Priene

Priene Review

Priene sits spectacularly atop a steep hill above the flat valley of the Büyük Menderes Nehir (Maeander River). Dating from about 350 BC, the present-day remains of the city were still under construction in 334, when Alexander the Great liberated the Ionian settlements from Persian rule. At that time, Priene was a thriving port, but as in Ephesus, the harbor silted over, so commerce moved to neighboring Miletus, and the city's prosperity waned. As a result, the Romans never rebuilt Priene and the simpler Greek style predominates as in few other ancient cities in Turkey. Excavated by British archaeologists in 1868-69, the site is smaller than Ephesus and far less grandiose.

From the parking area, the walk up to the Priene ruins is fairly steep. As the routes through the ruins are well marked, you won't need a map. After passing through the old city walls, follow the city's original main thoroughfare and notice the drainage gutters and the grooves worn into the marble paving stones by the wheels of 4th-century BC chariots. Continuing west, you come to the well-preserved bouleterion (council chamber) on the left. The 10 rows of seats flank an orchestra pit with a little altar, decorated with bulls' heads and laurel leaves at the center. Passing through the doors on the opposite side of the council chamber takes you to the Sacred Stoa, a colonnaded civic center, and the edge of the agora, the marketplace. Farther west along the broad promenade are the remains of a row of private houses, each of which typically has two or three rooms on two floors: of the upper floors, only traces of a few stairwells remain. In the largest house a statue of Alexander was found.

A block or so farther along the main street is the Temple of Athena, the work of Pytheos, architect of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) and the design was repeatedly copied at other sites in the Greek empire. Alexander apparently chipped in on construction costs for the temple, a dwelling for the goddess Athena rather than a place for worshippers to gather—only priests could enter. Walk north and then east along the track that leads to the well-preserved little theater, sheltered on all sides by pine trees. Enter through the stage door into the orchestra section and note the five front-row VIP seats, carved thrones with lions' feet. If you scramble up a huge rock known as Samsun Dagi (behind the theater and to your left as you face the seats), you will find the sparse remains of the Sanctuary of Demeter, goddess of the harvest; only a few remnants of the columns and walls remain, as well as a big hole through which blood of sacrificial victims was poured as a gift to the deities of the underworld. Since few people make it up here, it is an incredibly peaceful spot with a terrific view over Priene and the plains. Beyond are the remnants of a Hellenistic fortress.