Small Hellenistic Greek town in Asia Minor, important as settlement of 4th century BC. The lower city was laid out in a Hippodamian grid pattern. There was an acropolis, city walls, agora, bouleuterion, prytaneion, stadium, gymnasium, theater, and temples. It is important for these examples of 4th-century BC and Hellenistic urban architecture. Priene was probably one of the very early Ionian Greek colonies.