The origins of this beautiful city are
old indeed. By the eleventh century B.C. it
was one of the twelve colonies forming the
Ionian Confederation and enjoyed
considerable prestige and prosperity. It was
situated below the mass of Samsun Mountain (formerly
Mikale) on the shore before river Maeander
silted up the port. Now the sea is fifteen
kilometers away and surrounding plains have
become immense cotton plantations. The city
rebelled against Persian domination under
King Cyrus and in revenge the Persians razed
it to the ground. New Priene was reborn
under Alexander the Great in 330 B.C. and
after countless struggles and invasions
became a Roman province in 129 A.D. . The
city regained its prosperity under the
Emperor Augustus in spite of having a
population of only seven thousand. During
the Byzantine reign it became a Bishopric.
Priene became part of the Ottoman Empire in
the fourteenth century. The streets of
Priene are unusual in the that they are all
horizontal and vertical, parallel and
perpendicular, like a chess board. However
comfortable shoes are a must, especially for
those wishing to reach the top where at one
time the Acropolis stood. Now there are only
ruins, but the view is spectacular and well
worth the effort. On the other hand, the
Theatre is still in good condition although
it is partly submerged in trees and
vegetation. The theatre was originally Greek
and built in the fourth century B.C. but it
was altered by the Romans in the second
century A.D. and its seating capacity
increased to hold six thousand spectators.
The wall of the stage which has two storeys,
faces a row of five marble throne-like seats
resting on pedestals in the form of lions
feet surrounded by ivy leaves. Perhaps the
theatre was also used for debates and
political meetings.
Only five fluted Ionian columns
survive from the original sixty-six of the
Temple of Athena Polias, erected by
Alexander the great in 334 B.C . In the
center there was once a statue of Athena
seven meters high rivaling in size the
famous statue by Pheidias in the Parthenon
in Athens. By the temple the ruins of houses
belonging to rich citizens or important
dignitaries can be seen. They had numerous
rooms facing onto interior courtyards. The
bouleuterion, the ancient senate was
constructed in the second century B.C. with
an enormous council chamber capable of
holding six hundred and fifty people. Almost
nothing remains of the Prytaneion, the
city's administrative building, only the
great courtyard. The stadium dates from
second century B.C. and is one hundred and
ninety meters long. At one time there was a
portico of Doric columns. Under this loggia
athletes could train when it rained but it
was also used as a meeting place for the
general population of Priene.
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FETHIYE
BODRUM
MARMARIS
ANTALYA
