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The Propylaea. Author George E. Koronaios

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Propylaea

The Propylaia which is also known as Propylaea is the classical Doric building complex which functioned as the monumental ceremonial gateway to the Acropolis of Athens. It was built between 437 and 432 BCE as part of the Periklean Building program. This was the last in a series of gatehouses built on the citadel.

The architect of Propylaea was Mnesikles. This was the only known building built by this architect during his time. Through traces left on the extant building, it is evident that the plan evolved considerably during its construction.

The traces clearly show that the project was ultimately abandoned in an unfinished state. Here are the Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Propylaea:

1. It is the Oldest Propylaeum in Athens

East Facade of the Propylaea. Author George E. Koronaios.

Ancient Greece is known for several monuments that date back to the early centuries and were built during the civilisation period. One of the most notable monuments is the Propylaea. The Propylaea of Athens is a gateway to the Acropolis of Athens.

Propylaea is one of the oldest monuments that is found in Athens, Greece. It was built between 437 and 432 BCE as part of the Periklean Building program.

This monument was the last in a series of gatehouses built on the citadel. It is one of the most notable monuments that several tourists frequent every year.

2. The Propylaea was Designed by One Architect

This great monument paints a picture of several top architects working on it. However, it was only one architect took part in the architectural design of Propylaea.

Mnesikles was appointed as the architect of the new propylon in 438 BCE. Traces left in the construction of the final building, people can reconstruct the development of the building plans during its construction by Mnesikles.

Greek builders had the role of preparing for the bonding of joining walls, roof timber and other features in advance of the following phase of construction. The socket for the roof beam and spur walls of the north and south flanks to show the original plan by Mnesikles was for a much larger building than its final form.

3. The Propylaea’s Architect had Planned for a Huge Structure

After being given the mandate to build the Propylaea, Mnesikles had a great task ahead of him to deliver a great structure. He planned a gatehouse which will be composed of five halls.

Mnesikles had a plan for a central hall that would be the processional route to the Acropolis, two perpendicular flanking halls, north and south of the central hall. This plan would have spanned the whole width of the western end of the plateau. Of these architectural designs, only the central hall, the northeast hall and a truncated version of the southeast hall reached completion.

4. Some Slight Alterations were made to the Propylaea in the Classical Period

The Doric columns of the Propylaea. Author George E. Koronaios.

Years passed by and the Propylaea had not been completed. Slight alterations to the Propylaea were made during the classical period.

The most significant alteration was the construction of a monumental stairway in Pentelic marble built in the region of Claudius. They were arranged as a straight flight of steps.

It included a central inclined plane along which the sacrificial animals could be led to. The other alteration was of a small dog-leg stairway on the Nike bastion.

5. The Propylaea’s Functions Changed to be Military in the Post-classical Era

Propylaea was established for other religious purposes and not any military purposes. However, the functions of the Propylaea changed over the years due to the change of leadership.

In post-classical history, the functions of the Propylaea returned to military based. The construction of the Buele gate in the late third century CE commenced. The change of function to the military is associated with the refortification of Athens in the form of the Post-Herulian Wall.

6. There are no Decorative or Architectural Sculpture in the Propylaea

The Propylaea was made uniquely and not in the way of the ancient Greeks. In the classical Greek era, great monuments had decorations and other architectural sculptures.

However, the Propylaea features no decorative or architectural sculptures. All the metopes and pediments were left empty and there were no akroteria.

7. Some Statues made of Bronze are in the Propylaea

The western side of the Propylaea of the Acropolis. Author George E. Koronaios

The Propylaea is a typical Greek monument which has some great features that can’t be missed in any ancient Greek structures. There are multiple statues within the Propylaea.

In the east precinct, there is a bronze statue of Diitrephes. Diitrephes was an Athenian general who was killed in combat in Boeotia during the Peloponnesian War. The statue stood behind the second column from the south.

There is also the statue of Aphrodite made and dedicated by Kallias which stood behind the second column from the north. An Archaic bronze lioness, the Leaina stood near the north wall. There is also a votive column carrying a young rooster that stood along the south wall.

8. Several Freestanding Shrines are in the Propylaea Vicinity

The Propylaea was made for several religious purposes which were still evident. There were several freestanding shrines and votives in the vicinity of the Propylaea.

A small shrine which was dedicated to Athena Hygieia was erected against the southernmost column of the eastern facade. This was the last shrine erected to thank Athena for the end of the great plague as per several different accounts.

9. The Inner Compartment was Used to Display Paintings

The Propylaea had several compartments and wings which had various roles. Pausanias came up with a record that the inner compartment of the northeast wing was used to display paintings.

Pausanias called it a chamber with paintings due to the activities which took place there. He later described that several works displayed here were by masters of the fifth century.

10. The Central Hall of the Propylaea has Unique Features and Decorations of Marble

The Propylaea has the Central Hall which is divided by a wall in which five doorways are symmetrically arranged. They are known as the eponymous gates.

The ceilings of the Central Hall were supported by marble beams which are very long with the innermost squares of the coffers decorated well. Decorations of the coffers were wither with golden stars on a blue field with bright green margins or an arrangement of palmettes. The roofs of the Central Hall of the Propylaea were covered with Pentelic marble tiles.