Rhamnus was the birthplace of the orator Antiphon; but it was chiefly celebrated in antiquity on account of its worship of Nemesis, who was hence called by the Latin poets "Rhamnsusia virgo and Rhamnsssia dea". The temple of the goddess was at a short distance from the town. It contained a celebrated statue of Nemesis, which, according to Pausanias, was the work of Pheidias, and was made by him out of a block of Parian marble, which the Persians had brought with them for the construction of a trophy. The statue was of colossal size, 10 cubits in height, and on its basis were several figures in relief. Other writers say that the statue was the work of Agoracritus of Paros, a disciple of Pheidias. It was however a common opinion that Pheidias was the real author of the statue, but that he gave up the honour of the work to his favourite disciple.