---
title: Propylaea
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Propylaea/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2022-07-24
---
# Propylaea
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
Propylaea is the name given to monumental gates or entranceways to a specific space, usually to a [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) or religious complex and as such they acted as a symbolic partition between the secular and religious parts of a [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/). Less complex examples with a single entrance are known as a propylon. Propylaea were a feature of [Minoan architecture](https://www.worldhistory.org/Minoan_Architecture/) in 17th century BCE [Crete](https://www.worldhistory.org/crete/) (e.g. at Ayia Triada) and [Mycenaean](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mycenaean_Civilization/) [architecture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/architecture/) in the 14th century BCE (e.g. at [Tiryns](https://www.worldhistory.org/tiryns/)). In Classical [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) a monumental Propylon provided the entrance to the sanctuary at [Olympia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympia/) but the most famous and best preserved example of this type of structure is the magnificent Propylaea of the [acropolis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Acropolis/) of [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/).
The Propylaea of Athens was built as part of [Pericles](https://www.worldhistory.org/pericles/) great rebuilding programme for Athens in c. 437 BCE and was designed as a monumental entrance to the plateau of the acropolis and the great temple to [Athena](https://www.worldhistory.org/athena/), the [Parthenon](https://www.worldhistory.org/parthenon/). The project was begun as the Parthenon neared completion and was supervised by the architect Mnesicles (or Mnesikles) who managed to overcome the difficulties of incorporating the structure into the existing architecture of the Athena [Nike](https://www.worldhistory.org/nike/) bastion and the precinct of [Artemis](https://www.worldhistory.org/artemis/) Brauronia and the differences in elevation of the chosen site. Work was suspended in 431 BCE following the opening stages of the [Peloponnesian War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Peloponnesian_War/) but in fact was never resumed. However, the major parts of Mnesicles vision had fortunately been realised.
The principal entrance to the acropolis had always been on the west side of the escarpment since Mycenaean times and the Propylaea was built on the exact site of the Old Propylon (a modest columned porch) built from 490 BCE and destroyed by the Persians in 480 BCE. Constructed with white Pentellic marble, the new Propylaea lies on an east-west axis and was designed to mirror the architectural style and proportions of the nearby Parthenon. A steep bank 80 metres long and 10 metres wide (with steps added under [Claudius](https://www.worldhistory.org/claudius/) c. 52 CE) leads up to the Propylaea which consists of a central porch in the style of a Doric temple with a six Doric [column](https://www.worldhistory.org/column/) façade, a corridor with three Ionic columns either side and another six Doric columns on the west side exit. Independent wings stand on either side of the porch and it is the inner chambers of these annexes which were the part of the original project left unfinished. One of these wings, the Pinakotheke, measures 10.75 by 9 metres and was originally planned to be a gallery for art and a place for banqueting. The Propylaea actually provided five entrances, four for pedestrians and one larger central entrance for wheeled traffic and the coffered roof interior had a design in [gold](https://www.worldhistory.org/gold/) stars and palmettes on a blue background.
The span of the horizontal beams of the Propylaea roof is particularly impressive and much longer than the contemporary norm in [Greek architecture](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Architecture/). To assist the tensile strength and therefore the weight bearing capacity of the marble girders which supported the roof beams, curved short iron bars were inserted into troughs in the marble which when pressed flat by the weight of the covering beams reduced the possibility of the stone displacing when the roof was assembled. The only other known use of [metal](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/metal/) as a structural aid in [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) architecture is the Temple of [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/) at [Agrigento](https://www.worldhistory.org/agrigento/) (c. 490 BCE).
[  Propylaea Plan visit-ancient-greece.com (used with permission) (Copyright) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1050/propylaea-plan/ "Propylaea Plan")In front of the Propylaea is a massive pedestal of grey Hymettus marble, 10 metres (29 feet) high, on which once stood a quadriga [sculpture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Sculpture/) (four-horse [chariot](https://www.worldhistory.org/chariot/)) honouring the king of [Pergamon](https://www.worldhistory.org/pergamon/), Eumenes II, following his victory in the Panthenaic Games of 178 BCE. In the first century CE the plinth was re-used to bear the statues of Anthony and [Cleopatra](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/cleopatra/) and following their collapse in a hurricane in 31 CE the monument was re-dedicated in 35 CE to Marcus Vipsanius [Agrippa](https://www.worldhistory.org/Marcus_Agrippa/) who was seen as a great benefactor to the city.
Over the centuries the building saw service as a [Byzantine](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Byzantine/) bishop's [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/), a Florentine *palazzo* and a Turkish governor's residence. In the mid-17th century CE a lightening strike or perhaps a canon shot ignited the gunpowder store within the Propylaea and the resulting explosion severely damaged the building. However, in the 20th and 21st century CE, restoration work has ensured that the Propylaea has regained something of its former glory and it still fulfils its original function for the modern visitor as a breathtaking entrance to the architectural wonders of the acropolis.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- Ananiades, D. *Ancient Greece Temples And Sanctuaries.* Toubis, Athens, 2010
- Green, P. *The Parthenon.* Newsweek Book Division, New York, 1973
- [Katerina, Servi. *The Acropolis.* Ekdotike Athenon, 2011.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/9602134526/)
- [Oleson. *Oxford Handbook of Engineering & Technology in the Classical World by Oleson, John..* OUP, Paperback(2009), 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B008AUIXNS/)
- Papathanassopoulos G. *The Acropolis.* Krene Editions, Psychico, 2006
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **c. 437 BCE - 431 BCE**: The [Propylaea](https://www.worldhistory.org/Propylaea/) is constructed on the [Acropolis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Acropolis/) of [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/) under the supervision of Mnesicles.
- **c. 285 BCE**: [Ptolemy II Philadelphus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemy_II_Philadelphus/) builds a large [propylon](https://www.worldhistory.org/Propylaea/) gate at [Samothrace](https://www.worldhistory.org/Samothrace/).
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2013, February 04). Propylaea. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Propylaea." *World History Encyclopedia*, February 04, 2013. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Propylaea." *World History Encyclopedia*, 04 Feb 2013, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 04 February 2013. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.