Egyptian Pyramids and Mastaba Tombs

Egypt

by Philip J. Watson

The Egyptian pyramids are iconic images of ancient Egyptian civilisation and mythology. This book traces the early development of ancient pyramids and tombs, from the Mastaba burial tombs of the first dynasty, to the Great Pyramid of the fourth. Also exploring the lesser-known pyramids of the Old and Middle Kingdoms, the author discusses the construction methods involved and reveals the elaborate decorations used to celebrate the afterlife. With photographs of original Egyptian artwork found within these monuments, Egyptian Pyramids and Mastaba Tombs provides insight into an ancient Egyptian world that continues to fascinate people to today.

Genres: Egyptology, Nonfiction

64 pages, Paperback

First published February 17, 1987

Reviews

[Storm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite it's slim number of pages this is definitely NOT an introductory book. If I hadn't read other Egyptology-themed books before this, I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to follow along with the info, and even having read some I still had a little trouble, but that came more from my not being familiar with the info before hand, and not any fault of the book's writer.

There's quite a bit of info crammed all together in this book, it offers some unique insights far as I've come across so far, but it has it's flaws as well. Even so it touches on a subject I haven't seen many books on the topic touch on, the Mastaba Tombs. Most everyone is familiar with the Pyramids, but this is only the second book I've read so far that mentions the mastabas, and the first that has them as part of the title.