Following the natural geography of the Acropolis, the Propylaia served as a monumental and ceremonial gateway to the Classical Athenian Acropolis.
The Propylaia was a set of monumental gateways to the Athenian Acropolis, built to serve as an imposing and impressive approach that rivaled the rest of Pericles’ massive building program. The Propylaia were an introduction to visitors of the Acropolis, and led them onto the plateau through a series of grand halls that would have taken them directly to the Parthenon and the other Acropolis shrines.
Construction on the Propylaia began around 437 B.C., just as construction on the Parthenon was winding down. Construction of the gateway was stopped in 431 B.C., with the breakout of the Peloponnesian War, and the gateway was never fully completed. Master Greek architect Mnesikles, who was handpicked by Pericles, designed the buildings. His design greatly mirrored the design of the Parthenon, in that it was primarily a Doric building with several Ionic elements included in its design and execution, and they were very similar in size and proportion.
The Propylaia were built using the same Pentellic marble that was used in the construction of the Parthenon. It also had accents of Eleusinian marble scattered about. The Propylaia consisted of a main hall that visitors of the Acropolis had to enter, not so much for security as it was for ritual purposes. This main hall was divided into two sections that would have featured paintings and sculptures that were added all the way through the Hellenstic Period.
As one approached the wide ramp leading to the main entrance of the Propylaia, he would have entered through massive doors flanked by six enormous Doric columns. Following a series of marble steps, one would enter the narrow central hall, which was lined with Ionic columns, which acted as the main support for the imposing marble roof. The marble slab roof was coffered, in order to lessen the great weight of the marble. These coffers would have been ornately and vibrantly painted and decorated. At the end of this narrow hall was another large gate, with two doors on the sides leading to the east and west wings of the building.
Though never fully completed, the Propylaia remained intact and in use through the Byzantine period. It served other functions in its history, including as a fortification, and even a palace in the 13th century. Today, the Propylaia has been partially restored and still serves as the main entrance to the Acropolis, though to thousands of tourists each year rather than worshipping Athenians.
Sources consulted:
Wycherley, R.E. The Stones of Athens. Princeton University Press, 1978.
"Propylaia". Retrieved from http://www.ancient-greece.org/architecture/propylaia.html on 29 January 2007.
