propylaion
Propylaion refers to two notable uses of the term in architecture and in modern data science. In classical architecture, the singular propylaion (often rendered as Propylaea in English) denotes the monumental gateway to the Acropolis of Athens. Built in the mid-5th century BCE as part of Pericles’ building program, the Propylaia served as the ceremonial entrance to the sacred precinct and was designed to harmonize with the surrounding monuments. The complex consisted of a central gateway structure and flanking wings, establishing a dramatic ascent from the city up toward the Acropolis. Today, only portions survive and the site has undergone later restorations, but the Propylaion remains a key example of high Classical Greek architecture and the integration of functional gateway spaces within a sacred context. Its name derives from Greek words meaning “before the gates.”
In contemporary usage, Propylaion is also the name of an open, collaborative project that aims to provide