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The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries
Archetypal symbols of remote antiquity, the pyramids have for centuries inspired passionate theories about their origins, purpose, and method of construction. Archaeologists, engineers, astronomers, poets, painters, and travelers have all had their say--but how much do we really know about these awe-inspiring wonders of the ancient world? Here is the first fully illustrated compendium of every major pyramid of ancient Egypt. Mark Lehner surveys the history, building, and use of the pyramids in unprecedented detail, looking at the practical aspects (the quarries, ramps, and tools used to build them) and the conceptual--the cosmology and iconography of the pyramids and the intriguing Pyramid Texts. The contents include: * the Whole Pyramid catalogue, a unique survey and description of the pyramids and their development, from the first simple pit-graves to the sublime pyramids of Giza and beyond; * a discussion of the rituals and mythology surrounding the death and burial of the pharaohs in ancient Egypt; * accounts of explorers, looters, and archaeologists, from the later Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans to the great explorations of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; * specially commissioned artist's and computer reconstructions of the interiors of the pyramids and their chambers; * an overview of Egyptian history and the pyramids, numerous fact files, detailed maps and site plans, and a guide to visiting the pyramids.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 13, 2012
The beautiful and detailed pictures and diagrams are the only saving grace for this book. The author constantly lost me with his writing style. He wrote as if we were there looking at each pyramid. I have read several other books in the topics but archaeologists and egyptologists and they are all better than this one. The book is now outdated due to many recent findings.
July 3, 2020
Published in 1997, Dr. Mark Lehner described what we know about 90 pyramids. If you want an introduction to the "nuts and bolts" details of pyramid construction, then this book is for you. It is mostly a reference book.
There are some very good historical snippets throughout the book, but I would have loved to see these woven together for a unifying theme. But such is the zeitgeist of our modern world. I was sorely disappointed because it was mostly a review of the pyramids without context. I think the earlier Egyptologists may have not had all of the information available as today but they didn’t wish to put the discipline in one box. It felt like I was reading an Atlas; the humanity piece was missing. My favorite part of the book was the last two paragraphs, where he waxes philosophical. I would have loved to seen philosophy throughout. I had no sense of where Egyptology was heading, which is why so many alternative theories are popping up annually.
There are some very good historical snippets throughout the book, but I would have loved to see these woven together for a unifying theme. But such is the zeitgeist of our modern world. I was sorely disappointed because it was mostly a review of the pyramids without context. I think the earlier Egyptologists may have not had all of the information available as today but they didn’t wish to put the discipline in one box. It felt like I was reading an Atlas; the humanity piece was missing. My favorite part of the book was the last two paragraphs, where he waxes philosophical. I would have loved to seen philosophy throughout. I had no sense of where Egyptology was heading, which is why so many alternative theories are popping up annually.
November 20, 2019
Although new discoveries have been made since this book was written, this book is a must have for anyone interested in Ancient Egypt. Very detailed and a good timeline for the Pyramids and the Pharaohs who built them. Great photos as well.
January 30, 2012
This really is the book you want to pick up for a "complete" look at the pyramids. It begins with an overview of the culture, religion and geography that lead to the building of these structures, and then provides a complete survey of Ancient Egyptian pyramids (considering this was published in 1997, it may be missing some of the more recent finds, but it's still pretty impressive). There's also an incredible section detailing the possible ways the pyramids were built, and a brief exploration of the pyramid today. Lehner writes with authority and is easily to read, though he lost me a bit with the mathematics and science-y stuff.
September 10, 2024
Mark Lehner knows the Giza Plateau and its Fourth Dynasty pyramid complexes as well as anybody alive, so he's a natural choice to write about pyramids in general. (The other major recent book on pyramids is by Miroslav Verner, who knows Abusir and its Fifth Dynasty pyramid complexes as well as anybody alive.) Lehner's book is one of the early entries in Thames & Hudson's "Complete X of Ancient Egypt" series. Like all books in that series, it stands out for its breadth of coverage and extensive and high-quality illustrations, and like many of them, it doesn't have as much depth as one might want but still packs a lot into 256 pages.
