Priene has by far the most spectacular site of any of the ancient Ionian cities , standing on a narrow shelf of hillside high above the Meander Valley , with the mighty St.Mycale presiding majestically above the ruins. It is hard to believe now, that Priene was once an active port on the coast

The ancient harbor city of Priene probably changed its location when the silt of the Meander River threatened to bury it. Now it is nearly 16 km from the sea. The original place of the city has never been found but it was probably a peninsula with two harbors. Priene was laid out on a Hippodamian system of grid plan at the foot of a spectacular cliff on Mount Mycale and contained many famous examples of Hellenistic art and architecture. All the streets intersect at right angles. Remaining small with about 4 or 5 thousand inhabitants and never of great political significance it shared the same history as the other Ionian cities.
(Location: Söke)

Uploaded by slavica on 5/4/2009, viewed 924 times.