The Propylaea, located at the west end of the hill, is a roofed entrance structure into the sacred precincts of the Acropolis. It was designed by the renown architect Mnesicles, and constructed between the years 437 BC and 432 BC. However, the construction was ended during the Peloponessian wars, and the building never reached completion for unknown reasons. The Propylaea which can still be seen today were built during the age of Pericles, and were supposed to replace an earlier one built under the administration of Pissistratus in 530 BC.

Lay-out of the building.

It comprises a central building and two lateral wings. The colonnades along the west and east sides had a row of Doric columns while two rows of more slender Ionic columns divided the central corridor into three parts. The Doric columns recall those of the Parthenon, although they are much more severe. Flanking the central gate-hall are two chambers. The north one was used as a painting gallery, while the south chamber, although never completed, was most likely intended as a sculpture gallery and as an entrance to the temple of Nike. The Doric architecture of the building forms a perfect combination with the Ionic columns which flanked the Sacred Road which was used during the Panathenaea.

The walls of the north wing were decorated with painted panels or wall paintings and that is why it was called the "Pinakotheke". More decoration could be found on the ceiling of the Propylaea which had coffers with painted decoration and a perforated sima around the roof. The back of the central hall was flanked by two large colonnades. The fundaments of these colonnades were discovered only several years ago. Unlike the Propylaea of Pisistratus are the current Propylaea completly built with white Pentelicon marble.

More pictures of the Propylaea can be found below:

• View of the facade: JPG, 16Kb
• View of the stairs: JPG, 11Kb
• The entrance: JPG, 22Kb
• Stairs and temple of Nike: JPG, 36Kb