The early sections of the book describe pyramid complexes and what purposes they served—a very important point, because people usually look at the pyramids in isolation without realizing that each one had a complex of temples at its foot. Included here are the funeral rituals (insofar as we can tell how they worked in the Old Kingdom), the Pyramid Texts, and the how the pyramids may have functioned as a religious symbol. Part Two describes the history of the study of pyramids, and Part Three lists the pyramids in chronological order, from Predynastic precursors to the pyramids of Nubia. The entry for each major Old and Middle Kingdom pyramid includes diagrams of its complex and its interior passages, and example layouts are given for types of pyramid that aren't treated individually, such as the pyramidal private tombs of the New Kingdom and the Nubian pyramids. Part Four discusses the pyramid as an institution: the construction process, the workers' villages, the pyramid temple and its priests, and the economic infrastructure that supported it all.
Lehner's treatment of pyramid construction is the part of the book most likely to be criticized, partly because some major aspects of the process are still uncertain and partly because he extrapolates from a 1992 pyramid-building experiment that used steel tools. But Lehner does try to take the steel advantage into account when estimating the size of the workforce, and his discussion of construction techniques shows the range of possibilities for how the stones were raised and positioned. He also shows how the construction techniques that we do understand evolved over time, in an easily traceable path from the Step Pyramid to the Fourth and Fifth Dynasty pyramids to the Middle Kingdom.
Lehner can't treat individual pyramids in great detail, as Verner's book does. Lehner's text is also more than 25 years old, so it's inevitably dated in a few spots. The assumption that Predynastic temples contained a mound that foreshadowed the pyramids, and even the assumption that the pyramids represent the mythical primeval mound, have been challenged in recent years, as have many of the details about afterlife beliefs that are discussed in Part One. Discoveries in the 21st century related to the pyramids are naturally not mentioned here. For the recent discoveries that are related to Giza, and for more detail on the construction process, see the enormous 2017 book that Lehner cowrote, Giza and the Pyramids: The Definitive History.
The early sections of the book describe pyramid complexes and what purposes they served—a very important point, because people usually look at the pyramids in isolation without realizing that each one had a complex of temples at its foot. Included here are the funeral rituals (insofar as we can tell how they worked in the Old Kingdom), the Pyramid Texts, and the how the pyramids may have functioned as a religious symbol. Part Two describes the history of the study of pyramids, and Part Three lists the pyramids in chronological order, from Predynastic precursors to the pyramids of Nubia. The entry for each major Old and Middle Kingdom pyramid includes diagrams of its complex and its interior passages, and example layouts are given for types of pyramid that aren't treated individually, such as the pyramidal private tombs of the New Kingdom and the Nubian pyramids. Part Four discusses the pyramid as an institution: the construction process, the workers' villages, the pyramid temple and its priests, and the economic infrastructure that supported it all.
Lehner's treatment of pyramid construction is the part of the book most likely to be criticized, partly because some major aspects of the process are still uncertain and partly because he extrapolates from a 1992 pyramid-building experiment that used steel tools. But Lehner does try to take the steel advantage into account when estimating the size of the workforce, and his discussion of construction techniques shows the range of possibilities for how the stones were raised and positioned. He also shows how the construction techniques that we do understand evolved over time, in an easily traceable path from the Step Pyramid to the Fourth and Fifth Dynasty pyramids to the Middle Kingdom.
Lehner can't treat individual pyramids in great detail, as Verner's book does. Lehner's text is also more than 25 years old, so it's inevitably dated in a few spots. The assumption that Predynastic temples contained a mound that foreshadowed the pyramids, and even the assumption that the pyramids represent the mythical primeval mound, have been challenged in recent years, as have many of the details about afterlife beliefs that are discussed in Part One. Discoveries in the 21st century related to the pyramids are naturally not mentioned here. For the recent discoveries that are related to Giza, and for more detail on the construction process, see the enormous 2017 book that Lehner cowrote, Giza and the Pyramids: The Definitive History.
