Knidos Temple of Apollo Karneios
Knidos Apollon Karneios Tapınağı · Cnidus Apollo Karneios · Knidos Karneion
Classical to Hellenistic·Dorian Greek, Knidian·🇹🇷 Muğla Province, Datça Peninsula, Yazıköy, Tekir Burnu, Turkey
About
About Knidos Temple of Apollo Karneios
Apollo Karneios temple on the commercial harbour terrace of Knidos (Cnidus), the Dorian Hexapolis metropolis at Tekir Burnu where Aegean meets Mediterranean, 35 km west of Datça town. DoricHexapolis foundation 600 BCE, Karneios (Dorian Apollo) temple 4th-century Dorico-Ionic with 6×11 columns on a double harbour podium controlling east-west Mediterranean route. Adjacent Aphrodite Euploia temenos held Praxiteles' nude Aphrodite of Knidos (first female nude, 360 BCE) that made Knidos a pilgrimage port. American-Turkish Love excavations 1964–; the temple's Karneian festival linked Knidos to Sparta and Cyrene, showing Dorian network cult.
Why it mattersDorian Hexapolis harbour cult linking Sparta-Knidos-Cyrene, and medical school site of Ctesias and Eudoxus.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Karneios Dorian vs pre-Dorian Apollo
- 02Aphrodite Euploia harbour protection vs fertility
Theories
- 01Double harbour temple as navigation beacon
- 02Pan-Dorian festival centre
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.360–340 BCE (Late Classical)
- Period
- Classical to Hellenistic
- Culture
- Dorian Greek, Knidian
- Builders
- Knidian demos and Triopian Dorian League
- Purpose
- Harbour Apollo protecting Dorian sea-route and medical school (Ctesias) sanctuary
- Abandoned
- c.400 CE Christian closure
- Rediscovered
- 1857 Newton; 1964 Love excavations
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
600 BCE
Knidos refounded at Tekir Burnu
360 BCE
Aphrodite Euploia with Praxiteles
1857
Newton's discovery of Demeter statue
On the ground
Structures & features
36.6860° N · 27.3750° E · 45 m · 2 mapped features
Knidos — Apollo Karneios Temple Terrace
temple terraceDorico-Ionic peripteral temple 6×11 on harbour terrace with circular altar
36.6870° N · 27.3760° EKnidos — Aphrodite Euploia Temenos (adjacent)
temenosAdjacent Aphrodite temenos with Praxiteles' Knidia statue base, 4th BCE
36.6850° N · 27.3740° E