The Lesche of the Knidians: Location, Inscription and
Excavation History

Floor Plan of Lesche by E. Janis

Location

The Lesche of the Knidians stands next to the northern wall of the enclosure, making it the highest point within the sanctuary temenos. The excavation of the Northern region of the site began in 1895, the excavators using Pausanias' description to approximate the location of the Lesche. North of the monument of Daochos, in a retaining wall of a terrace that elevated the Lesche, an inscription was found on a marble slab that assured the identification of the Knidian dedication.

Marble Inscription

Dedicatory Inscription

"The Knidian people (dedicated) the supporting wall to Apollo." According to Frazer, the style of letters dates to the third century B.C. (Frazer 1965: 357)

Remains

The location of the Lesche across from the Temple of Apollo was undeniably advantageous but the steeply sloping terrain was a logistical problem, forcing the architects to create a terrace to support the building. The terrace measured twenty meters by thirteen meters, limited on the north and the west by the contours of the terrain. Along with the terrace, part of the foundations and several of the lowest courses of the building were unearthed. The building measured fifty-five feet by twenty five on internal measurements and was oriented on an east-west axis. Inside the structure, in the north-eastern half of the building, four limestone blocks with circular sockets about six and a half inches across were found. Fragments of terra cotta roof tiles, cover joints, acroteria, and antefixes were also found. On the face of the northern wall, some remains of stucco painted with a bright blue pigment were discovered.