Final answer:
The direct answer to the student's question about an outer wall that slopes inward as it rises is 'D) Talud'. Corbel is a term often associated with an arch where stone or brick extends over the one below and is crucial in Mycenaean architecture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the description of an outer wall that slopes inward as it rises is D) Talud. A corbel is a structural element in architecture where each course of stone or brick extends slightly beyond the one below, eventually meeting at a point to form an arch. The corbel arch was frequently utilized by the Mycenaeans, serving as a way to distribute the weight above doorways and relieve pressure on the lintel.
These arches were a part of the larger Mycenaean architectural innovations, which incorporated elements such as the relieving triangle and corbeled vaults to support heavy loads. A key feature of Mycenaean citadels was the megaron, a reception area for the king, which demonstrated the transition to Greek temple architecture. The term 'corbel' is sometimes used interchangeably with 'corbeled arch,' but it specifically refers to the protruding stones that create the arch's structure, rather than the inward-sloping walls identified as talud.