Many people have in the past regarded ancient Egypt as the ‘cradle of civilisation’ and many people still do. The pure majesty of ancient Egyptian architecture is often just too difficult to put into words, and a high percentage of those who have visited them say that the ‘atmosphere of mystery’ at the many temples and pyramids is something that can only be experienced to be fully appreciated …
Since before the dawn of the archæological era it is in Egypt, more than any other area of the world, that conspiracy theorists and armchair Egyptologists equally find their ultimate focus – ‘secret tunnels and chambers’ which hold the supposed lost treasures of Atlantis, ‘mystery religions’ that are supposed to survive to this day as ancient ‘secret societies’, and ‘sacred geometries’ which consume researchers for whole lifetimes are all part of the ‘air of mystique’ that is Ancient Egypt …
Egyptian chronologies seem to be constantly under review, and ‘Tutankhamun’, ‘Akhenaten’, ‘Khufu’, ‘Khafre’ and ‘Cleopatra’ are just some of the names of the ancient rulers of Egypt that have become household names all over the world in the past century or so. Napoleon was facinated by it, and since his time many hundreds of explorers, many thousands of professors and students, and many millions of tourists, have examined, excavated, measured, photographed and experienced the many wondrous ruins of what must rank as one of the most mysterious places on our planet …
‘How old is the Great Sphinx?’ is a question that many ask, and ‘Why is no-one buried in the Great Pyramid?’ is another question that raises almost more questions than the myriad answers which find their way into print each year. No-one can deny that the ancient remains in this facinating country fire the imagination of millions of people worldwide – yet ‘there is still something missing’ …
Below, and over the next few pages, are a selection of books we have chosen because they reflect the many differing views, theories, and what some feel are simply whacky ideas about this amazing country whose true history we are no nearer to discovering today than was Napoleon in his day …
All comments are editorial and customer reviews posted on the Amazon.com
& Amazon.co.uk
websites …
“Is it a mere coincidence that pyramids are found across our globe? Did cultures ranging across vast spaces in geography and time, such as the ancient Egyptians; early Buddhists; the Maya, Inca, Toltec, and Aztec civilizations of the Americas; the Celts of the British Isles; and even the Mississippi Indians of pre-Columbian Illinois, simply dream the same dreams and envision the same structures?
Scientist and tenured university professor Robert M. Schoch-one of the world’s preeminent geologists in recasting the date of the Great Sphinx-believes otherwise. In this dramatic and meticulously reasoned book, Schoch, like anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl in his classic Kon-Tiki, argues that ancient cultures traveled great distances by sea. Indeed, he believes that primeval sailors traveled from the Eastern continent, primarily Southeast Asia, and spread the idea of pyramids across the Earth, involving the human species in a far greater degree of contact and exchange than experts have previously thought possible.
“Voyages of the Pyramid Builders” features sixteen pages of color photos and a special appendix, “Redating the Great Sphinx of Giza,”in which Schoch provides his most up-to-date evidence of the Sphinx’s older origins”
simply click on the book covers to order those titles directly from Amazon.com, or click on the UK edition link to order directly from Amazon.co.uk.
Some titles may not be available in both editions …
“Tutankhamun – The Exodus Conspiracy: The Truth Behind Archaeologys Greatest Mystery”byAndrew Collins & Chris Ogilvie-Herald
“The life of Tutankhamun, and the events surrounding the discovery of his tomb by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon, remains the most alluring archaeological mystery. Allegations surrounding the illegal entrance into the tomb and the looting of priceless treasures prior to the tomb’s official opening, as well as whispers about a curse that led to the untimely death of Lord Carnarvon have persisted despite numerous attempts to get to the bottom of the mystery. But “Tutankhamun: The Exodus Conspiracy” is the most timely and comprehensive review of these compelling issues – taking us closer to the truth than ever before …”
“Secret Chamber: The Quest for the Hall of Records”
“Secret Chamber is an unusual and provokative work, bringing into focus the complex but magical notions of Hermetic Thinking and its origins in very ancient Egypt. It weaves a strange plot across the ages which, as if by enchantment, find its way to the peak of the Great Pyramid on the eve of the Millennium. Many will criticise this book. Many will love it. It is that kind of book. It stirs the mind and the soul and induces them to magical thinking. Love it or hate it. That’s the sort I thrill to read. A wonderful Hermetic journey awaits those who are endowed with the ability to be awed by this world and it’s past. There is magic at the Pyramids, and Bauval has sniffed it out. Well done!”
