, and there
celebrated games in honour of Apollo, Poseidon and the nymphs. The city
was at first governed by an oligarchic senate, composed of sixty
members, known as [Greek: amnemones], and presided over by a magistrate
called an [Greek: areoter]; but, though it is proved by inscriptions
that the old names continued to a very late period, the constitution
underwent a popular transformation. The situation of the city was
favourable for commerce, and the Cnidians acquired considerable wealth,
and were able to colonize the island of Lipara, and founded the city of
Corcyra Nigra in the Adriatic. They ultimately submitted to Cyrus, and
from the battle of Eurymedon to the latter part of the Peloponnesian War
they were subject to Athens. In 394 B.C. Conon fought off the port the
battle which destroyed Spartan hegemony. The Romans easily obtained
their allegiance, and rewarded them for help given against Antiochus by
leaving them the freedom of their city. During the Byzantine period
there must still have been a considerable population; for the ruins
contain a large number of buildings belonging to the Byzantine style,
and Christian sepulchres are common in the neighbourhood. Eudoxus, the
astronomer, Ctesias, the writer on Persian history, and Sostratus, the
builder of the celebrated Pharos at Alexandria, are the most remarkable
of the Cnidians mentioned in history.

See C. T. Newton and R. P. Pullen, _Hist. of Discoveries at
Halicarnassus, Cnidus, &c._ (1863).

CNOSSUS, KNOSSOS, or GNOSSUS, an ancient city of Crete, on the left bank
of the Caeratus, a small stream which falls into the sea on the north
side of the island. The city was situated about 3 m. from the coast,
and, according to the old traditions, was founded by Minos, king of
Crete. The locality was associated with a number of the most interesting
legends of Greek mythology, particularly with those which related to
Jupiter, who was said to have been born, to have been married, and to
have been buried in the vicinity. Cnossus was also assigned as the site
of the labyrinth in which the Minotaur was confined. The truth behind
these legends has been revealed in recent years by the excavations of Dr
Evans. As the historical city was peopled by Dorians, the manners,
customs and political institutions of its inhabitants were all Dorian.
Along with Gortyna and Cydonia, it held for many years the supremacy
over the whole of Crete; and it always took a prominent pa