The Floating Stones of Egypt


Book Description

People have been speculating for centuries about how the ancient Egyptians built the Great Pyramids. Few people have paid attention to Herodotus and his writings about Egypts intricate canal system, but historian James V. Barr believes these played a critical role in pyramid construction. Relying on years of research, he presents the lock and canal system of construction. Barr also examines other theories of pyramid construction such as the levitation theory and the ramp theory. He explains why explanations of pyramid construction that do not focus on the canal system are wrong and why the canal and lock system makes the most sense. Barr hopes to show Egypt both as it once was and as it is today, sharing entirely new photographs, drawings, and maps. This is concise, informative primer for anyone who wants to learn more about the methods employed in pyramid construction. Discover the ingenuity of the ancient Egyptians and dig deeper into some of their greatest feats of engineering as you take a trip back in time on The Floating Stones of Egypt.




The Grand Museum of Egypt


Book Description

In January 2002, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture ran a competition for an innovative design for a new Grand Museum of Egypt. This two-volume publication contains sketches, plans, elevations and computer models of the prize-winning design and all other second-phase entries.




Floating Stones


Book Description

The authors, an Architect and an Engineer, describe how the Great Pyramid was built by the Ancient Egyptians using their existing knowledge of hydrology and maritime technology and the skills developed over centuries of agricultural development.




Sticks, Stones, and Shadows


Book Description

What do the pyramids of Egypt really represent? What could have driven so many to so great, and often so dangerous, an effort? Was the motivation religious or practical? Illustrated with more than 300 photographs and drawings, this book presents an original approach to the subject of pyramid building. It reveals the connection between devices that served both a practical need for survival and a spiritual belief in gods and goddesses. It examines Egyptian technologies and techniques from the origins of pyramid development to the step-by-step details of how the ground was leveled, how the site was oriented, and how the stone was raised and placed to meet at a distant point in the sky. Here the author also asks and answers questions virtually ignored for the last century. He discloses, for example, the ancient use of shadows, now denigrated to the ornamental back-yard sundial, but once an important tool for telling the height of an object, geographical directions, the seasons of the year, and the time of day. He also reinterprets the ancient "stretching of the cord" ceremony, which once was thought to have only religious significance but here is shown as the means of establishing the sides of a pyramid.




Archaeology and Geology of Ancient Egyptian Stones


Book Description

This book seeks to identify and describe all the rocks and minerals employed by the ancient Egyptians using proper geological nomenclature, and to give an account of their sources in so far as they are known. The various uses of the stones are described, as well as the technologies employed to extract, transport, carve, and thermally treat them.




The Heartless Stone


Book Description

In 2000, Tom Zoellner purchased a diamond engagement ring and proposed. His girlfriend said, "yes" and then, suddenly, walked out of his life making Tom the owner of a used engagement ring. Instead of hitting the self-help shelves of his local bookstore, he hit the road travelling to diamond mines in Africa, Canada, India, Brazil and Russia to discover the true worth of this shining gem. He travelled to Japan to understand how diamonds were linked with engagements and delved into the history of our own American romance with the diamond ring. He gained entry to DeBeers, the London diamond merchants. He visited shopping mall jewellers with starry-eyed couples. Through all of his travels, he searched for an answer to the question "How has one stone created empires, ruined lives, inspired lust and emptied wallets throughout history?" A diamond version of Susan Orleans's The Orchid Thief, Tom Zoellner's The Heartless Stone is a journey to the cold heart of the world's most unyielding gem.




Stone


Book Description










Ancient Egypt: History, Mythology & Literature


Book Description

Ancient Egypt: History, Mythology & Literature is a meticulously curated anthology that serves as a prism through which the splendor and enigma of ancient Egypt are explored. This collection encompasses a broad range of literary styles, from scholarly analysis to narrative history, each piece contributing to a multifaceted understanding of a civilization that has fascinated humanity for millennia. The works within offer exceptional insights into the socio-political constructs, religious beliefs, and artistic expressions that underpinned ancient Egyptian society, highlighting notable texts that have significantly advanced our comprehension of this ancient culture. The contributing authors, including Lewis Spence, Arthur Gilman, George Rawlinson, E. A. Wallis Budge, Gaston Maspero, and Agnes Sophia Griffith Johns, are esteemed scholars whose collective expertise provides a panoramic view of ancient Egypts historical depth and its literary legacy. These contributors have been integral to the field of Egyptology, each adding layers of complexity and understanding to the anthologys cohesive exploration of ancient Egyptian life, myth, and literature. Their works reflect a range of historical, cultural, and literary movements, enriching the anthology with diverse perspectives and scholarly rigor. This anthology is an indispensable resource for those captivated by the ancient world. It invites readers to engage with a constellation of perspectives on one of historys most enduring civilizations. Through its exploration of history, mythology, and literature, the collection offers a unique opportunity to immerse in the richness of ancient Egyptian culture. For students, academics, and enthusiasts alike, Ancient Egypt: History, Mythology & Literature provides a comprehensive and enlightening journey through the texts that have shaped our understanding of this ancient civilization, encouraging a deeper appreciation for its complexity and legacy.