Representations of Classical Greek Monuments : An Exploration of the Visual Culture

Propylaea

A propylaea formally refers to a monumental gate or entranceway to a religious complex, often symbolically acting as the partition between the secular and religious. The most famous of these structures is the Propylaea built on the west side of the Acropolis. The Old Propylon was built in 490 BC, and was destroyed a decade later by the Persians. So, on the remains of the old entrance, Pericles, in 437 BCE, started the construction of the new entrance to the Acropolis and the Parthenon made of Pentelic marble. Incorporating the project with existing temple of Athena Nike and the Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia and the differences in elevations proved to be challenging, but, the architect, Mnesicles, managed to overcome them. However, further work was delayed in 431 BC by the Peloponnesian War. Even though it was never resumed and finished, the new Propylaea mirrors the architectural proportions and styles of the Parthenon. Leading up to the entrance is a steep hill, 80 meters long and 10 meters wide, where steps were added under Claudius in 52 CE. The Propylaea itself is comprised of a central porch with six Doric columns, a corridor with three Ionic columns on each side, and another six Doric columns along the west exit. The annexes on each side of the porch were left unfinished, but were originally planned to be a banqueting area and art gallery. The Propylaea featured four entrances for pedestrians and another larger one for wheeled traffic. The roof of the Propylaea was made of abnormally long horizontal beams, with the structural support of metal bars. 


Over the centuries, the Propylaea serves as a palace for a Byzantine bishop and as a residence for a Turkish governor, but in the mid-17th century, the gunpowder stored in the Propylaea caused a severe explosion, damaging the building. However, restoration work during the 20th and 21st centuries has allowed it to regain some of its previous splendor. 

Photo Credits to Google Images and Original Photographs 

Sources: 
https://www.ancient.eu/Propylaea/
http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=974'
 

This page has paths:

This page references: