The Pyramids of Giza are 4,000-year-old tombs built for three Egyptian pharaohs. Though all have been looted over the years, they still hold many surprises and curiosities. And they reflect much about Egyptian culture at that time. This comprehensive volume covers the structures’ histories, including still-controversial theories about how they were built, and the latest excavations and discoveries. Modern photographs will give readers an idea of the pyramids’ magnitude, while a timeline will make them realize how truly enduring these extraordinary monuments are.

Classic exploration of the Great Pyramid's construction and objectives combines imagination, erudition. Physical form; when it was built, and by whom; roles as an astronomical observatory, source of inspiration for religious teachings, scientific and mystic implications. Unabridged republication of the classic 1877 edition.

Built by a civilization that lived almost 4,500 years ago, the Pyramids of Giza tower majestically over the desert land of Egypt. They stand as one of the most visible symbols of ancient Egypt. Find out more in Pyramids of Giza, a title in the Structural Wonders of the World series. These books identify some of the world’s best-known structures, exploring their history, the people responsible for their creation, and the science behind their construction. Each title features informative text, colorful photographs and maps, and a timeline detailing the steps toward construction.

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Who has not seen a picture of the Great Pyramid of Egypt, massive in size but deceptively simple in shape, and not wondered how that shape was determined? Starting in the late eighteenth century, eleven main theories were proposed to explain the shape of the Great Pyramid. Even though some of these theories are well known, there has never been a detailed examination of their origins and dissemination. Twenty years of research using original and difficult-to-obtain source material has allowed Roger Herz-Fischler to piece together the intriguing story of these theories. Archaeological evidence and ancient Egyptian mathematical texts are discussed in order to place the theories in their proper historical context. The theories themselves are examined, not as abstract mathematical discourses, but as writings by individual authors, both well known and obscure, who were influenced by the intellectual and social climate of their time. Among results discussed are the close links of some of the pyramid theories with other theories, such as the theory of evolution, as well as the relationship between the pyramid theories and the struggle against the introduction of the metric system. Of special note is the chapter examining how some theories spread whereas others were rejected. This book has been written to be accessible to a wide audience, yet four appendixes, detailed endnotes and an exhaustive bibliography provide specialists with the references expected in a scholarly work.

This book offers an explanation of how the Great Pyramid was designed and built.

The Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius declared firmitas, utilitas, and venustas-firmness, commodity, and delight- to be the three essential attributes of architecture. These qualities are brilliantly explored in this book, which uniquely comprises both a detailed survey of Western architecture, including Pre-Columbian America, and an introduction to architecture from the Middle East, India, Russia, China, and Japan. The text encourages readers to examine closely the pragmatic, innovative, and aesthetic attributes of buildings, and to imagine how these would have been praised or criticized by contemporary observers. Artistic, economic, environmental, political, social, and technological contexts are discussed so as to determine the extent to which buildings met the needs of clients, society at large, and future generations.

The Rough Guide Snapshot to Cairo and the Pyramids is the ultimate travel guide to this iconic part of Egypt. It guides you through the region with reliable information and comprehensive coverage of all the sights and attractions, from the Egyptian Museum and the Coptic churches of Old Cairo to the pyramid fields at Giza and Dahshur. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, restaurants, hotels, shops, bars, and nightlife--ensuring you have the best trip possible, whether passing through, staying for the weekend or longer. Also included is the Basics section from the Rough Guide to Egypt, with all the practical information you need for traveling in and around the region, including transportation, food and drink, pricing, health care, cultural tips, and shopping. Also published as part of the Rough Guide to Egypt.

Going beyond even the expertise of archaeologists and historians, world-class engineer Craig B. Smith explores the planning and engineering behind the incredible Great Pyramid of Giza. How would the ancient Egyptians have developed their building plans, devised work schedules, managed laborers, solved specific design and engineering problems, or even improvised on the job? The answers are here, along with dazzling, one-of-a-kind color photographs and beautiful hand-drawn illustrations of tools, materials, and building techniques the ancient masters used. In his foreword to the book, Egypt's Undersecretary of State for the Giza Monuments Zahi Hawass explains the importance of understanding the Great Pyramid as a straightforward construction project.