Mathmatics and the Greek Columns
Durring a trip to Greece in 2005, I was lucky enough to experience the Parthenon. I realized, through the books I was reading, that the columns are built to mathmatical porportions that are pleasing to the eye. The Parthenon has both Doric and Ionic columns that were built to reflect certain mathmatical ideas.
Mathematics and proportion determine size and shape of the columns. According to Vitruvius, a Roman engineer for both Julius Caesar and Augustus, the Doric column's diameter-to-height ratio is based on the relationship between foot length and height in a man; whereas the slenderer Ionic column diameter-to-height ratio is based on the foot length-to-height ratio in a woman.
Although they may appear identical, the columns around the outside of the Parthenon are not uniform and straight. On the outside, there are 17 columns along the lengths and eight along the width. The four corner columns are thicker by 1/14 in order to avoid looking weak from a distance.
The thought and effort that went into the construcion of the columns at the parthenon is absoulutly amazing to me. It shows advanced math skills and a knowledge ofthe human eye that seems advanced by even todays standards. Truly an amazing example of human intellegence.