July 9, 2024
Mark Lehner's The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries is an authoritative and thorough reference to one of the most lasting and perplexing architectural wonders in the world. Renowned Egyptologist Lehner provides readers with a thorough examination of the Egyptian pyramids by drawing on his many years of scholarly research and field experience. The book covers a broad range of subjects, including the cultural and religious importance of these colossal constructions as well as the building methods and architectural breakthroughs of the ancient Egyptians. Rich pictures, maps, and photographs combined with Lehner's lucid and captivating prose make difficult historical and archaeological concepts intriguing and approachable for readers of all backgrounds.
Given the complexity and scope of the information provided, The Complete Pyramids may seem dense to some readers, despite its many benefits. While the in-depth information is priceless for readers with a keen interest in Egyptology, it may be too much for casual readers or those unfamiliar with the topic. Furthermore, because of its emphasis on the technical and historical aspects of the pyramids, the book sometimes ignores more alternative or speculative views that some readers might find fascinating. Even so, Lehner's study is a significant contribution to the area, offering a thorough and authoritative description of the pyramidsthat will enlighten and motivate anybody with an interest in these historic wonders.
Given the complexity and scope of the information provided, The Complete Pyramids may seem dense to some readers, despite its many benefits. While the in-depth information is priceless for readers with a keen interest in Egyptology, it may be too much for casual readers or those unfamiliar with the topic. Furthermore, because of its emphasis on the technical and historical aspects of the pyramids, the book sometimes ignores more alternative or speculative views that some readers might find fascinating. Even so, Lehner's study is a significant contribution to the area, offering a thorough and authoritative description of the pyramidsthat will enlighten and motivate anybody with an interest in these historic wonders.
April 9, 2023
Livro extremamente detalhado sobre a história das centenas de pirâmides do Egito. Com base em trabalho meticuloso e resultado de campanhas de escavação, o autor desmistifica a construção de pirâmides e mostra quais foram as ferramentas, técnicas, equipes e forma de construir esses símbolos da eternidade. Spoiler: não foram ETs.
December 19, 2018
Sound and basic.
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July 9, 2019Download this book
April 20, 2021
Very enjoyable
May 22, 2023
Lehner is one of the foremost authorities on the pyramids. His book is a comprehensive study of all aspects of the pyramids - he goes over their evolution from mastabas, to Djoser’s Step Pyramid, to Sneferu’s Bent and Red Pyramids, to the Giza complex, and all the others.
He looks at what the pyramids represented in Egyptian culture, and how he thinks there is good evidence for them being used as tombs. He also talks about building practices and the tools they used. There are lots of pictures, hieroglyph samples, maps and diagrams of the internal architecture of every pyramid in Egypt. The book makes it easy to visualize both the insides and outsides of these structures.
I actually had the privilege of hearing the author speak in person and after the lecture he signed my copy of this book :) I will forever remember that moment fondly.
Lehner admits he does not know all the answers, but the book certainly lives up to its title and provides convincing explanations for when, why, and how these monuments were built.
He looks at what the pyramids represented in Egyptian culture, and how he thinks there is good evidence for them being used as tombs. He also talks about building practices and the tools they used. There are lots of pictures, hieroglyph samples, maps and diagrams of the internal architecture of every pyramid in Egypt. The book makes it easy to visualize both the insides and outsides of these structures.
I actually had the privilege of hearing the author speak in person and after the lecture he signed my copy of this book :) I will forever remember that moment fondly.
Lehner admits he does not know all the answers, but the book certainly lives up to its title and provides convincing explanations for when, why, and how these monuments were built.
September 26, 2016
It is a must, for anyone interested in ancient Egypt, since this archeologist was excavated more then anyone, but his vision is very tradicional. No controversy is explore here. Everything has an answer.
May 15, 2007
I adore pyramids. I do rather wish for a dark and bat guano-filled substructure just for me, but I suppose that's too much to wish for at this point.
April 25, 2013
One of the best,if not the best,description of pyramids and the Egyptians who built them.
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September 28, 2015More focused on the old kingdom complexes
May 21, 2024
A wonderful compendium about pyramids of Egypt, from their origins until the very last one in Late Antiquity. A must for every enthusiast and aspiring egyptologist.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews