The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries | 
| Author: Mark Lehner
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 40109
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.2
Dimensions (in): 9.8 x 7.6 x 0.9
ISBN: 0500285470
Dewey Decimal Number: 932
EAN: 9780500285473
ASIN: 0500285470
Publication Date: April 28, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Good Condition, delivery time 10 to 12 Working days, via Priority airmail from UK
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Product Description
"A fully illustrated compendium of every major pyramid of ancient Egypt."—Atlanta Journal Constitution
Mark Lehner brings his many years of field research in Egypt to this definitive book. He examines the pyramids in unprecedented detail, covering the practical aspects—the quarries, ramps, and tools used in construction—as well as the conceptual ones.
Professor Lehner surveys and describes the pyramids across their 3,000-year history, as well as explaining the rituals and mythology, the history of travelers, looters, and archaeologists, and the ways in which the pyramids were an integral part of the Egyptian state.
The hundreds of illustrations include computer reconstructions and specially commissioned artists' perspective views of the pyramids and their interior chambers. The book is at once a definitive sourcebook and an entertaining guide for scholars, students, and travelers. 556 illustrations, 83 in color.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 An excellent reference book! March 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A well written and well documented information on the pyramids. It does not cover ALL of the pyramids in Egypt, but does cover many less-visited ones also. A great reference work and printed on glossy paper that holds small details in photographs well. Many black & white photos along with some color photos.
Has well thought out diagrams of each pyramid and cutaways of important areas along with surrounding temple plans.
A MUST for your reference library!
The Most Comprehensive Book I Have Found on the Subject January 23, 2008
The author Mark Lehner has written or contributed to a number of historical books, several of them on Egyptian history and this I think is the best of them all. The pyramids were one of the seven wonders of the world and still are one of the world's wonders, although far removed from the glorious sight that they must have been in ancient times.
It is probably true to say that more has been written about the pyramids than any other man made structure on earth and that includes the Great Wall of China and our own Stonehenge. Much of what has been written about the pyramids has been conjecture and to put it kindly stretching the truth to make a good story. The author himself is no stranger to putting forward theories of his own regarding the pyramids and it is up to the reader's how much credence they place in these and other theories. What we do know is that the pyramids were built to precise measurements, so accurate in fact that even today with all the modern building equipment at our disposal we would struggle to emulate the ancient builders. They were also aligned in a particular direction and calculations of where exactly the stars appeared in the Egyptian night sky at the time of their construction, could suggest that at least one of their uses was astronomical
This book quite rightly concentrates on the main Egyptian pyramids and the sphinx and covers all the latest data formulated by today's archaeologists and scientists. This includes how the pyramids were thought to have been built, a Herculean task in itself. Also there are exciting computer generated images of the inside of the pyramids, in fact just about every question you could ask is answered for you in this superb book, even down to a guide for visiting the pyramids themselves.
One of my favorite books November 20, 2005
1 out of 6 found this review helpful
Need a great source for solid and well thought out structure...this is the one!
 Good nuts and bolts but missed the mark for me. February 23, 2005
2 out of 15 found this review helpful
Lehner does what he does so well. Except for changing his tune a little from his last work, the actual building process was overdone, I think. Whether he made some miscalculations here and there is not so important to the genre. There is some evidence that the ancients knew how to forge copper into a much harder tool than we would expect today. There is better modern evidence of the overall engineering available to the reader elsewhere.
What I wanted to see was more behind the title. I wanted to see why the design was chosen and so painstakingly duplicated not only in Egypt, but also in China and South America. Also, other than elaborate busy-work, why were they commissioned in the first place? And who were the designers?
Ah, for that answer I refer you to The Ark of Millions of Years, by Clark & Agnew. The common origin of the design and the civilization it took to muster the resources are beautifully documented in great literary style. The recognition by the ancients of the significance and true use of the design is supported from so many sources it is impossible to misunderstand.
Without taking sides or preaching some philosophy, The Ark of Millions of Years may be the best book ever written on the subject of earth science and creation. I liked it so well I bought two more copies for my friends.
This text sets a new standard for archaeological literature. October 23, 2000
37 out of 44 found this review helpful
Like its author, this book is completely devoted to the Pyramids of Egypt. The major premise - that the archaeological record bears witness to an evolution of pyramid design, construction and function from beginning to end of the Pyramid Age - is demonstrated brilliantly and completely. It explains without exhausting the religious significance of the conceptual Pyramid Complex, then concentrates on the `brick and mortar' aspects of its subject. An informative review of explorations at the pyramid sites throughout the ages is equally as interesting as the detailed descriptions of the pyramids themselves that follows in a section fittingly titled "The Whole Pyramid Catalogue". This catalogue, comprising fully half the volume, is a description of each individual Egyptian Pyramid Complex presented (chronologically) with such clarity of detail that it dispels all ambiguity created by several lifetimes of sensationalist and speculative journalism surrounding its subject. In its latter pages the author discusses the role of the Pyramid Complex as administrative center and landlord in later antiquity, and gracefully addresses the more controversial of topics, including the ubiquitous "how did they do it" question, along with his own speculations on some unanswered sociological questions - the size of the work force and logistics. Quite reasoned and well-informed estimates lead him to conclusions that will in their own right prove controversial. One notable unintended consequence of this volume is that many artifacts, presented elsewhere as "Art", assume their appropriate contextual venue and so now hold much more meaning for this reader. The Narmer Palate as declarative stellae in a walled courtyard at Nekhen is one example, the gilded yet austere canopied boudoir of Hetepheres is another. The text is very well written and easily read. Heavily illustrated, the photographs are appropriate, of excellent quality and are well placed; line drawings are used throughout to clarify and supplement photographs. With this volume Dr. Mark Lehner joins the ranks of Egypt's most celebrated archaeologists, and surpasses them all in understanding and presentation of the facts concerning the Pyramids.
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