Priene, set amongst beautiful forested slopes, was important around 300 BC when the league of Ionian cities held congresses and festivals here and devoted its resources to religion and sports.

Priene in Soke (just next to Turunclar Villiage) is located about 50 km south of Selcuk .  But this is not the first location of Priene. The fırst location is known to have been a port city situated at the then mouth of the Maeander River, however, the city was small, and no physical remains have been found. According to legend it was built by one of the grandsons of Greek emperor Kodros, Aipytos about 6th century BC.

It is known that the city was damaged after the Persian Conquer and it is even suspected that they vanished for a while. But after, they have got strong enough to join the war against Persians with 12 ships.