Why did Greek architects use columns as modules for temple proportions?

Greek architects utilized the column as a module—a standardized unit of measurement—to establish the proportions of a temple because it provided a human-scaled reference point for the entire structure.12

By employing the base of the column as a module, architects created a unit that was easily grasped and close to eye level for observers approaching the building. This allowed individuals to measure the temple's proportions against their own dimensions, ensuring the building felt harmonious rather than monstrous. Because the column was a unit human in scale, it served as a vital key to understanding the relationships among architectural elements that were otherwise too distant or massive to measure easily. This practice helped harmonize the relationship between the building's parts and the observer, a fundamental aspect of architectural scale.12