The golden ratio is a famous geometry idea with a connection to ancient Greece. (When it came to mathematics, physics, astronomy, philosophy, drama, and the like, those ancient Greeks sure did kick some serious butt.)
![image0.png](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6634a8f8dd9b2a63c9e6be83/669e19e29b6b3ee6b96510a3_272109.image0.png)
The figure below shows the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens.
![image1.jpg](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6634a8f8dd9b2a63c9e6be83/669e19e29b6b3ee6b96510b1_272110.image1.jpeg)
Built in the fifth century B.C., it is an example of architecture that uses the golden ratio.
![image2.png](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6634a8f8dd9b2a63c9e6be83/669e19e29b6b3ee6b96510a8_272111.image2.png)
Then you can divide the smaller rectangle into a square and a rectangle, and then you can divide the next rectangle, and so on, as shown below.
![image3.jpg](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6634a8f8dd9b2a63c9e6be83/669e19e29b6b3ee6b96510ad_272112.image3.jpeg)
When you connect the corresponding corners of each similar rectangle, you get a spiral that happens to be the same shape as the spiraling shell of the nautilus — amazing!