The Propylaia (Greek: Προπύλαια; lit. 'Gates') is the classical Greek Doric building complex that functioned as the monumental ceremonial gateway to the Acropolis of Athens. Built between 437 and 432 BC as a part of the Periklean Building Program, it was the last in a series of gatehouses built on the citadel.

In ancient Greek architecture, a propylaion, propylaeon or, in its Latinized form, propylaeum—often used in the plural forms propylaia or propylaea (/ p r ɒ p ɪ ˈ l iː ə /; Greek: προπύλαια)—is a monumental gateway. It serves as a partition, separating the secular and religious parts of a city.

The Propylaia, the monumental gateway to the Acropolis sanctuary, designed by the architect Mnesikles, was erected between 437 and 431 BC on the site of an earlier gate. It was never completed, however, as construction stopped on the eve of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC.

May 10, 2021 · Today, the Propylaia ruins form a dramatic sight within the Acropolis complex. Commissioned by the Athenian leader Pericles as part of rebuilding the Acropolis after the Persian Wars, the Propylaia was the monumental gateway to the Acropolis of Athens.

Feb 4, 2013 · Propylaea is the name given to monumental gates or entranceways to a specific space, usually to a temple or religious complex and as such they acted as a symbolic partition between the secular and religious parts of a city. Less complex examples with a single entrance are known as a propylon.

The Propylaea is a building of the Doric order with few Ionic columns supporting the roof of the central wing. It was a complex structure to conceive and assemble, and was clearly designed to make a lasting impression for the approaching visitor.

May 27, 2024 · The Propylaia, the monumental gateway to the Acropolis of Athens, is one of the most iconic and influential buildings of Classical Greece. Constructed during the height of Athenian power in the 5th century BC, the Propylaia exemplifies the sophistication and grandeur of ancient Greek architecture.

View of the Central Hall of the Propylaia. In 1687, Venetian bombardments on the Turk-occupied Acropolis destroyed the West facade (which would have been in the foreground). The Propylaia consists of this central hall and two wings, on the north (left) and south (right).

Built at the west edge of the Acropolis rock, the Propylaia comprise the monumental entrance to Athena’s sanctuary. Its construction, which was part of the Periclean building program, was carried out during the years between 437 and 432 B.C.

The Propylaea of the Athenian Acropolis were built on the west side of the hill, where the gate of the Mycenaean fortification once stood. The first propylon, or gate, was constructed in the age of Peisistratos (mid-sixth century BC), after the Acropolis had become a …