Oxford mathematician challenges Parthenon corrections
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An Oxford mathematician argued that the Parthenon's famed "optical corrections" do not exist or are nearly imperceptible, challenging a long-held explanation for the temple's design.
by Margot C. Finn Reposted by Robert Proctor
'after a detailed investigation, and a flurry of mathematical modelling, Prof Alain Goriely at the University of Oxford has reached an awkward conclusion. The optical illusions the curves are meant to fix are either nonsense or practically imperceptible....the illusions are themselves an illusion.'
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
www.theguardian.com
September 16, 2026 at 6:11 AM
'after a detailed investigation, and a flurry of mathematical modelling, Prof Alain Goriely at the University of Oxford has reached an awkward conclusion. The optical illusions the curves are meant to fix are either nonsense or practically imperceptible....the illusions are themselves an illusion.'
My Greek & Roman archaeology lecturer (the stupendous Anne Mackay) taught this myth with careful scepticism nearly 40 years ago. www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
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
www.theguardian.com
September 16, 2026 at 5:02 AM
My Greek & Roman archaeology lecturer (the stupendous Anne Mackay) taught this myth with careful scepticism nearly 40 years ago. www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Have always suspected this, that the curves are to give a definite character rather than to appear straight.
'after a detailed investigation, and a flurry of mathematical modelling, Prof Alain Goriely at the University of Oxford has reached an awkward conclusion. The optical illusions the curves are meant to fix are either nonsense or practically imperceptible....the illusions are themselves an illusion.'
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
www.theguardian.com
September 16, 2026 at 7:04 AM
Have always suspected this, that the curves are to give a definite character rather than to appear straight.
Original research here:
The illusion of illusions: there are no optical corrections in the Parthenon
Abstract. One of the oldest and most enduring myths in human history is the belief that the Parthenon was cleverly designed with various curved structures
royalsocietypublishing.org
September 16, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Original research here:
That is to say she described the geometry of the building, then the proposed optical explanation of the curves, and argued (partly comparatively) that the story seemed like a serious stretch that we should know about but that seemed unlikely to be right on historical and aesthetic grounds.
September 16, 2026 at 7:03 AM
That is to say she described the geometry of the building, then the proposed optical explanation of the curves, and argued (partly comparatively) that the story seemed like a serious stretch that we should know about but that seemed unlikely to be right on historical and aesthetic grounds.
Reposted by Michael Morris
Link to the scientific paper ("The Illusion of Illusions") inside story and below.
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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
www.theguardian.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:44 PM