(anc. geog.) a Greek town of Caria; situated on a horn or promontory of a peninsula. It had in front a double port, and an island lying before it in form of a theatre, which being joined to the continent by moles or causeways, made Cnidus a Dipolis or double town, (Strabo), because a great number of Cnidians inhabited the island. Pausanias mentions a bridge which joined the island to the continent.—Cnidii, the people. Cnidus, the epithet.—Cnidia Venus, a principal divinity of the Cnidians, (Horace). Her statue was executed by Praxiteles; and so exquisitely done, and so much admired, that people came from all parts to view it, (Pliny). Of this place was Eudoxus, the famous astronomer and geometrician, who had here an observatory, (Strabo).