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{{short description|Ancient Greek city of Ionia}}
{{for|the mollusk genus|Priene (gastropod)}}
{{Infobox ancient site
  |name = Priene
  |native_name = Πριήνη {{in lang|grc}}<br>Prien {{in lang|tr}}
  |alternate_name = Sampson
  |image = Temple of Athena at Priene.jpg
  |alt = 
  |caption = The [[Temple of Athena Polias (Priene)|Temple of Athena]], funded by [[Alexander the Great]], at the foot of an escarpment of [[Mycale]]. The five columns were erected in 1965–66 from rubble and are {{convert|3|m}} shorter of the calculated original column height.
  |map_type = Turkey
  |map_alt = 
  |map_size = 270
  |coordinates = {{coord|37|39|35|N|27|17|52|E|display=inline,title}}
  |location = [[Güllübahçe, Söke]], [[Aydın Province]], [[Turkey]]
  |region = [[Ionia]]
  |type = Settlement
  |part_of = 
  |length = 
  |width = 
  |area = {{convert|37|ha|abbr=on}}
  |height = 
  |builder = [[Thebes, Greece|Theban]] colonists
  |material = 
  |built = Approximately 1000&nbsp;BCE
  |abandoned = 
  |epochs = <!-- actually displays as "Periods" -->
  |cultures = 
  |dependency_of = 
  |occupants = [[Bias of Priene|Bias]], [[Pythius of Priene|Pythius]]
  |event = 
  |excavations = 
  |archaeologists = 
  |condition = 
  |ownership = 
  |management = 
  |public_access = 
  |website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
  |notes = 
}}

'''Priene''' ({{langx|grc|Πριήνη|Priēnē}}; {{langx|tr|Prien}}) was an [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] city of [[Ionia]] (and member of the [[Ionian League]]) located at the base of an [[escarpment]] of [[Mycale]], about {{convert|6|km}} north of what was then the course of the Maeander River (now called the [[Büyük Menderes River|''Büyük Menderes'']] or "Big Maeander"). It was {{convert|67|km}} from ancient [[Aydın|Anthea]], {{convert|15|km}} from ancient [[Söke|Aneon]] and {{convert|25|km}} from ancient [[Miletus]]. The city was built on the sea coast, overlooking the former [[Latmian Gulf]] of the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]]. It was developed on steep slopes and terraces extending from sea level to a height of {{convert|380|m}} above sea level at the top of the escarpment.<ref name="Grant">{{cite book| last = Grant| first = Michael| title = A Guide to the Ancient World| url = https://archive.org/details/guidetoancientwo0000gran| url-access = registration| publisher = Barnes & Noble, Inc.| year = 1986| location = New York| pages = [https://archive.org/details/guidetoancientwo0000gran/page/523 523–524]| isbn = 0-7607-4134-4}}</ref> Because of siltation from the river filling the bay over several centuries, the city is now an inland site. It is located at a short distance west of the modern village [[Güllübahçe, Söke|Güllübahçe Turun]] in the [[Söke]] district of [[Aydın Province]], [[Turkey]].

Priene is known to have been the site of high-quality Hellenistic art and architecture. The city's original position on Mount Mycale has never been discovered; however, it is believed that it was on a peninsula with two harbours. Priene never held a great deal of political importance due to the city's relatively limited size, as it is believed around four to five thousand inhabitants occupied the region. The city was arranged into four districts, firstly the political district, which consisted of the ''[[bouleuterion]]'' and the ''[[prytaneion]]''; the cultural district containing the [[Theatre of ancient Greece|theatre]]; the commercial, where the [[agora]] was located; and finally the religious district, which contained sanctuaries dedicated to [[Zeus]], [[Demeter]] and, most importantly, the [[Temple of Athena Polias (Priene)|Temple of Athena]].

== 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>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/gr/d/dedication_by_alexander.aspx|title=Dedication by Alexander the Great to Athena Polias|website=British Museum}}</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.

