Editing Pylon (architecture) (section)

{{Short description|Monumental gateway of an Egyptian temple}}
{{Other uses|Pylon (disambiguation){{!}}Pylon}}
[[File:Insel Philae.JPG|thumb|260px|Temple of Isis first pylon, [[Philae]]]]
A '''pylon''' is a [[monument]]al [[gate]] of an [[Egyptian temple]] (Egyptian: ''bxn.t'' in the [[Manuel de Codage]] transliteration<ref>Ermann & Grapow, ''Wörterbuch der ägyptischen Sprache'', vol.1, 471.9–11</ref>). The word comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] term {{Lang|el|πυλών}} 'gate'. It consists of two [[pyramid]]al towers, each tapered and surmounted by a [[cornice]], joined by a less elevated section enclosing the entrance between them.<ref name="Wilkinson_195">Toby Wilkinson, ''The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Ancient Egypt'', Thames & Hudson, 2005. p.195</ref> The gate was generally about half the height of the towers. Contemporary paintings of pylons show them with long poles flying banners.