Food market. The food market is located right on the western side of the political centre of the city, the agora. A Prienic inscription mentions a market like this where grain and other things were sold. The rough stone tables are the most important evidence for the name since they were typically used to sell wares in ancient times. North of the western gate street, which runs through the market, there is a small hall and another hall borders the open square to the south. Today the area is obscured by building materials from the old excavation.
New research proved that the food market was not part of the original city planning. It was probably only built in the 2nd century BC, long after the 4th century BC agora, by leveling a rock ridge. This both created a free space and made the way from the western gate to the agora much flatter and more convenient. The former street level can be seen in the stairs on the north side of the remaining rock about high hill. The column drums standing right in front of it on the street fell from the temple to Athena during one of the many earthquakes.
It is worth thinking about whether a trading centre was even necessary in early Priene or if products were sold in the agora. Since more and more honorary monuments were erected there from the 2nd century BC on, the city’s main square was no longer suitable for trade: a food market was necessary.