== Contemporary geography ==

=== Territory ===
[[File:Miletus Bay silting evolution map-en.svg|thumb|right|Location of Priene at [[Büyük Menderes River|Maeander River]]'s mouth]]
In the 4th century BCE, Priene was a deep-water port with two harbours overlooking the Bay of Miletus<ref>This article uses this term in preference to the Gulf of Latmus, which remains as Lake Bafa. In ancient times they were continuous.</ref> and, somewhat further east, the marshes of the Maeander Delta. Between the ocean and steep Mycale, agricultural resources were limited. Priene's territory likely included a part of the Maeander Valley, needed to support the city. Claiming much of Mycale, it had borders on the north with [[Ephesus]] and Thebes, a small state on Mycale.

Priene was a small city-state of 6000 persons living in a constrained space of only {{convert|15|ha}}. The walled area had an extent of {{convert|20|ha}} to {{convert|37|ha}}. The population density of its residential district has been estimated at 166 persons per hectare, living in about 33 homes per hectare (13 per acre) arranged in compact city blocks.<ref>Hansen (2004), pages 14–16, estimates the walled area as 1.33 to 2 times a measured habitation area of {{convert|15|ha}}. Rubinstein (2004), pages 1091–1093, gives a slightly larger measure of the walled area: {{convert|37|ha}}. Hansen (2004), pages 14–16, estimates 8 persons per house for 500 counted houses and a ratio of 2:1 of urban over rural.</ref> The entire space within the walls offered not much more space and privacy: the density was 108 persons per hectare. All the public buildings were within walking distance, except that walking must have been an athletic event due to the vertical components of the distances.

=== Society ===
Priene was a wealthy city, as the plenitude of fine urban homes in marble and the private dedications of public buildings suggests. In addition, historical references to the interest of [[Mausolus]] and [[Alexander the Great]] indicate its standing. One third of the houses  had indoor toilets, a rarity in this society. Typically cities had public banks of outdoor seats, side by side, an arrangement for which the flowing robes of the ancients were suitably functional. Indoor plumbing requires more extensive water supply and sewage systems. Priene's location was appropriate in that regard; they captured springs and streams on Mycale, brought the water in by [[aqueduct (watercourse)|aqueduct]] to cisterns, and piped or channeled from there to houses and fountains. Most Greek cities, such as Athens, required getting water from the public fountains (which was the work of domestic servants). The upper third of Prienean society had access to indoor water.

The source of Ionian wealth was maritime activity; Ionia had a reputation among the other Greeks for being luxurious. The intellectuals, such as [[Heraclitus]], often railed against their practices.

=== Government ===
[[File:Priene Bouleuterion 2009 04 28.jpg|thumb|Bouleuterion]]
Although the [[stereotype]]d equation of wealth with [[aristocracy]] may have applied early in Priene's history, in the 4th century BCE the city-state was a [[democracy]]. State authority resided in a body called the Πριηνείς (Priēneis), "the Prieneian people", who issued all decrees and other public documents in their name. The coins minted at Priene featured the helmeted head of [[Athena]] on the [[obverse]] and a [[Meander (art)|meander]] pattern on the reverse; one coin also displayed a [[dolphin]] and the legend ΠΡΙΗ for ΠΡΙΗΝΕΩΝ (Priēneōn), "of the Prieneians."<ref>Rubinstein (2004), pages 1091–1093.</ref> These symbols express the Prieneians identification as a maritime democracy aligned with [[Athens]] but located in Asia.

The mechanism of democracy was similar to but simpler than that of the Athenians (whose population was much larger.) An assembly of citizens met periodically to render major decisions placed before them. The day-to-day legislative and executive business was conducted by a ''[[Boule (ancient Greece)|boulē]]'', or city council, which met in a ''[[bouleuterion]]'', a space like a small theatre with a wooden roof. The official head of state was a ''prytane''. He and more specialized [[magistrate]]s were elected periodically. As at Athens, not all the population was franchised. For example, the property rights and tax responsibilities of a non-Prieneian section of the population living in the countryside, the ''pedieis'', "plainsmen", were defined by law. They were perhaps, an inheritance from the days when Priene was in the valley.

