Priene - Temple of Athena

Priene's principal sanctuary the Temple of Athena is situated at the western end of "Athena Street" above the Bouleuterion. According to an inscription on one of the pillars in the entrance hall, now in the British Museum, the temple was dedicated to Athena Polias by Alexander the Great in 334 B.C. Built by Pytheos, architect of the Mausoleion at Halikarnassos, it was an Ionic peripteral of six by eleven columns, five of which have been restored.

The cult image, almost 7m/23ft high, was a copy of Phidias' "Athena Parthenos". Outside the entrance at the east end was a large altar with figures in high relief between Ionic columns and further east an entrance gateway dates from Roman times. Part of the south wall is intact up to a height of 4.5m/15ft.