Priene

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Priene

• Public Space and Public Structures

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Background Information

• Priene flourished from the 4th-2nd centuries BC
• Its population was around 5,000-6,000
• It was on the small side, both physically and
  population-wise

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Located in Ionia, Asia Minor (Modern-Day Turkey)
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Was there an Old Priene?

• In 5th century BC, Priene was paying tribute to
  Athens, so we know it existed
• But none of the remains in Priene predate the 4th
  century BC
• No physical signs of an older Priene survive
  elsewhere
• So where was Priene before the 4th century?

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Possible Answers

• Priene might have been relocated from its
  original site on the Maeander River estuary
• Original site would have been silted over
• OR, Priene might have existed as a state with no
  real polis, instead consisting of dispersed
  villages that have since disintegrated

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Geographical Benefits
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Acropolis
On top of a cliff (southern Mt. Mycale)
difficult to access. Served military purpose
only.
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Water

• Besides the benefit of the cliff, Priene also had
  an abundant water supply
• Substantial spring behind acropolis
• Diverted water along east side of the acropolis,
  into a cistern in northeast corner of city
• From there, water branched out to flow along city
  streets and fill fountains on street corners
  fountains flowed constantly

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Priene is a Planned City

• Unlike many older cities, Priene is laid out on a
  Hippodamian plan, i.e. on a grid system
• Rectangular grid plan with open space in center
  for agora
• Major streets run West to East
• Smaller residential streets run North to South

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Prienes Main Street
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Temple of Athena Polias
Constructed c. 350-340 BC oldest known structure
in Priene
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Temple of Athena Polias
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Temple of Athena Polias

• Likely designed by Pytheos, a 4th century BC
  architect
• Wrote a book about Temple of Athena Polias
• Concerned with proper proportions
• Believed Ionic order superior to Doric
• Ionic Doric

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Temple of Athena Polias

• In the Ionic order, with a Doric opisthodomos
  (back room)
• Ornate entablature

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Temple of Athena Polias
- Peripteral All four sides were columned -
Temple of Athena Polias was 6 by 11 columns
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Temple of Athena Polias

• Not a huge temple, although cella was 100 feet
  long

Temple of Artemis, Ephesos
Temple of Athena, Priene
Temple of Hephaistos, Athens
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Temple of Athena Polias
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The Theater
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The Theater
Theater
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The Theater

• Existed in the 4th century BC, but probably as a
  more primitive design
• Underwent gradual change over the centuries The
  theater we now see was likely finished in the 2nd
  century BC
• Has helped archaeologists understand how theaters
  developed throughout the Hellenistic age

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Proskenion
- Actors performed atop the proskenion
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Officials Seating
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The Agora
Agora
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The Agora

• City center
• Provided citizens with a sense of community
• Consisted of shops, stoas, civic offices, and
  open space for informal announcements and
  gatherings

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Agora Layout

• Took up two city blocks
• Rectangular space integrated with the grid plan
  not a haphazard design
• Prienes main road ran through it other roads
  surrounding it were wide to allow for increased
  traffic

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Agora Layout Convenience

• Shops were arranged in a horseshoe pattern,
  which made shopping convenient
• These shops were lined with stoas, which
  protected customers from the elements as they
  browsed
• Meat and fish market just outside main agora, to
  keep main agora quieter and cleaner

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Agora Layout
Sacred Stoa
Meat fish
Agora
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The Agoras Sacred Stoa

• Built 2nd century BC
• Lined northern edge of the agora
• Consisted of a long stoa in front of public
  offices, state archives, and other civic rooms
• Housed public bulletins
• Secluded from busy agora because not used as
  heavily by general population

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The Agora
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The Bouleuterion

• Constructed c. 200 BC
• Served as the political administration building
• Could have held nearly 1,000 people
• May have been an ekklesiasterion (assembly
  building) instead of a bouleuterion (council
  building) a popular assembly would have been
  larger than a council

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Bouleuterion
Prytaneion
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The Bouleuterion

• Square building
• An auditorium, similar to a theater
• Stone steps in tiers on three sides
• Altar in center of floor, presumably for a
  speaker
• Niche on fourth wall for the officials
• Roof supported by 14 pillars

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Lower Gymnasium and Stadium
Stadium
Lower Gymnasium
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Lower Gymnasium and Stadium

• Gymnasium educated boys in academics and
  athletics
• Had a small classroom educated the few, not the
  many
• Served the elite only. Attests to the wealth of
  the city
• Connected to the stadium, or running track, on
  which the students exercised

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Lower Gymnasium Layout

• Consisted of a palaestra (exercise floor) with
  smaller rooms along the north and west sides
• Included a substantial washing room on the north
  side
• Classroom located on north side as well

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Prienes Later Years

• Absorbed into Roman Empire
• No new structures built, except for a Byzantine
  church behind the theater
• This is due to the good structural integrity of
  the existing Hellenistic buildings, and/or a
  decline in wealth
• Gradual stagnation and decline probably took
  place citizens slowly abandoned Priene

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Bibliography

• Carter, Joseph Coleman and Hoepfner, Wolfram.
  Priene. Grove Art Online. Grove Dictionary of
  Art. UC Davis Lib. 4
• Oct 2008
• Tomlinson, Richard. From Mycenae to
  Constantinople The Evolution of the Ancient
  City. New York Routledge, 1992.
• Winter, F.E. Pytheos. Grove Art Online
  1/20/2004. Grove Dictionary of Art. UC Davis
  Lib. 4 Oct 2008
• Wycherley, R.E. Priene and Modern Planning.
  Greece
• Rome 14.40 (1945) 12-16. JSTOR. UC Davis Lib.
  4 Oct 2008