The Aphrodite of Knidos is credited with being the first life-size female nude. Such was her novelty that the city of Kos on Crete is supposed to have rejected her in favour of a clothed version. The Knidians in Asia Minor were more daring and installed her in a round temple (tholos), where she became something of a celebrity.

By the fifth century CE the statue was said to be in the royal collection in Constantinople, along with the cult statue of Zeus from Olympia. Unfortunately, the palace went up in flames. This version is one of several from Rome