Metrology, Archeology and Architecture
The time resilience is a testament to their quality where measurements played a determining role.
By Emil Hazarian CCPE, MSQA – MSME Dipl. Ing., Professor, CSU Dominguez Hills
This time we are considering two fields of science, having at the first look, no relation with metrology: Architecture-Archeology and Psychology.
Architecture, Archeology and Metrology
Ancient monuments like the Pyramids of Giza, the Parthenon, and the Great Wall of China are awe-inspiring not just for their scale but for their ability to communicate cultural values, myths, and religious beliefs.
Their architecture and design integrate geometry, astronomy, and sacred proportions, symbolizing a harmony between humanity and the cosmos.
Many ancient structures exhibit remarkable engineering feats, achieved with minimal technology. For example, the precision of the stonework in Machu Picchu or the aqueducts of Rome reflects both practical and artistic innovation.
Restoration of ancient monuments implies unearthing methods, principles, tools and concepts, used to create such timeless edifices, will not be possible without considering advanced geometric principles and the application of measurement science. Study of ancient edifices brings also together the archeology and architecture, first to discover and later to restore.
The following are excerpts from “The Treasury of Siphnos at Delphi: A Geometry in Stone? Metrological Corollary”, CAIETE ARA, Notebook 12, 2021, courtesy of Monica Mărgineanu Cârstoiu, Senior Researcher, Archaeology Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
This extended article is portraying the symbiotic interconnection between metrology-archeology-architecture, and the wonderful ancient erections. The time resilience is a testament to their quality where measurements played a determining role.
We retained and focus on the article references mainly to measurement contributions to archeology and architecture with regards to ancient monuments.
The “Siphnian Treasury” at Delphi is an ancient structure built around 525 BCE, by the people of Siphnos, an island in the Cyclades, Greece. This treasury is one of the most famous offerings made to the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, a major Panhellenic religious and cultural center in ancient Greece.
This study proposes a hypothesis highlighting the internal geometry of the architecture of the Treasury at Delphi and offers insights into the influence of the philosophy of the time on architectural thought, particularly that of Pythagoras.
The analysis of the geometrical framework leads to a plausible solution to a metrological problem previously considered insurmountable. The fundamental role of diagonals in the geometric assembly and sizing of the monument is discussed.
Additionally, it is suggested that the diagonal of the plan served as a starting element, revealing that the unit of measurement used in the architecture of the Treasury was the Cubit.
Here are two examples from original article, showing the intricate geometry and measurement used for restoration.
Source: courtesy of Monica Mărgineanu Cârstoiu, Senior Researcher, Archaeology Institute, Bucharest, Romania Source: courtesy of Gabi Cernescu Pizzinini, Master in Arts Scenography, Nicolae Grigorescu Academy of Arts, Bucharest, Romania.
Broader Implications for Metrology in Ancient Greece:
The cultural and religious significance of Delphi as a Panhellenic sanctuary meant that the structures built there had to conform to the highest standards of precision and aesthetics. This was not only a religious act but also a technological and metrological achievement.
The treasury serves as an example of how ancient civilizations like Greece intertwined art, science, and engineering, with metrology at the heart of creating enduring monuments.
Metrology would have been essential in mining operations (such as the gold and silver mines of Siphnos) and trade, influencing their ability to fund such projects.
While the Siphnian Treasury is primarily an artistic and cultural artifact, its creation reflects the advanced metrological practices of ancient Greece, showcasing their ability to apply measurement science to achieve architectural and sculptural excellence.
Psychology and Metrology. Revealing a Person’s Character Based on Color Preference.
The idea that color preferences reveal aspects of an individual’s personality or character is rooted in both psychology and cultural studies. Colors evoke emotional and psychological responses that can reflect and influence an individual’s personality traits. Preferences for certain colors are thought to align with core emotional tendencies, decision-making styles, and energy levels.
The relationship between color assessment/quantification and psychology was inspired by a draft research paper titled Colors, December 2024, courtesy of Gabi Cernescu Pizzinini, Master in Arts Scenography, Nicolae Grigorescu Academy of Arts, Bucharest, Romania.
The objective of the study was to analyze individuals’ preference for colors and perception of the surrounding world, and their anthropological type and psychological condition. Summary of colors predictive models
This table below aligns general characteristics of colors with physical properties and psychological interpretations.
Here are some of the applications that can benefit from interpretations of color perception.
- Workplace and Recruitment: Color preference tests are sometimes used in career counseling to align jobs with personality traits. For instance, individuals preferring blue might thrive in stable roles, while red-preferers may excel in leadership.
- Marketing and Consumer Behavior Brands use color psychology to attract specific audiences. For instance, black is often used to convey luxury, while green signals eco-friendliness.
- Therapy and Personal Growth Art therapists use color selection to explore emotional states and support healing processes.
The “unit of measurement” for the considerations surrounding color preferences and emotional states isn’t a physical or standardized unit like meters or kilograms, but instead conceptual frameworks or scales that quantify the relationships between color and psychological/emotional responses. Here are some possible ways to measure or assess these phenomena:
Scientific Measurements
Physiological Responses. Measure physiological reactions to color exposure, such as: - Heart Rate (bpm): Indicates excitement or relaxation. - Skin Conductance: Reflects stress or excitement. - Brainwave Activity (EEG): Correlates to emotional engagement. - Measurement: Quantitative data collected from biometric devices.
Light Wavelengths - Colors are inherently measured in terms of their wavelengths (nanometers, nm) or frequencies (terahertz, THz). For example, red (620–750 nm) or blue (450–495 nm).
Saturation and Brightness - In digital or artistic contexts, color preferences might be quantified using: - Saturation Levels (%): How intense or muted the color is. - Brightness Levels (%): How light or dark the color is. While there is no single “unit of measurement,” these approaches provide structured ways to interpret and quantify the impact of color preferences on emotional states.
Below is the graphical representation of wavelength and frequency of discussed colors.
Emil Hazarian, Professor CSU Dominguez Hills, CCPE, MSQA – MSME Dipl. Ing. – BS Metrology - BS Energy
