM KNIDOS
The sculpture of Demeter, found in her sanctuary at Knidos in 1858, was first recorded in modern times by English travelers in 1812. The inherent pathos of the figure – the deep-set eyes and other facial characteristics – is often associated with works of the 4th century BCE. sculptor Skopas. However, the work is also often attributed to other sculptors, and some sources date the origin of the work to later centuries.
Here, Demeter is shown seated on a throne - the back part and arm-rails have broken away and are missing. Her lower arms and hands are also lost, though she probably once held a libation bowl or torch. The head was carved separately from the body and socketed into the neck. Demeter is portrayed as a model of Greek womanhood - serene, mature, motherly and modestly veiled. It is speculated that the piece may have originally been accompanied by a standing figure, presumably Persephone. It is also speculated that weary in her search, she sits alone.
Historical Context:
The Sanctuary of Demeter at Knidos was laid out at about the same time as the re-founding of the city, around 350 BCE. The sanctuary consisted of a long platform terraced into the side of an acropolis, with spectacular views of the city below and the sea beyond. Many votive sculptures were once displayed within the sanctuary. Most of these survive only as fragments, but this cult statue of Demeter herself is remarkably intact.
www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collecti...
www.slatermuseum.org/cast/demeter-from-knidos/
KNIDOS (Cnidus) Ancient City Datça Turke
Knidos (Cnidus)
Ancient City, Turkey
Written By: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
See Article History
Cnidus, ancient Greek city on the Carian Chersonese, on the southwest coast of Anatolia. The city was an important commercial centre, the home of a famous medical school, and the site of the observatory of the astronomer Eudoxus. Cnidus was one of six cities in the Dorian Hexapolis and hosted the Dorian games every four years. The Cnidians claimed they were of Spartan origin.
First founded on the southern coast of the Reşadiye peninsula, it was moved in c. 330 bc to Deveboynu Burnu (Cape Kriyo), where a small island was artificially joined to the mainland. One of the two harbours thus created served ships of war, the other merchant shipping. Cnidus founded colonies on Lipara, north of Sicily, and at Black Corcyra (modern Korčula, Croatia) in the Adriatic Sea.
After a vain attempt to convert their peninsula into an island, the Cnidians submitted to the Persians soon after 546 bc; they supported Athens in the Delian League against Persia but revolted against Athens in 412. Cnidus became a democracy in the 4th century bc and was under Ptolemaic control in the 3rd century. It was a free city within the Roman province of Asia, enduring until the 7th century ad, when it was abandoned.
C.T. Newton, excavating the site in 1857–59, found a marble statue of the seated Demeter there. Later excavation revealed the axial plan of the ancient city, a few private dwellings, and numerous public buildings. The most significant of these is the Temple of Aphrodite, a circular Doric temple, excavated by Iris C. Love in 1970. At this site Love found the marble base and fragments of the famous statue of Aphrodite sculpted by Praxiteles in the 4th century bc. The statue, one of the most celebrated in classical antiquity, was purchased by the people of Cnidus after the citizens of the Cos had rejected it on account of its nudity.
www.britannica.com/place/Cnidus
www.triphistoric.com/historic-sites/knidos
The Lion of Knidos
www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collecti...
DEMETER FROM KNIDOS
The sculpture of Demeter, found in her sanctuary at Knidos in 1858, was first recorded in modern times by English travelers in 1812. The inherent pathos of the figure – the deep-set eyes and other facial characteristics – is often associated with works of the 4th century BCE. sculptor Skopas. However, the work is also often attributed to other sculptors, and some sources date the origin of the work to later centuries.
Here, Demeter is shown seated on a throne - the back part and arm-rails have broken away and are missing. Her lower arms and hands are also lost, though she probably once held a libation bowl or torch. The head was carved separately from the body and socketed into the neck. Demeter is portrayed as a model of Greek womanhood - serene, mature, motherly and modestly veiled. It is speculated that the piece may have originally been accompanied by a standing figure, presumably Persephone. It is also speculated that weary in her search, she sits alone.
Historical Context:
The Sanctuary of Demeter at Knidos was laid out at about the same time as the re-founding of the city, around 350 BCE. The sanctuary consisted of a long platform terraced into the side of an acropolis, with spectacular views of the city below and the sea beyond. Many votive sculptures were once displayed within the sanctuary. Most of these survive only as fragments, but this cult statue of Demeter herself is remarkably intact.
www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collecti...
www.slatermuseum.org/cast/demeter-from-knidos/