<P> Beyond the hypostyle hall were one or more peristyle courts open to the sky . These open courts , which had been a part of Egyptian temple design since the Old Kingdom , became transitional areas in the standard plan of the New Kingdom , lying between the public space outside the temple and the more restricted areas within . Here the public met with the priests and assembled during festivals . At the front of each court was usually a pylon , a pair of broad , flat towers flanking the main gateway . The pylon is known from only scattered examples in the Old and Middle Kingdoms , but in the New it quickly became the distinctive and imposing façade common to most Egyptian temples . The pylon served symbolically as a guard tower against the forces of disorder and may also have been meant to resemble the hieroglyph for `` horizon '' , underscoring the temple 's solar symbolism . </P>
<P> Beyond the hypostyle hall were one or more peristyle courts open to the sky . These open courts , which had been a part of Egyptian temple design since the Old Kingdom , became transitional areas in the standard plan of the New Kingdom , lying between the public space outside the temple and the more restricted areas within . Here the public met with the priests and assembled during festivals . At the front of each court was usually a pylon , a pair of broad , flat towers flanking the main gateway . The pylon is known from only scattered examples in the Old and Middle Kingdoms , but in the New it quickly became the distinctive and imposing façade common to most Egyptian temples . The pylon served symbolically as a guard tower against the forces of disorder and may also have been meant to resemble the hieroglyph for `` horizon '' , underscoring the temple 's solar symbolism . </P>
what is the gateway of an egyptian temple that leads to a series of pillared halls or courts called
what is the gateway of an egyptian temple that leads to a series of pillared halls or courts called
pylon
pylon