==History==
[[File:Athena_Temple_Priene_4.jpg|thumb|right|[[Temple of Athena Polias (Priene)|Temple of Athena]] at Priene]]
Priene was said to have been first settled by [[Ionians]] under [[Aegyptus]], a son of [[Belus (Egyptian)|Belus]] and grandson of [[Codrus|King Codrus]], in the 11th century BCE. After successive attacks by [[Cimmerians]], [[Lydians]] under [[Ardys of Lydia|Ardys]], and [[Achaemenid Empire|Persians]], it survived and prospered under the direction of its "sage," [[Bias of Priene|Bias]], during the middle of the 6th century BCE.<ref name="Grant"/> [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] captured it in 545&nbsp;BCE; but it was able to send twelve ships to join the [[Ionic Revolt]] (499&nbsp;BCE-494&nbsp;BCE).

Priene was a member of the Athenian-dominated [[Delian League]] in the 5th century BCE. In  387&nbsp;BCE it came under Persian dominance again, which lasted until [[Alexander the Great]]'s conquest.<ref>{{Cite Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Priene|first=Sophron|last=Pétridès}}</ref> Disputes with [[Samos Island|Samos]], and the troubles after Alexander's death, brought Priene low. [[Rome]] had to save it from the kings of [[Pergamon]] and [[Cappadocia]] in 155.

[[Orophernes of Cappadocia|Orophernes]], the rebellious brother of the Cappadocian king, who had deposited a treasure there and recovered it by Roman intervention, restored the [[Temple of Athena Polias (Priene)|Temple of Athena]] as a thank-offering. Under Roman and Byzantine dominion Priene had a prosperous history. It passed into Muslim hands late in the 13th century.<ref>{{EB1911|wstitle=Priene}}</ref>

==Archaeological excavations and current state==
[[File:Turquie Priene Allee Principale - panoramio.jpg|thumb|The main street]]
[[File:Upper gymnasium in Priene.jpg|thumb|The Roman baths]]
The ruins, which fell on the successive terraces where they were built, were the object of investigatory missions sent out by the English [[Society of Dilettanti]] in 1765 and 1868. They were excavated by [[Theodor Wiegand]] (1895–1899) for the [[Altes Museum|Berlin Museum]].

The city, as developed at this site that was new in the 4th century, was found to have been laid out on a rectangular scheme. The steep area faces south, the [[acropolis]] rising nearly {{convert|200|m}} behind it. The city was enclosed by a wall {{convert|2|m}} thick, with towers at intervals and three principal gates.

On the lower slopes of the acropolis was a sanctuary of [[Demeter]]. The town had six main streets, about {{convert|6|m}} wide, running east and west, and fifteen streets about {{convert|3|m}} wide crossing at right angles, all being evenly spaced. It was thus divided into about 80 ''[[insulae]]''. Private houses were apportioned eight to an insula. The systems of water-supply and drainage are still visible. The houses present many analogies with the earliest ones of [[Pompeii]].

In the western half of the city, on a high terrace north of the main street and approached by a fine stairway, was the [[Temple of Athena Polias (Priene)|temple of Athena Polias]]. It was a [[Peripteros|hexastyle peripteral]] structure in the [[Ionic order]] built by [[Pythius of Priene|Pytheos]], the architect of the [[Mausoleum of Maussollos]] at Halikarnassos, one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]]. In 1870, silver tetradrachms of Orophernes, and some jewellery were found in excavations under the base of the statue of Athena. These were probably deposited at the time of the [[Cappadocian]] restoration.

