Priene was an ancient city of Ionia on the foot-hills of Mycale, about 6 miles north of the Maeander, in Greece. It was formerly on the sea coast, but now lies some miles inland. The city, as rebuilt in the 4th and 3rd centuries, was laid out on a rectangular scheme. It faced south, its acropolis rising nearly 700 feet behind it. The whole area was enclosed by a wall 7 feet thick with towers at intervals and three principal gates.
On the lower slopes of the acropolis was a shrine of Demeter. The town had six main streets, about 20 feet wide, running east and west and fifteen streets about 10 ft wide crossing at right angles, all being evenly spaced; and it was thus divided into about 80 insulae. Fronting the main street is a series of halls, and on the other side is the fine market place. The municipal buildings, Roman gymnasium, and well preserved theatre lie to the north, but, like all the other public structures, in the centre of the plan. A fantastic tour through the Greek culture.