Prytaneion
(Municipality Building)

The greatest position that any citizen in the, male or female, city could occupy was that of "Prytan." This person maintained the eternal flame from the city fireplace that was the symbol of the city and the place from which everyone lit their fireplaces at home. The lucky person performed his duty in the name of the goddess Hespian. All expenses were met by the Prytan himself. The operating of the Temple to Artemis was outside this temple system. The Prytaneion was a large, covered room with a large portcullis. At the front were eight large Doric columns which completed the temple appearance. The eternal flame of Hestia burned for centuries. The figure of Artemis that is in the museum was found here intact. Among the pieces found scattered around the site was a list of the "Union of Curates". At first only six, the number of curates increased to nine, these were a class of priests at the Temple to Artemis.

The Praytaneion was first built in the 3rd century BC and brought to its final state at the time of Augustos. There were two-figured pedestals on either side of the road leading to the Square of Domitian