Priene
ANCIENT CITY OF PRIENE
Priene was an important city in the ancient Greek Ionian times, around 300 BC. It is thought that the Ionians held congress and festivals in Priene. However, since it was not of as much importance as Miletus, the Hellenistic buildings did not get covered by Roman ones. Due to the large silt problem, it is thought that many more physical ruins remain under many feet of sediment.
MAIN SIGHTS
The town of Priene was designed using a grid plan. The city was enclosed by a wall, with towers and three principal gates. The town had six main streets, with the houses lined up in proportion.
One of the buildings remaining in the temple of Athena, which was designed by Pythius and is regarded as one of its most familiar landmarks. The temple is a hexagonal style structure and dates back to the 4th century BC.
Further down from the temple, is the Agora of Priene, the sacred Stoa, the assembly building (Bauleuterion), a gymnasium and stadium.
The Theatre of Priene is another marvel of Priene, built during the Hellenistic period and undergoing modifications during the Roman period. The theatre has a capacity of between 5000 and 6500 people, with some small name carvings still being visible, probably belonging to VIP’s.
Other interesting places to visit in the region include Miletos, Sirince Village and Temple of Artemis.