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The Propylaea or Propylaia ( Greek Προπυλαια) is the monumental gateway leading to the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. The word propylaia is the plural of the Greek propylaion, meaning "fore-gate," indicating that the Propylaea is in fact a series of gateways.The Propylaea was built under the direction of the Athenian leader Pericles, as part of his plan to replace the buildings on the Acropolis following the devastation during the Persian Wars, and was designed by the architect Mnesicles . The Propylaea was constructed of white Pentelic marble, and consisted of a central portal with two adjoining Doric stoa wings. To the right of the gate stood the Temple of Athena Nike . As a result of the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta in 431 BC, the Propylaea was never completed.
The Propylaea when intact consisted of a large square hall, from which five steps led up to a wall pierced by five gateways, the central one opening onto the Sacred Way , the ceremonial road leading to the Parthenon. On the inner side this wall was faced with a portico of six Doric columns. At the other end of the great hall was a similar portico facing outwards; and between this and the doors the hall was divided into three aisles by rows of Ionic columns. The western or outer front was flanked on each side by a projecting wing, with a row of three smaller Doric columns. The north wing included a square chamber which served as a picture gallery.
The Propylaea survived intact through the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods. During the period of Latin Empire, it served as the palace of the de la Roche family, who held the title Duke of Athens from 1204Events February Byzantine emperor Alexius IV is overthrown in a revolution, and Alexius V is proclaimed emperor. April 12 The Fourth Crusade take Constantinople by storm, and pillage the city for three days. End of the Fourth Crusade. May 16 Baldwin, Coun to 1311Events Bolingbroke Castle passes to the House of Lancaster. March 15 the Catalan Company defeats Walter of Brienne to take control of the Duchy of Athens. A committee of twenty-one English barons draw up a series of ordinances, which substituted ordainers. It was severely damaged by an explosion of a powder magazine in 1656Events Masuria is devastated during the Deluge when it was raided by Tartars and Poles End of the war started in 1648 between Poland, Ducal Prussia, Russia and Transylvania. The only year the British coin Fifty Shillings was minted. Births October 29 ( Ju. A tower of French or OttomanOsmanlı İmparatorluğu Devlet-i Aliye-i Osmaniye The Ottoman Coat of Arms Imperial motto: unknown The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital İstanbul ( Constantinople) Sovereigns Sultans date, erected on the south wing, was pulled down in 1874Events January 1 New York City annexes The Bronx January 23 Marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria, to Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, only daughter of Emperor Alexander III of Russia. January Signing of the Pangkor Tr.
Today the Propylaea has been partly restored, since 1984This page is about the year 1984. For other uses of 1984, see 1984 (disambiguation). 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday (link shows calendar). Events January January 1 Brunei becomes a fully independent state January 1 AT&T is broken up into 22 indepe under the direction of Dr Tasos Tanoulas , and serves as the main entrance to the Acropolis for the many thousands of tourists who visit the area every year. In the period before the 2004 Olympic GamesThe Games of the XXVIII Olympiad commonly known as the 2004 Summer Olympics were the 28th Summer Olympic Games. The Games were held in Athens over 17 days, from August 13 to August 29, 2004. Planners expected 10,500 athletes (in fact 11,099 at the end) an in Athens, the Propylaia was shrouded in scaffolding as restoration work was undertaken.
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