Tall tower-like structures that carry electricity cables across long distances; also, tall monumental gateway structures in ancient Egypt.
From Greek 'pylon' (gate), which derived from 'pyle' (gate or entrance). The word was applied to Egyptian monuments, then borrowed for modern electrical towers because of their gate-like height and prominence.
Pylons are one of the most visually distinctive features of modern landscapes, yet we barely notice them—they're so common that the word has almost become invisible. In Egypt, they marked sacred entrances; now they mark the power networks that make modern life possible.
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