Editing Brandenburg Gate (section)

==Description==
[[File:1795ca Johann-Carl-Richter Propyleen+Brandenburger-Tor.jpg|thumb|An early 19th-century engraving comparing the recently constructed Brandenburg Gate to (an imagined restoration of) its historical model: the [[Propylaia (Acropolis of Athens)|Propylaea]] of the [[Acropolis of Athens]]]]

The central portion of the gate draws from the tradition of the Roman [[triumphal arch]], although in style it is one of the first examples of [[Greek Revival architecture]] in Germany.{{sfn|Watkin|1986|p=356–357}} The gate is supported by twelve [[fluting (architecture)|fluted]]  [[Doric order|Doric]] columns, six to each side, forming five passageways. There are also walls between the pairs of columns at front and back, decorated with classicizing [[relief]]s of the ''[[Labours of Hercules]]''.  Citizens were originally allowed to use only the outermost two passageways on each side. Its design is based on the [[Propylaia (Acropolis of Athens)|Propylaea]], the gateway to the [[Acropolis of Athens]],{{sfn|Watkin|1986|p=356–357}} which also had a front with six Doric columns, though these were topped by a triangular [[pediment]].

The central portion is flanked by L-shaped wings on either side, at a lower height, but using the same Doric order. Next to, and parallel with, the gate these are open "[[stoa]]s", but the longer sides, stretching beyond the east side, have buildings set back from the columns.  These are called "custom houses" for the [[Berlin Customs Wall]], which was in force until 1860, or "gatehouses".

The [[Doric order]] of the gate mostly, but not entirely, follows Greek precedents, which had recently become much better understood by the publication of careful illustrated records. The Greek Doric does not have bases to the columns, and the fluting here follows the Greek style for [[Ionic order|Ionic]] and [[Corinthian order|Corinthian]] columns, with flat fillets rather than sharp [[arris]]es between the flutes, and rounded ends to the top and bottom of flutes. The [[entablature]] up to the [[cornice]] follows Greek precedent, with [[triglyph]]s, [[guttae]], [[metope]]s, and [[mutule]]s, except that there are half-metopes at the corners, the Roman rather than Greek solution to the "[[Doric order#Spacing the triglyphs|Doric corner conflict]]". The 16 metopes along each of the long faces have scenes from Greek mythology in relief; many echo the [[Parthenon]] in showing [[centaur]]s fighting men. Statues in niches at the furthest side wall of ''Minerva'' and ''Mars'' were added in the 19th century.{{sfn|Pohlsander|2008|p=176}}

After an [[Attic (architecture)|attic storey]] that is plain apart from wide steps at the sides receding in both directions, leading, on the east side only, to a large allegorical relief of the ''Triumph of Peace'', the figures mostly women and children.  Above this there is a second cornice, with a projecting central section. On top of this is a "bronze" sculptural group by [[Johann Gottfried Schadow]] of a [[quadriga]]—a chariot drawn by four horses—driven by a goddess figure.  This was initially intended to represent [[Eirene (goddess)|Eirene]], the Greek goddess of peace, but after the [[Napoleonic Wars]] was rebranded as [[Victoria (mythology)|Victoria]], the Roman goddess of victory, and given an [[Iron Cross]] standard with a crowned Imperial eagle perched on top, rather than a [[wreath]].  This faces into the city centre.  It is the first quadriga group to be made since antiquity, made from copper sheets hammered in moulds; fortunately these moulds were kept, as they would be used more than once to renew the sculpture.{{sfn|Pohlsander|2008|p=176, 180}}

The side wings have plain metopes, and simple angled roofs, ending in gable pediments with a small circular relief in the tympanum.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Berlin-Brandenburg Gate overwiev.jpg|Frontal view with the [[Pariser Platz]] looking west towards [[Straße des 17. Juni]]
File:00 2486 Quadriga - Brandenburger Tor (Berlin).jpg|The [[quadriga]] and bas-reliefs
File:Brandenburg Gate from Ebertstr N.jpg|Side view, showing one of the [[stoa]]s at the sides of the gate
</gallery>