The Pylon was erected by Ptolemy IX (116-107 BC) before he was ousted from power by his brother Alexander (Ptolemy X Alexander I 107-88 BC), who was later usurped by another ruler (Ptolemy IX Soter II 88-80 BC), The walls of the pylon (gateway) are decorated with colossal reliefs of Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos, who is holding his enemies by their hair before Horus and is about to smash their skulls; this is the classic propaganda pose of the almighty pharaoh. The relief carvings were originally brightly painted