Inancient Egyptian architecture, apylon is amonumentalgate of anEgyptian temple (Egyptian:bxn.t in theManuel de Codage transliteration[1]). The English word "pylon" comes from theGreek termπυλών 'gate'. The Egyptian pylon consists of twopyramidal towers, each tapered and surmounted by acornice, joined by a less elevated section enclosing the entrance between them.[2] The gate was generally about half the height of the towers. Contemporary paintings of pylons show them with long poles flying banners.
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| Akhet 'horizon') inhieroglyphs | ||
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Inancient Egyptian religion, the pylon mirrored thehieroglyphakhet 'horizon', which was a depiction of two hills "between which the sun rose and set".[2] Consequently, it played a critical role in the symbolic architecture of a building associated with the place of re-creation and rebirth.
Pylons were often decorated with scenes emphasizing a king's authority since it was the public face of a building.[2] On the first pylon of the temple ofIsis atPhilae, thepharaoh is shown slaying his enemies while Isis,Horus andHathor look on. Other examples of pylons can be seen inKarnak,Luxor Temple andEdfu. Rituals to the godAmun were often carried out on the top of temple pylons. A pair ofobelisks usually stood in front of a pylon.
In addition to standard vertical grooves on the exterior face of a pylon wall which were designed to hold flag poles, some pylons also contained internal stairways and rooms.[2] The oldest intact pylons belong to mortuary temples from theRamesside period in the 13th and 12th centuries BCE.[2]
BothNeoclassical andEgyptian Revival architecture employ the pylon form, withBoodle's gentlemen's club in London being an example of the Neoclassical style.
The 19th and 20th centuries saw pylon architecture employed for bridges such as theSydney Harbour Bridge and as stand-alone monuments such as thePatcham Pylon inBrighton and Hove, England.
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Media related toPylons (architecture) at Wikimedia Commons
