Bible Dictionary
Cnidus
Cnidus was a city and harbor at the southwestern extremity of Asia Minor. Paul’s ship passed near it on the voyage to Rome (Acts 27:7).
Definition
Cnidus was a city and harbor of Caria at the southwestern extremity of Asia Minor, near the end of the peninsula now called Cape Crio. It possessed two harbors and was a free city in the Roman province of Asia.
Biblical Usage
Paul’s ship passed near Cnidus during the voyage to Rome.
Historical Background
The city stood on the end of a peninsula and an adjoining island, which in ancient times were connected by a causeway. Its ruins include sea-walls, piers, an acropolis, public buildings, theaters, an odeum, and a large necropolis.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A town and harbour on the extreme south-west of the peninsula of Doris in Asia Minor. Paul sailed past it on his voyage to Rome after leaving Myra (Acts 27:7).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(nidus), a city of great consequence, situated at the extreme south west of the peninsula of Asia Minor, on a promontory now called Cape Crio, which projects between the islands of Cos and Rhodes. See (Acts 21:1) It is now in ruins.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ni'-dus, kni'-dus (Knidos, "age"): A city of Caria in the Roman province of Asia, past which, according to Ac 27:7, Paul sailed. At the Southwest corner of Asia Minor there projects for 90 miles into the sea a long, narrow peninsula, practically dividing the Aegean from the Mediterranean. It now bears the name of Cape Crio. Ships sailing along the southern coast of Asia Minor here turn northward as they round the point. Upon the very end of the peninsula, and also upon a small island off its point was the city of Cnidus. The island which in ancient times was connected with the mainland by a causeway is now joined to it by a sandy bar. Thus were formed two harbors, one of which could be closed by a chain. Though Cnidus was in Caria, it held the rank of a free city. There were Jews here as early as the 2nd century BC.</p><p>The ruins of Cnidus are the only objects of interest on the long peninsula, and as they may be reached by land only with great difficulty, few travelers have visited them; they may, however, be reached more easily by boat. The nearest modern village is Yazi Keui, 6 miles away. The ruins of Cnidus are unusually interesting, for the entire plan of the city may easily be traced. The sea-walls and piers remain. The acropolis was upon the hill in the western portion of the town; upon the terraces below stood the public buildings, among which were two theaters and the odeum still well preserved. The city was especially noted for its shrine of Venus and for the statue of that goddess by Praxiteles. Here in 1875-78 Sir C. Newton discovered the statue of Demeter, now in the British Museum. See also the Aphrodite of Cnidus in the South Kensington Museum, one of the loveliest statues in the world. From here also came the huge Cnidian lion. The vast necropolis West of the ruins contains tombs of every size and shape, and from various ages.</p><p>E. J. Banks</p>