The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments

Miroslav Verner

Grove Press, 2001 - History - 495 pages

The pyramids of Egypt are a perennial source of fascination, wonder, and mystery. Yet there has not been an updated, complete introduction to the pyramids published in decades. This ambitious and exhaustive book offers an unparalleled guide to these incredible structures -- from the ancient culture that created them to the excavation sites that have been discovered to date. Miroslav Verner, a preeminent Egyptologist, recounts the history of ancient Egypt and describes the religious and political beliefs that gave rise to its great pyramids. He illuminates the technical, material, and organizational brilliance of the architects and workers who built these structures five thousand years ago, without iron or bronze and with only the most elementary systems of calculation. As he explains the magnitude of this accomplishment, Verner also traces the history of the pyramids' discovery and the endless myths and theories about who built them and why. The Pyramids is packed with fascinating information and insights, complemented by more than two hundred illustrative line drawings and photographs. Accessibly written and based on the most current research and findings, it is more comprehensive than any other book in print. It will likely become the definitive book on the subject, one that will appeal to experts and general audiences alike. - Publisher.

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The pyramids: the mystery culture, and science of Egypt's great monuments

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Director of the Egyptology Institute of Charles University in Prague and leader of the Czech excavations at Abusir's Fifth Dynasty pyramid field, Verner has assembled the first comprehensive study of ...

Contents

• BEFORE THE PYRAMIDS: 15
• KINGSHIP AND STATE DOGMA: 20
• THE TOMBS OF THE EARLY DYNASTIC PERIOD: 22
• THE WAY TO ETERNITY RITUAL AND CULT: 28
• The Worship of the Dead: 35
• The Pyramid Texts: 37
• The Pyramid Complex The Dead Pharaohs Residence: 43
• The Testimony of the Temple Archives: 52
• THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PYRAMIDS: 60
• Expeditions to the Quarries: 62
• Sun and Stars Poles and Ropes: 64
• The Secret Lies in the Organization of the Work: 71
• Lifting Devices or Ramps?: 78
• Craftsmens Guilds in Abusir: 89
• Outlook: 95
• THE OLD KINGDOM THIRD TO SIXTH DYNASTY: 101
• Sekhemkhets Step Pyramid: 137
• Khabas ? Layer Pyramid: 144
• Lepsius Pyramid ? No 1: 147
• THE FOURTH DYNASTY THE GREATEST OF THE GREAT: 149
• Snefrus Pyramid in Meidum: 155
• Small Step Pyramids End of the Third Dynasty and Beginning of the Fourth Dynasty: 164
• ZAWIYET ELMEIYITIN: 165
• NAQADA: 166
• EDFU: 168
• Snefrus Bent Pyramid: 170
• Snefrus Red Pyramid: 179
• The Great Pyramid of Khufu: 185
• Djedefres Pyramid: 213
• Khafres Pyramid: 219
• The Great Sphinx: 230
• Bakas ? Pyramid: 236
• Menkaures Pyramid: 240
• Shepseskafs Mastabat Faraun: 250
• Khentkaues Is Step Tomb: 255
• THE FIFTH DYNASTY WHEN THE SUN RULED: 261
• Userkafs Pyramid: 270
• Sahures Pyramid: 276
• Neferirkares Pyramid: 287
• Khentkaues IIs Pyramid: 293
• Neferefres Unfinished Pyramid: 297
• Shepseskares ? Unfinished Pyramid: 306
• Niuserres Pyramid: 307
• Lepsius Pyramid No 24: 315
• Menkauhors ? Headless Pyramid: 318
• Djedkares Pyramid: 320
• The Pyramid of the Unknown Queen: 325
• Unass Pyramid: 328
• THE SIXTH DYNASTY THE END OF AN ERA: 336
• Teds Pyramid: 338
• Khuits Pyramid: 344
• Iput Is Pyramid: 345
• Pepi Is Pyramid: 347
• Nebuunets Pyramid: 352
• InenekIntis Pyramid: 353
• The Southwestern Pyramid: 354
• The Pyramids of Meretites Ankhesenpepi II and Ankhesenpepi III: 355
• Merenre Is Pyramid: 356
• Pepi IIs Pyramid: 358
• Neiths Pyramid: 363
• Iput IIs Pyramid: 365
• Udjebtens Pyramid: 366
• THE FIRST INTERMEDIATE PERIOD SEVENTH DYNASTY TO THE BEGINNING OF THE ELEVENTH: 369
• The Eighth Dynasty Ibis Pyramid: 373
• The Ninth and Tenth Dynasties The Monumental Tomb in Dara: 375
• THE MIDDLE KINGDOM ELEVENTH TO TWELFTH DYNASTY?: 377
• The Eleventh Dynasty Mentuhotep IIs Terraced Tomb: 384
• The Twelfth Dynasty From Stone to Mudbricks: 392
• SENUSRET IS PYRAMID: 395
• AMENEMHET IIS PYRAMID: 402
• SENUSRET IIS PYRAMID: 405
• SENUSRET IIIS PYRAMID: 412
• AMENEMHET IIIS PYRAMID IN DAHSHUR: 417
• AMENEMHET IIIS PYRAMID IN HAWARA: 423
• THE NORTH AND SOUTH PYRAMIDS IN MAZGHUNA: 428
• THE SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD THIRTEENTH TO SEVENTEENTH DYNASTY: 430
• The Thirteenth Dynasty The Twilight of the Pyramids: 433
• KHENDJERS PYRAMID AND THE ANONYMOUS PYRAMID IN SOUTH SAQQARA: 435
• POSTSCRIPT: 439
• THE SECRET OF THE PYRAMIDS: 445
• BASIC DIMENSIONS OF THE PYRAMIDS: 457
• EGYPTOLOGISTS AND PYRAMID SCHOLARS: 463
• CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF RULERS AND DYNASTIES: 469
• GLOSSARY: 473
• SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY: 477
• NAME INDEX: 481
• PLACES INDEX: 489

Popular passages

Page 482 - Archaeology: Archaeology. A Magazine Dealing with the Antiquity of the World, [New York] 29(1976).

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments
• Author: Miroslav Verner
• Translated by: Steven Rendall
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: Grove Press, 2001
• ISBN: 0802139353, 9780802139351
• Length: 495 pages
• Subjects: History / Ancient / Egypt