Venus of Cnidos (Roman Copy)

c. 340-330 BC.

The Venus of Cnidos is a Roman copy of the one formerly sculpted by Praxiteles. It acted as the first free-standing female nude and was created to be viewed from all angles.

The pose of the goddess, in which her right hand shields her genitals, was created to draw the eye to what she was intentionally covering. Such a stance was then named Venus Pudica. 

Praxiteles was commissioned by the people of Kos for a statue of Venus. He created two versions: one in full drapery the other (shown on the left) that was nude. Until then, a female nude deity was unheard of and so the people of Kos accepted the fully clothed sculpture. However, the people of Cnidos had decided to accept Praxiteles nude one and created a round temple with the piece located in the centre.