Refinements
The Parthenon had certain unique optical illusions or refinements to make the building appear less severe or angular:
There is a convex curve at the base of the building of a total of 4" and also an inward slant so that the floor is slightly domed. The entablature of the building also carries the curve
Each of the columns in the Parthenon was built with a slight bulge in the middle, to make them appear “straight” from a distance (entasis)
All columns slant inwards by about 3" (they would meet if they were a mile high)
The corner columns are on a diagonal slant and they are a few inches thicker than the rest
The fluting is deeper towards the top of the shaft
Note the hugely complicated nature of the work created by these refinements (e.g. placing a slanting column on a curved stylobate). Ruskin: "the eye is most influenced by what it detects least"
There is a convex curve at the base of the building of a total of 4" and also an inward slant so that the floor is slightly domed. The entablature of the building also carries the curve
Each of the columns in the Parthenon was built with a slight bulge in the middle, to make them appear “straight” from a distance (entasis)
All columns slant inwards by about 3" (they would meet if they were a mile high)
The corner columns are on a diagonal slant and they are a few inches thicker than the rest
The fluting is deeper towards the top of the shaft
Note the hugely complicated nature of the work created by these refinements (e.g. placing a slanting column on a curved stylobate). Ruskin: "the eye is most influenced by what it detects least"