Editing Priene (section)

===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.