Priene, now known as Güllübahçe, was
an ancient city of Ionia in Western
Anatolia situated some 20 km from
Söke. Excavations here were begun by
Carl Human in 1895 and completed by
Th. Wiegand in 1898. The ruins of
Priene present one of the most
striking examples of the grid type
of town-planning associated with the
name of Hippodamos. The plan of
Priene was based on that of Athens
and, as the ancient town is located
on a slope at the foot of a great
cliff of rock, the grid plan is
displayed in all its magnificence.
Temples and other buildings were
constructed on terraces in front of
the cliff. No one who visits this
little city can fail to be impressed
by the landscape and the whole
surrounding atmosphere. In spring it
fills anyone who views it with the
joy of life.
HISTORY OF PRIENE
The origin of Priene and the foundation of the
city are ascribed to the Carians, the indigenous
population of the region, but legends are our
only guide for the earliest days. The oldest
remains have been dated to the 6th century B.C.,
and it was on the territory of Priene that the
site of the Panionion was located. According to
some sources, the Ionians first arrived and
settled here in the 11th century B.C. and the
city was founded either by Aegyptus of Athens or
Philotas of Thebes. The city was one of the most
influential cities of the Ionian Confederacy and
took part in the development of holidays and
festivals in honor of Poseidon Heliconios. Bias,
one of the most eminent thinkers of ancient
times lived here. An electrum coinage is known
to have been produced during this period. In the
7th century Priene came under Lydian rule and in
the 6th century it was conquered by the Persians,
who were to exercise hegemony for over a century.
Priene . contributed twelve ships to the rising
against the Persians. A naval battle took place
off Lade in 494 B.C., with 353 Ionian triremes (ships
propelled by galley-slaves at three banks of
oars) against 600 Persian sailing-ships and
Darius took his revenge by completely destroying
the city.
The city possessed two harbours, but both of
these became silted up by the alluvium brought
down by the Meander river. The new city was
built on its present site in 350 B.C. At that
time the city lay at some distance from the sea
and carried on its maritime activity through the
little port of Naulochus. Like the contemporary
city of Pergamon, it possessed a very fine urban
layout and a magnificent view. Priene was noted
for its peace and prosperity, and never
displayed the pride and arrogance of Ephesus. It
remained a lovely little city with a population
of 4,000. The marble and bronze statues that
adorned the streets were painted in red and blue.
It was attached to Athens and never played a
truly independent role in politics. In the 4th
century B.C. Alexander the Great dedicated a
temple to Athena here. The city was occupied by
the Gauls in 277 B.C., then, after after passing
for a time into the hands of the Seleucides, it
was incorporated by King Attalos into the
Kingdom of Pergamon.
In 129 B.C. Priene became part of the Roman
province of Asia Minor. It was sacked by
Mithridates, King of Pontus, in 88 and 84 B.C.,
but regained its former wealth and prosperity
under the Emperor Augustus, whose cult was
performed in the temple of Athena and the Sacred
Stoa. After this, the increasing distance from
the sea led to the decline of the city. Priene
was the birthplace of Bias, one of the seven
sages of antiquity.
When Priene was besieged by the Persians and the
citizens began to flee from the city taking all
their valuable possessions with them, Bias
remained unmoved. On being asked if he had no
possessions he wished to save from the enemy, he
replied, "All my wealth is in my head" . Other
famous pronouncements of his are "Not to be able
to participate in misfortune is the greatest
catastrophe." "Begin slowly but continue with
vigour." "Action makes the man."
Priene was also the birthplace of Archelaus, the
famous sculptor who, in the 3rd century B.C.,
adorned the city with his artistic creations and
went on to work in Pergamon towards 240 B.C.
Priene appeared once again on the stage of
history in the Byzantine period as the seat of a
bishop. It was captured by the Turks in the l4th
century, after which it continued its existence
as an insignificant village
