The Pyramids of Ancient Egypt

by Aidan Dodson

The magnificent pyramids of Ancient Egypt have had an eduring hold on the imagination of generations of explorers, historians and visitors to Egypt. This, the first comprehensive guidebook to each and every royal pyramid in Ancient Egypt, guides the reader through the architecture and construction of these impressive structures and reveals details of the secrets held within them. Authoritatively written and beautifully illustrated, the book uncovers the truth behind the mystery of the pyramids and the ancient civilization that created them.

Genres: History

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Aidan Dodson is Honorary Professor of Egyptology in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Bristol, UK, was Simpson Professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo in 2013, and Chair of the Egypt Exploration Society during 2011–16. Awarded his PhD by the University of Cambridge in 1995, he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2003. He is the author of some twenty-five books, including Sethy I, King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (AUC Press, 2019), Rameses III, King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (AUC Press, 2019), Amarna Sunrise: Egypt from Golden Age to Age of Heresy (AUC Press, paperback edition, 2016), Afterglow of Empire: Egypt from the Fall of the New Kingdom to the Saite Renaissance (AUC Press, paperback edition, 2020), Poisoned Legacy: The Fall of the 19th Egyptian Dynasty (AUC Press, paperback edition, 2016), Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (AUC Press, paperback edition, 2018), and Monarchs of the Nile (AUC Press, paperback edition, 2015). Professor Dodson has also written on naval history from the middle of the nineteenth century to the present day.

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aidan Dodson is an excellent scholar who has shown that accurate information can be coupled with clear photographs to produce a volume of interest not only to those curious about Egypt but also to the academic community. I love the attention to detail in this book: the name of each pyramid is given in Egyptian, its date and owner listed, and the reasons for believing the attribution are also given. I hope this book will help in the never-ending quest to quell the "pyramidiots" and their refusal to accept the evidence of scholarship: yup, it really was ancient people of Egypt who designed and built those pyramids.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

1st Read: March 10, 2016 - March 21, 2016

I learned so much more from this book than I ever would have in high school History class! It touched on so much more than The Pyramids at Giza; what the major populous knows of. The accompanying photos, text and diagrams also helped to paint a broader picture of the landscape.

I would have to re-read this a few more times in order to memorize all the important artifacts, kings and queens, museums and dates, along with those who found these antiquities.

Overall, it was an interesting read.