ABOUT PRIENE

At the point of entrance of the ruins, a road on the right leads us to the Theatre of Priene. The theater had been built during the Hellenistic period, and underwent modifications during the Roman period. The theatre consists of 50 rows of seats and is capable of holding 5.000 people and, in the section of the orchestra of the theatre, there are five marble armchairs reserved for eminent people. On the right side of the theatre, the Themenos of Egyptian Gods is situated. The upper Gymnasium is in front of the theatre and the Bzantine church is at its side. The Temple of Athena belongs to the 4th c. B.C. and it is the work of the architect Pytheos who also built Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. The temple, with 6 x 11 columns, has dimensions of 19.55 x 37.20 m. A few columns of the temple, which is a classical example of Ionian architechture, have been erected. Alexander the Great had the eastern half of the temple completed. The altar in the front was decorated with high relieves in the past, and it belongs to the 2nd century B.C. The Stoa that displays a graceful example of stone workmanship is on the south of the Temple of Athena.

Going downwards from the temple, you can see the Agora of Priene which belongs to the 3rd century B.C. Next to that there was also a fish and meat market. The sacred Stoa belonging to the 2nd century B.C., is situated north of the Agora. The Bouleuterion (the Assembly building) which looks like a small square theatre, with dimensions of 20 x 21 m and a capacity for 640 people, is adjacent to the Stoa and, adjacent to it, there is Prytaneion (Town Hall) from 2nd century B.C. where the sacred fire used to burn. Temenos of Zeus Olympios is situated east of the Agora. There are houses on two sides of the avenue which connects the Agora to the western gate. Temenos of Kybele and the house of Alexander the Great are situated at the western gate side of the avenue. In the extreme south of Priene, the lower Gymnasium and the Stadium are situated.