Editing Priene (section)

== Geography ==

=== Earliest cities ===
[[File:Priene colline colonne.jpg|thumb|The cliff side of the acropolis, with the Temple of Athena in the foreground]]
The city visible on the slopes and escarpment of [[Mycale]] was constructed according to plan entirely during the 4th century BCE. The original Priene had been a port city situated at the then mouth of the Maeander River. This location caused insuperable environmental difficulties, due to slow [[aggradation]] of the riverbed and [[progradation]] in the direction of the [[Aegean Sea]]. Typically the harbour would silt over, so that residents were living in pest-ridden swamps and marshes.

The Maeander flows through a slowly subsiding rift valley, creating a [[submergent coastline|drowned coastline]]. Human use of the previously forested slopes and valley removed trees and exposed soils to erosion. The sediments were progressively deposited in the trough at the mouth of the river, which migrated westward and more than compensated for the subsidence.

Physical remains of the original Priene have not yet been identified. It is believed they are likely to be buried under many feet of sediment. The top is now cultivated as valuable agricultural land. Knowledge of the average rate of progradation is the basis for estimating the location of the city, which was moved closer to the water again every few centuries in order to operate as a port.

The Greek city (there may have been unknown habitations of other ethnicities, as at [[Miletus]]) was founded by a colony from the ancient Greek city of [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]] in the vicinity of ancient [[Söke|Aneon]] at about 1000&nbsp;BCE. At about 700&nbsp;BCE a series of earthquakes were the catalyst to move the city to within {{convert|8|km}} of its 4th century BCE location. At about 500&nbsp;BCE, the city moved again to the port of Naulochos.<ref name=crouch199-200>Crouch (2004) pages 199-200.</ref>

===4th century BCE city===
[[File:Dedication of Alexander the Great to Athena Polias at Priene.jpg|thumb|left|Dedication of [[Alexander the Great]] to [[Athena Polias]] at Priene. [[British Museum]]]]
{{further|Alexander the Great's edict to Priene}}
At about 350&nbsp;BCE the Persian-empire [[satrap]], [[Mausolus]] (a [[Caria]]n), planned a magnificent new city on the steep slopes of Mycale. He hoped it could be a permanent deep-water port (similar to the many Greek island cities, located on and up seaside escarpments). Construction had begun when the Macedonians took the region from the [[Achaemenid Empire|Persian Empire]], and [[Alexander the Great]] personally assumed responsibility for the development. He and Mausolus intended to make Priene a model city. Alexander offered to pay for construction of the [[Temple of Athena Polias (Priene)|Temple of Athena]] to designs of the noted architect [[Pythius of Priene|Pytheos]], if it would be dedicated by him, which it was, in 323&nbsp;BCE. The dedicatory inscription is held by the [[British Museum]].<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/gr/d/dedication_by_alexander.aspx British Museum Highlights]</ref> The inscription translated to: "King Alexander dedicated the temple to Athena Polias".

The leading citizens were quick to follow suit: most of the public buildings were constructed at private expense and are inscribed with the names of the donors.

The ruins of the city are generally conceded to be the most spectacular surviving example of an entire ancient Greek city; it is intact except for the ravages of time. It has been studied since at least the 18th century. The city was constructed of [[marble]] from nearby quarries on Mycale, and wood for such items as roofs and floors. The public area is laid out in a grid pattern up the steep slopes, drained by a system of channels. The water distribution and sewer systems survive. Foundations, paved streets, stairways, partial door frames, monuments, walls, terraces can be seen everywhere among toppled columns and blocks. No wood has survived. The city extends upward to the base of an escarpment projecting from Mycale. A narrow path leads to the [[acropolis]] above.

===Later years===
[[File:Theatre at Priene - View from the Cheap Seats - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|Greek theatre at Priene]]
Despite the expectations, Priene lasted only a few centuries as a deep-water port. In the 2nd century CE [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] reports that the Maeander already had silted over the inlet in which [[Myus]] stood, and that the population had abandoned it for [[Miletus]].<ref>''Description of Greece'' Book 7 Section 2.11.</ref>
While Miletus apparently still had an open port then, according to recent geoarchaeological research, Priene had already lost the port and open connection to the sea in about the 1st century BCE.<ref>Marc Müllenhoff ''Geoarchäologische, sedimentologische und morphodynamische Untersuchungen im Mündungsgebiet des Büyük Menderes (Mäander), Westtürkei'' Marburg/Lahn 2005</ref> Its merchants likely had preceded most residents in relocation to Miletus. By 300 CE the entire Bay of Miletus, except for Lake Bafa, was silted in.

Today Miletus is many miles from the sea. Priene stands at the edge of a fertile plain, now a checkerboard of privately owned fields. A Greek village remained after the population decline. After the 12th century CE, more Turkish people moved into the area. In the 13th century CE Priene was known as "Sampson", in Greek, after the biblical hero [[Samson]] (Samsun Kale, "Samson's Castle" in Turkish). In 1204, [[Sabas Asidenos]], a local magnate, established himself as the city's ruler, but soon had to recognize the rule of the [[Empire of Nicaea]]. The area remained under [[Byzantine]] control until the late 13th century.

By 1923, whatever Greek population remained was expelled in the [[population exchange between Greece and Turkey]] following World War I. Shortly after, the Turkish population moved to a more favourable location, which they called Güllü Bahçe ("rose garden"). The old Greek settlement, partly still in use, is today known as Gelebeç or Kelebeş. The tourist attraction of Priene is accessible from there.