Re: explain please the phi ratio

From: David W. Cantrell (DWCantrell_at_sigmaxi.org)
Date: 09/21/04 

Date: 21 Sep 2004 15:08:13 GMT

poespam-trap@yahoo.com (Randy Poe) wrote:
> Chan-Ho Suh <suh@math.ucdavis.nospam.edu> wrote in message
> news:<200920042115182382%suh@math.ucdavis.nospam.edu>...
> > Architecture books seem to thrive on this kind of thing, so I wouldn't
> > be surprised if some modern architects have incorporated phi into their
> > work on purpose. I remember one particular book explaining how the
> > Greeks made the facade of the Parthenon into a golden rectangle. They
> > gave a very convoluted geometric argument and diagram to show this, but
> > never explained how they chose the rectangle with which they enclosed
> > the facade.
>
> Well, with the Greeks there's a fair chance the choice of
> phi is deliberate,

I can understand why you think "there's a fair chance". But the question of
whether the golden rectangle was used in the design of the Parthenon has
been studied a good bit. There is, AFAIK, no credible evidence to support
its use there.

Although I have only glanced at the recent book _The Golden Ratio_ by
Livio, I think it would be good reading for anyone interested in
distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate claims regarding phi.

David Cantrell

Relevant Pages

  • Re: explain please the phi ratio
    ... >>seen ans an ashetically pleasing ratio. ... There are a lot of myths about phi, ... Greeks made the facade of the Parthenon into a golden rectangle. ...
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  • Re: explain please the phi ratio
    ... > Architecture books seem to thrive on this kind of thing, ... > be surprised if some modern architects have incorporated phi into their ... > Greeks made the facade of the Parthenon into a golden rectangle. ... about the importance of ratios and the golden ratio in particular. ...
    (sci.math)