Pylon (architecture)

thumb|260px|Temple of Isis first pylon, [[Philae]]

In ancient Egyptian architecture, a pylon is a monumental gate of an Egyptian temple (Egyptian: bxn.t in the Manuel de Codage transliteration). The English word "pylon" comes from the Greek term 'gate'. The Egyptian pylon consists of two pyramidal towers, each tapered and surmounted by a cornice, joined by a less elevated section enclosing the entrance between them. The gate was generally about half the height of the towers. Contemporary paintings of pylons show them with long poles flying banners.

Egyptian architecture

In ancient Egyptian religion, the pylon mirrored the hieroglyph akhet 'horizon', which was a depiction of two hills "between which the sun rose and set".