Propylaea Acropolis - an outstanding monument of ancient Greek architecture. The word "Propylaea" is derived from the prefix "pro" (from the Latin. Before or before) and "pilei" (from the Greek. Gate), which literally translates as "front gate", but in fact is a gate or entrance (travel). As a rule, "Propylaea" front gate is formed by porticoes and colonnades. Such structures are characteristic of ancient Greek architecture, although the idea has been used later in other countries. For example, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the Propylaea in Munich are a copy of the central part of Acropolis Propylaea.

Propylaea built on the site of the old gate, which had been destroyed by the Persians (as well as other buildings of the Acropolis). Greek architect to design a building Mnesikl. Construction began in 437 BC in the age of Pericles, and ended in 432 BC because of the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War, although the building was not yet completed. Monumental gates were made of white Pentelic marble interspersed with darker Eleusinian marble (to create contrast). Architecture construction perfectly combines the Doric and Ionic orders.

The construction consists of a central part and two adjoining wings (in the form of small Doric portico), one of which housed an art gallery Pinakothek. Facade of the central part of a six Doric columns, which in its proportions are similar to the columns of the Parthenon. These columns divide the central part of the five openings. Average opening a wide and meant for ceremonial processions. Once he closed the gates of bronze. Initially it led to the gate wide road, but in the 1st century the Romans built a stage on top of it.

In Christian times both wings were converted into a church. In the 13-14 centuries in Propileyah the residence of the Duke of Athens, De la Roche. During the period of the Ottoman Empire is the headquarters of the Turkish garrison and the ammunition depot, which led in 1656 to an explosion and destruction of propylene. After the war for the independence of all medieval and Turkish additional buildings have been torn down and started excavations.

In 1975, during the general reconstruction of the Acropolis, in part it was restored and propylene. Global a seven-year project of reconstruction of the Acropolis of Athens was completed in 2009.

As part of the Propylaea of ​​the Acropolis of Athens included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.