Priene

Priene was a very interesting ruin because it was purely hellenistic greek, without any roman influence.  We visited on our way back from Ephesus

It was a quite grid like layout of a town, the organization stood out even in the chaos of the ruins

It was an amazingly peaceful place, with all the pine trees growing throughout the ruins

A temple of some sort

Theater

Seating for 5000

Stage

Eric in his dignitary throne

A little more definition to the seats

A Byzantine basilica

Temple of Athena Polias

Financed by Alexander the great

Impressive backdrop

Athena's temple had lots of columns, most on the ground in pieces

These ones had been restored

To give you an idea of the size, there dis Eric with some of the sections.  Those are big

Priene used to be on the coast, but massive sedimentation filled in the bay, like in Ephesus.  I took a picture of the inforgraphic because it was so interesting to see the progression. Easy to see why the town died out.

Pretty place though

I think this is the sanctuary of Demeter and Kore

You can see the giant boulders that fell off that pretty backdrop mountain onto the town.  ouch

a cool gutter drain

Looking over the city wall to what used to be a huge bay

The source of those big boulders

The Bouleuterion, or council chamber

Temple of Zeus, I think

Gymnasium

Silly romantic pic

One of the things I loved here is how most of the insular, or apartment blocks were still visible.  Mostly knee height, but it was like seeing a large blueprint.  Tiny rooms by my modern standards

A road headed down to the west gate.  Drainage gutter included

Lots of stairs and pathways between the insular, maybe even within.  Some stairs were right next to each other

I do think that mountain is pretty, can you tell?

Out the west gate.  That was all water in the heyday of this town

Just a cool bench

Looking down on more of the town

It was a really magical and peaceful place.  

Priene