In the Great Pyramid of Giza illusion, when viewing the Great Pyramid from above, the illusion can occur where, the pyramid can appear to be a hollow column or tower, rather than a solid pyramid.
The first view is from directly above the Great Pyramid of Giza. The second from another pyramid shape which, when viewed from the side, can appear like a hollow column.
Table of Contents
- What is the Pyramid of Giza Illusion?
- How does the Pyramid of Giza Illusion work?
- Discovery of the Pyramid of Giza Illusion
- References and Resources
What is the Pyramid of Giza Illusion?
This illusion occurs when a concave or inwardly curved object, such as a mask or a pyramid, is viewed from a certain angle, causing the brain to interpret it as a convex or outwardly curved object.
In the case of a pyramid, this illusion can occur when the pyramid is viewed from a certain angle that makes the base of the pyramid appear smaller than the top. When viewed from this angle, the pyramid can appear to be a hollow column or tower, rather than a solid pyramid.
How does the Pyramid of Giza Illusion Work?
The pyramid of Giza Illusion works in a similar way to the traditional hollow-face illusion, where a concave or inwardly curved object, such as a mask or a pyramid, appears to be convex or outwardly curved when viewed from a certain angle.
In the case of the pyramid illusion, when the pyramid is viewed from a certain angle that makes the base of the pyramid appear smaller than the top, the brain perceives the pyramid as being a hollow column or tower instead of a solid pyramid. This occurs because the brain is interpreting the pyramid based on the visual cues and perspective it is receiving.
When viewing the pyramid from this angle, the brain assumes that the lines of the pyramid converge to form the apex, as would be the case with a solid pyramid. However, since the base appears smaller than the top, the brain interprets this as the pyramid being hollow, as if it were an open column or tower.
This illusion is a good example of how our brain relies on visual cues and context to interpret the world around us, and how our perception can be influenced by the angle and perspective from which we view an object.
Discovery of the Pyramid of Giza Illusion
No one specific person who discovered the pyramid of Giza illusion, but it’s extremely similar to the hollow faced illusion which was first described by the psychologist James J. Gibson in the 1930s. He was one of the first scientists to study the phenomenon and provide a detailed description of the illusion and its underlying mechanisms. In his work, Gibson emphasized the importance of the visual information that the eyes receive from the environment in shaping our perception of the world, and he suggested that the hollow face illusion was an example of how the brain uses this information to construct a 3D representation of the world.
Gibson’s work on the hollow face illusion was influential in the development of the ecological theory of perception, which argues that perception is not solely determined by the properties of objects themselves, but is also shaped by the context in which they are encountered and the information available in the environment. His contributions to the study of the hollow face illusion and the broader field of perception and cognitive psychology continue to be widely recognized and referenced in the field today.
Pyramid of Giza Illusion – The Hollow Faced Illusion
The hollow face illusion is a type of optical illusion where a concave mask appears as if it is a convex object.
When a person views a hollow mask from the front, the features on the surface of the mask appear to be bulging out, even though they are actually recessed.
This illusion is created by the brain’s interpretation of the visual information it receives from the eyes. The brain uses previous experiences and knowledge to make assumptions about the shape and position of objects in a scene, and in the case of the hollow face illusion, these assumptions lead to a misinterpretation of the actual shape of the mask.
From Wikimedia Commons
Pyramid of Giza Illusion – Similar to the Crater Illusion
The Pryamid of Giza illusion is also similar to the Crater Illusion. The crater illusion is an optical illusion that occurs when looking at a flat image of a crater on a two-dimensional surface, such as a photograph or drawing. The illusion creates the impression that the crater is a raised, three-dimensional object with a convex shape, when in fact it is a depressed area.
This illusion is created due to the way our brains interpret light and shadow on the image of the crater. The brain perceives the light areas on the edge of the crater as raised, while the dark areas in the center of the crater are interpreted as shadows. This creates the impression that the crater is a raised object with a convex shape, rather than a depressed area.
The crater illusion is an interesting example of how our brains use visual cues and information to interpret the world around us, and how these interpretations can sometimes be misleading or incorrect. It is also a reminder of the limitations of our senses and our need to be mindful of the ways in which our perceptions can be influenced by external factors.
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.