Engineering the Pyramids

by Dick Parry

In Engineering the Pyramids , author Dick Parry - a civil engineer - assesses the design of the pyramids and the likely methods of quarrying, transporting and raising the stones. Basing his ideas on both the archaeological record and the basic principles of engineering - as well as the results from a series of model and full-scale tests - Dr. Parry provides a challenging answer to this mystery of the pyramids. He suggests that ramps were used and the huge stones were transported and raised by rolling them, rather than using highly inefficient sledges beloved of Egyptologists. Engineering the Pyramids provides a rich and accessible account of the design history of the pyramids, the techniques and organisation needed to bring about these heroic feats of effort and engineering and fascinating insights into the reasons behind the pyramid design.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

For people that do not have time for in-depth study (or speculation)

Need on who, when, and why the pyramids were built? Then this is the book for you. It is loaded with pictures and diagrams so just about anything you need to know about the pyramids is in this book.

This is a most excellent book to get you off the ground and it has a selected bibliography for further reading.

Contents:
One – Origins and Purpose
Two – Evolution and Pyramid Design
Three – the Tomb Chambers
Four – Basic Aids to Construction
Five – Construction Preliminaries and Operations
Six – Stone Sources and Quarrying
Seven – Herodotus on Pyramid Construction
Eight – Levers, Rockers, and Cranes
Nine – Sleds
10 – Rolling Stones
11 – Ramps
12 – the Workforce