Priene

Approximately 850 miles from Rome
Approximately 200 miles from Athens
The site of Priene, in southwestern Turkey, covers about 160 acres (1/4 of a square mile) and is surrounded by a fortification wall seven feet thick. The city was founded in the 11th c. B.C.E. by Ionians, supposedly under the mythological Aegyptus. The city's peak came under the rule of Bias (mid 6th century B.C.E.), one of the so-called "Seven Sages of Greece." In ca. 550 BCE the Persian king Cyrus captured the city. Priene is though to have contributed 12 warships in the battle of Lade, a naval battle in the Ionian revolt ca. 499-494 B.C.E. In response to this uprising, the Persian king Darius razed the city. A new city of the same name was established ca. 350 B.C.E. The city was moved ca. 350 B.C. to its present location. It had previously been situated along the Aegean’s coastline, but with the westward recession and the silt buildup on Priene’s two harbors, it was forced to move to a site closer to the Aegean. It then carried on its sea trade through the new port of Naulochus.Eventually, the city was absorbed by the Hellenistic kingdom of Pergamon. When Attalus III bequeathed this kingdom to Rome, Priene became officially a portion of the Roman province of Asia Minor. The Pontic king Mithridates VI sacked the city during his conquests of the mid-80's B.C.E., and the city did not regain any significance until the reign of Augustus.
The city is interesting in that its streets run almost directly horizontally and/or vertically -- obvious evidence for advanced city planning. Like most reek/Greek influenced towns, the agora (marketplace) was the center of commercial and public life. The agora and its surrounding stoae served many purposes including legal affairs, government offices, shopping, and worship; additionally these stoae served as general meeting places. Two buildings of interest include the bouleuterion -- the council chamber that seated close to 640 men, and is the best-preserved in all Anatolia -- and the theatre, the sight's most easily recognized building. This theater, originally designed in the Greek fashion, sits over 5,000 and reveals interesting features including stone armchairs lining the orchestra. Another remarkable building is the temple of Athena Polias (of which only 5 Ionic columns remain). This temple was constructed by a team of architects under Pythias, the chief builder of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.

Gates, Charles. Ancient Cities. New York: Routledge, 2003.

www.turizm.net/cities/priene/
www.dailysabah.com/life/history/1600-year-old-church-un...
 cityruinsancientplace with historical importancearchaeological site
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priene
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:  37°39'39"N 27°17'49"E

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