[[File:Sanctuary of Asclepius, Priene.jpg|thumb|left|The sanctuary of Asclepius]]
An ancient [[Priene Synagogue]], with carved images of the [[Menorah (Temple)|menorah]], has also been discovered.<ref>Nadin Burkhardt, Mark Wilson, "[https://www.academia.edu/15534822/With_Nadin_Burkhardt_The_Late_Antique_Synagogue_in_Priene_Its_History_Architecture_and_Context The Late Antique Synagogue in Priene: Its History, Architecture, and Context]", ''Gephyra'' 10 (2013), pp.166-196</ref>

Around the [[agora]], the main square crossed by the main street, is a series of halls. The municipal buildings, buleuterion and prytaneion, lie north of the agora. Further to the north is the Upper Gymnasium with Roman baths, and the well-preserved Hellenistic theatre. These and most other public structures are at the centre of the plan. Temples of [[Asclepius]] and the Egyptian gods [[Isis]], [[Serapis]] and [[Anubis]], have been revealed. At the lowest point on the south, within the walls, was the large stadium. In Hellenistic times, it was  connected with a gymnasium.<ref>{{cite book|first=Frank|last=Rumscheid|title=Priene: A Guide to the Pompeii of Asia Minor|year=1998|isbn=975-8070-16-9|publisher=Ege Yayınları|location=Turkey}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Calendar Inscription of Priene]]
* [[List of ancient Greek cities]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
*{{cite book|first=Dora P.|last=Crouch|title=Geology and Settlement: Greco-Roman Patterns|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|year=2004|isbn=0-19-508324-5}}
*{{Cite book|last=Hansen|first=Mogens Herman|contribution=The Concept of the Consumption City Applied to the Greek Polis|year=2004|title=Once again: Studies in the Ancient Greek Polis: Papers from the Copenhagen Polis Centre 7|editor-last=Nielsen|editor-first=Thomas Heine|place=Stuttgart|publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag|isbn=3-515-08438-X}}
*{{Cite book|last=Rubinstein|first=Lene|contribution=Ionia|year=2004|title=An Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis: An Investigation Conducted by the Danish National Research Foundation|editor1-last=Hansen|editor1-first=Mogens Herman|editor2-last=Nielsen|editor2-first=Thomas Heine|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0-19-814099-1}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last1=Dontas |first1=Nikos A. |title=Priene |date=2000 |publisher=Foundation of the Hellenic World |location=Athens |isbn=978-960-7957-07-8 |edition=1.}}
*{{cite book |editor1-last=Ferla |editor1-first=Kleopatra |editor2-last=Graf |editor2-first=Fritz |editor3-last=Sideris |editor3-first=Athanasios |title=Priene |date=2005 |publisher=Foundation of the Hellenic World |location=Athens |isbn=0674012720 |edition=2nd}}
*{{cite book |editor1-last=Raeck |editor1-first=Wulf |editor2-last=Filges |editor2-first=Axel |editor3-last=Mert |editor3-first=Ibrahim Hakan |title=Priene von der Spätklassik bis zum Mittelalter Ergebnisse und Perspektiven der Forschungen seit 1998 |date=2020 |publisher=Habelt |location=Bonn |isbn=978-3-7749-4237-0}}
*{{cite book |last1=Thonemann |first1=Peter |title=The Hellenistic age : a very short introduction |date=2018 |location=Oxford, United Kingdom |isbn=9780198746041 |chapter=Priene}}
===Archaeology===
*{{cite book |last1=Carter |first1=Joseph Coleman |title=The sculpture of the sanctuary of Athena Polias at Priene |date=1983 |publisher=Society of Antiquaries of London in association with British Museum Publications |location=[London] |isbn=0500990387}}
*{{cite book |last1=Fildhuth |first1=Jesko |title=The archaeology of Byzantine Anatolia : from the end of late antiquity until the coming of the Turks |date=2017 |location=New York, NY |isbn=9780190610463 |chapter=Priene}}
