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Priene |
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 Priene
which is in Güllübahce at a distance of 15 km from
Söke, was carried to its present locality in the
year 350 B.C. from the original place where it had
been founded earlier. At the point of entrance of
the ruins, a road on the right leads us to the
Theater of Priene.The theater had been built during
the Hellenistic period, and underwent modifications
during the Roman period.
The theater consists of 50 rows of seats and
is capable of holding 5.000 people and, in the
section of the orchestra of the theater, there are
marble armchairs reserved for eminent people. On the
right side of the theater, the Themenos of Egyptian
Gods is situated. The upper Gymnasium is in front of
the theater and the Byzantine church is at its side.
You pass to the famous Temple of Athena from here.
The Temple of Athena belongs to the 4th century B.C.
and it is the work of the architect Pytheos. 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 architecture, have been
erected.
Alexander the Great had the eastern half of the
temple completed. The altar in the front was
decorated with high reliefs 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. When you go
downwards from the temple, you see the Agora of
Priene which belongs to the 3rd century B.C.
The sacred Stoa belonging to the 2nd century B.C.,
is situated north of the Agora. Bauleuterion (the
assembly building) which looks like a small theater,
with dimensions of 20 x 21 m and capacity for 640
people, is adjacent to the Stoa and, adjacent to it,
there is Prytaneion (2nd century B.C.) where the
sacred fire used to burn.
Temenos of Zeus Olympios and the food market are situated east and west
of the Agora respectively. 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. |
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