Datça & Knidos History
Around 1000 b.c the Dorians invade the southern part of the Caria kingdom. They established the Hexapolis (Six cities federation). In 700 b.c, immigrants from Argos came and joined the townies. The Persians invaded the Anatolian heights and conquered Knidos. It is told that they wanted to dig around the city to defend it, but since many of them were injured, they sent a group to the oracle of Delphi, for consultation. He told them the god Zeus was unhappy with there worship of him, and thus the have surrendered. In 360 b.c, the city was moved to tip of the Datça peninsula.

The townies build the Crio dam, and thus created 2 ports. Merchant and war ships start docking in them, and be doing so, the city became rich so much, that Delphi Apollo, a special auditorium, was built for all the riches.

The city was the home to a known mathematician and sculpture named Sostrates Eudoxos. He is known as the architect of one of the world's seven wonders, the Alexandria Lighthouse. In 350 b.c Praxiteles the sculptor, mad the first naked Aphrodite statue. The citizens of Cos bought the dressed statue whilst the citizens of Knidos bought the naked Aphrodite. This statue was famous around the old world. The original statue was lost, but 49 copies were made. One of them is in the Vatican museum.

Throughout the year, the city changed hand. It was controlled by Athens, the Spartan, Alexander Macedon (334- 331 b.c), the Roman and Byzantine empires. In 1200 a.d, Menteshe tribe conquers Datça. In 1390 sultan Beyazit attacks the city, with partial success. Late on the city fell into Ottoman hands. During the rule of sultan Resad (18^th century), the city's name was changed to Resadiye. In 1923, with the creation of the modern Turkish republic, the city got its old name back- Datça. Today it is part of the Muğla province.