Framing Victory: Salamis, the Athenian Acropolis, and the Agora

A groundbreaking reappraisal of the Periklean building program on the Athenian Acropolis reveals that the Mnesiklean Propylaia, traditionally viewed as a mere entrance, was also a monumental exit framing Salamis—the site of Athens' pivotal victory over the Persians in 480 BCE. This study challenges conventional perspectives by demonstrating that the Propylaia and other Acropolis structures were integral to a ritual topography that connected with the Classical Agora's stoas, creating a cohesive narrative of Athenian heroism across the city. By analyzing sightlines and architectural functions, researchers propose that the Periklean program extended beyond the Acropolis, incorporating the Agora into a broader tradition of monumental representation.

Martin-Mcauliffe, S. L., & Papadopoulos, J. K. (2012). Framing Victory: Salamis, the Athenian Acropolis, and the Agora. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, 71(3), 332–361. https://doi.org/10.1525/jsah.2012.71.3.332