Priene inscription of Alexander the Great
Part of the Priene Inscription on display in theBritish Museum
Material	Marble
Size	120 cm wide and 49.5 cm high
Writing	Ancient Greek
Created	c.330 BC
Discovered	1868-9 Priene
Discovered by	Richard Popplewell Pullan
Present location	British Museum,London
Identification	1870,0320.88
Registration	1870,0320.88

ThePriene inscription is a dedicatory inscription byAlexander the Great, which was discovered at theTemple of Athena Polias inPriene (modernTurkey), in the nineteenth century. It now forms an important part of theBritish Museum'sAncient Greekepigraphic collection and provides a direct link to one of the most famous persons in ancient history.^[1]This inscription (circa 330 BC) is about the dedication of a temple by Alexander to Athena Polias, which has been held at the British Museum inLondon.

The inscription was found in the precincts of the temple in 1868–9 by the architectRichard Pullan, who at the time was leading an archaeological exploration ofPriene on behalf of theSociety of Dilettanti. The dedicatory inscription was found at the end of one of the temple's walls, together with records of the Prienean Civic Codes. Pullan brought back inscriptions, sculptures and architectural remains from the site to England, where they were immediately deposited in the national collection.

Alexander the Great's army crossed theHellespont in 334 BC and defeated thePersian army at theBattle of the Granicus; he then proceeded along theIonian coast, touring cities and expelling Persian garrisons as he did so. At Priene he generously supported the completion of thetemple of Athena Polias, which is recorded for posterity on this large marble block.

The marble wall block is inscribed on both sides in theancient Greek language. Part of the inscription records the gift of funds provided by Alexander to build the temple. Another part refers to a resolution of land disputes between different neighbouring kingdoms following the expulsion of thePersians.^[2]

Inscription:

ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕ ΤΟΝ ΝΑΟΝ ΑΘΗΝΑΙΗΙ ΠΟΛΙΑΔΙ

Basileus Alexandros anethēke ton naon Athēnaiēi Poliadi

Translation:

King Alexander dedicated the Temple to Athena Polias

• F. Frances (Ed), Treasures of the British Museum, London, 1972
• B.F. Cook, Greek inscriptions (London, The British Museum Press, 1987)
• I. Jenkins, Greek Architecture and its Sculpture, The British Museum Press, 2006

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