*{{cite book |last1=Raeder |first1=Joachim |title=Priene, Funde aus einer griechischen Stadt im Berliner Antikenmuseum |date=1984 |publisher=Gebr. Mann |location=Berlin |isbn=978-3-7861-1401-7}}
*{{cite book |last1=Schede |first1=Martin |title=Die Ruinen von Priene |date=2019 |publisher=De Gruyter |location=Berlin |isbn=978-3-11-151750-6 |edition=2}}
*{{cite book |last1=Schumacher |first1=Anne |title=Priene : die Restaurierung des Theaters 1992-1998 |date=2007 |publisher=Zabern |location=Mainz |isbn=978-3-8053-3744-1}}
===Epigraphy===
*''Society of Dilettanti, Ionian Antiquities'' (1821), vol. ii.
*Th. Wiegand and H. Schrader, Priene (1904)
*Hiller von Gaertringen, ''Inschriften von Priene'' (Berlin, 1907), with collection of ancient references to the city
*{{cite book |last1=Blümel |first1=Wolfgang |last2=Merkelbach |first2=Reinhold |last3=Rumscheid |first3=Frank |title=Die Inschriften von PrieneÖ Inschriften griechischer Städte aus Kleinasien, Bd. 69 |date=2014 |publisher=DrRudolf Habelt GmbH |location=Bonn |isbn=978-3-7749-3476-4}}
===History===
*{{cite book |last1=Bielfeldt |first1=R. |editor1-last=Kuhn |editor1-first=Christina |title=Politische Kommunikation und öffentliche Meinung in der antiken Welt |date=2012 |publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag |location=Stuttgart |isbn=978-3-515-10076-2 |chapter=Polis made manifest: the physiognomy of the public in the Hellenistic city with a case study on the agora in Priene|pages=87–122}}
*{{cite book |last1=Raeck |first1=Wulf |editor1-last=Wörrle |editor1-first=Michael |editor2-last=Zanker |editor2-first=Paul |title=Stadtbild und Bürgerbild im Hellenismus : Kolloquium, München, 24. bis 26. Juni 1993 |date=1995 |publisher=Beck |location=München |isbn=978-3-406-39036-4 |pages=231–240 |chapter=Der mehrfache Apollodoros. Zur Präsenz des Bürgers im hellenistischen Stadtbild am Beispiel von Priene}}
*{{cite book |last1=Thonemann |first1=Peter |editor1-last=Martzavou |editor1-first=Paraskevi |editor2-last=Papazarkadas |editor2-first=Nikolaos |title=Epigraphical approaches to the post-classical Polis : fourth century BC to second century AD |date=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-965214-3 |pages=23–36 |edition=1st |chapter=Alexander, Priene, and Naulochon}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.livius.org/articles/place/priene/  Livius Picture Archive: Priene]
*[https://in-turkey.blogspot.com/search/label/Priene%20and%20Miletus%20Turkey Priene and Miletus İnformation]
*[http://www.picturechoice.org/aegean/priene.html Priene Miletus and Didyma images]
*[http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/newpriene Many pictures of the ancient city of Priene]
*[http://www.whitman.edu/theatre/theatretour/priene/priene.htm The Theatre at Priene, The Ancient Theatre Archive. Theatre specifications and virtual reality tour of theatre]
*[http://www.losttrails.com/pages/Hproject/Priene/Priene.html Herodotus Project: Extensive B+W photo essay of Priene]
*[http://www.historvius.com/priene-1529/ Priene information guide and photos]
*[http://www.attalus.org/docs/search.html#Priene Hellenistic inscriptions of Priene, in English translation] 
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Priene}}

{{Ancient settlements in Turkey}}
{{Ionian League}}
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[[Category:Ionian League]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Turkey]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in the Aegean region]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Turkey]]
[[Category:Geography of Aydın Province]]
[[Category:History of Aydın Province]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Aydın Province]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Aydın Province]]
[[Category:Members of the Delian League]]
[[Category:Populated places in ancient Ionia]]
[[Category:World Heritage Tentative List for Turkey]]
[[Category:Söke District]]