Knidos’ church and theater under restoration

MUĞLA – Anadolu Agency

Seasonal excavations have started to revive two magnificent structures of a theater and a church in the 2,600-year-old ancient city of Knidos (Cnidus) in the western province of Muğla.Knidos, believed to be the hometown of Eudoxus, a Greek astronomer, mathematician and student of Plato; Greek physician Euryphon; Greek vase painter Polygnotos and Greek architect and engineer Sostratos, is located at the crossroads of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.Research reveals that a physician and his students had established the second largest medical school of its time in Knidos. One of the most important discoveries of its time, the gnomon, first developed by Eudoxus, can still be found in the ancient city.The head of the Knidos excavations, Selçuk University academic Professor Ertekin Doksanaltı, said the city’s excavations restarted in 2013 after many years of waiting.He also said the Southern Aegean Development Agency (GEKA) provided 705,000 Turkish Liras of financial support for the Knidos’ restoration and environmental project in 2013, adding that the total budget of the project was 941,000 liras.He said the team had accelerated its work over the past two years in order to more quickly revive the ancient city, which is very important for the future of Datça district. The excavations of the church (known as “Church D”) and theater will be completed and their structures restored this year, he said.Doksanaltı said detailed aerial photos of the ancient city were taken from 90 and 120 degree angles.The ancient city of Knidos was a coastal town, he said, adding that they had searched underwater for the existence of other cultural artifacts around the city.“Church D, unearthed during the excavations, will be partly restored this season. The building survey, restitution and restoration projects of the structure have already been done,” he said.Doksanaltı also said the same projects for the small theater would be finished this year. The theater, located on the southern side of the city, was first excavated in the 1970s.Doksanaltı said Knidos was still magnificent. “Its famous ports that have survived with their round and square towers are still functional. The city, located on two hills that face each other, rises via terraces built on rocky land. The connection between the terraces is provided via stair streets,” he said.