UK mathematician debunks myth around Parthenon’s optical illusions
Study challenges belief that temple’s curves were designed to correct optical illusions that would have ruined its clean lines
TL;DR
- A study by mathematician Alain Goriely suggests the Parthenon's optical illusions are a myth.
- The myth, traced back to Vitruvius, claims subtle curves correct visual distortions.
- Goriely found no evidence that the proposed illusions exist or are corrected by the Parthenon's features.
- The curvature of the base might have prevented rain puddles, and bulging columns could have been for aesthetic reasons.
- The enduring myth may stem from the perception of ancient Greece as highly ingenious.