Final answer:
The Greek temple columns feature intentional deviations like entasis and curvature in the stylobate to correct optical illusions and make the structures appear straight and stable. These adjustments were precisely calculated by skilled architects and are exemplified in structures like the Parthenon, designed by Iktinos and Kallikrates.
B is correct
Step-by-step explanation:
The columns of Greek temples, such as the Parthenon, were not exactly straight because this was an intentional feature to combat optical illusions. The technique used is known as entasis, where a slight swelling is added to the columns to make them appear straight and stable to the human eye. The Greeks were skilled architects and understood the importance of these subtle adjustments to achieve the desired optical effects. Iktinos and Kallikrates, architects of the Parthenon, used curvature in the columns and the stylobate, or the platform of the temple, to ensure the building appeared perfectly straight and solid. The slight curvature in the middle of the columns was so finesse that it only bulged by about 11/16th of an inch.
In addition to entasis, the Greek architects also applied subtle deviations in the horizontal plane. The stylobate of the Parthenon, for example, is not flat; its center is slightly higher than the edges to allow for proper drainage and to correct visual distortions. The center of the long sides rises by 4 3/8 inches and on the east and west sides by 2 3/8 inches. The columns are also not exactly perpendicular but lean slightly inwards, which again corrects the visual illusion that a perfectly straight line appears bowed at the corners.