“Sacred Science: The King of Pharaonic Theocracy”
by
R. A. Schwaller De Lubicz, Lucie Lamy (Illustrator) & Andre VandenBroeck (Translator)
“This is a short jog into Rene’s greater work Le Temple d’Homme. Sacred Science is a guide to the metaphysical world harnessed by the pharaoh. One will quickly agree with the well recorded research and analysis expertly layed out in this work. This book casts shadows on other books released about Egyptain Theocracy. This book traces the origin of Heliocentricity much farther back then Capernicus and sites the Pythagorian understanding behind the Cathlic “Heretics” of the middle ages. And consequently traces Pythagoros back to his roots, his training by the priests of the temples in Egypt for 15 years!”
“Giza: The Truth, the People, Politics and History Behind the World’s Most Famous Archaeological Site”byIan Lawton & Chris Ogilvie-Herald
“GIZA: The Truth is one of those long awaited books that presents a more complete history of the Giza plateau than has been previously published by both the ‘alternative’ and ‘orthodox camps’. Both Ian and Chris should be applauded in their efforts to give the public a balanced view of the theories, discoveries, history and political shenanigans behind ‘the worlds most famous archaeological site’. Quite simply a tour-de-force exposing the rubbish that has been written about Giza and the people who spawned it. A must for any serious researcher and definitely a book for anyone even mildly interested in the Giza plateau and its monuments.”
“Voices of the Rocks : A Scientist Looks at Catastrophes and Ancient Civilizations”by Robert M. Schoch Ph.D & Robert Aquinas McNally
“I recommend this book to anyone who has read anything by Graham Hancock or Robert Bauval, especially where the sphinx is concerned. I was pleasantly surprised to find an ‘un-orthodox’ content in this book, and I was pleased that finally someone has been brave enough to write what they think, instead of keeping with the traditional way of thinking. It is extremely informative and interesting and doesn’t become too technical with its explanations. I couldn’t put the book down once I had started.”
“The Message of the Sphinx: A Quest for the Hidden Legacy of Mankind”
“The authors have done a great work of research here. Based on astronomy and archeology, with some hints at astrology and metaphysic knowledge, Mr Hancock and Mr Bauval take us trhough a journey in time, trying to get back to the origins of the always mystical and eningmatic Pyramids and Sphinx. Although the title lays on the cat-headed monument, they indeed spent a lot of time and pages of this book dealing with the pyramids and their main details. Through this book you will be able to learn about the constant attempts they and many other researchers have made to go deeper in the study of the Sphinx, in concrete, to try and find the secret chambers that lie beneath the monument, and how all of those attemps have been met with a burocratical “no” from the different administrators of the site.”
“The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries”
“Whether your interest in the pyramids is historical, archaeological or esoteric, this has to be the best book available. It’s very well written by an author who really knows his subject, and it systematically covers all the pyramid monuments of Egypt. Although the text is scholarly it’s also very readable, and each pyramid is covered in a separate section so it’s easy to look up a particular pyramid or dip into the book at random. Most importantly, however, it is fabulously illustrated, not just with superb colour photographs but with diagrams and computer reconstructions. For every pyramid there is a map showing its location, and detailed plans and cross sections showing the complete structure and substructure with all the tunnels, shafts and chambers.”
“No other volume manages so comprehensive a detailing of the temples of ancient Egypt – their history, lore and design. There are color and black and white photos, maps and floor plans, but most importantly, the text documents the historical development and significance of each site it references. The concise narrative covers the entire system of temple monuments, such as the Temples at Karnak, Luxor, Dendera, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Giza and Abu Simbel. But, this is no tourist guide to temple sites. The casual reader may find the detailed discussion of such subjects as building materials and construction methodologies a bit dry. This is a must-have for the student of Egyptology and the religion and art of the ancient world.”
“Heaven’s Mirror: Quest for the Lost Civilization”
“In Heaven’s Mirror, author Graham Hancock continues the quest begun in his No. 1 international bestseller Fingerprints of the Gods. He attempts to rediscover the hidden legacy of mankind–the revelation that the cultures we term ancient were, in fact, the heirs to a far older forgotten civilisation, and the inheritors of its archaic wisdom. Working with the photographer Santha Faiia, his wife, Hancock traces a network of sacred sites around the globe on a spectacular voyage of discovery that takes us from the pyramids and temples of ancient Egypt to the enigmatic statues of Easter Island; from the haunting ruins of pre-Columbian America to the splendours of Angkor Wat, in order to crack the code of our lost ancestors. It is an odyssey that leads to sunken monuments and hidden chambers–a journey through myth and magic, and astounding archaeological revelations, that forces us to rethink our entire conception of the origins of civilisation.”
“Cyril Aldred was one of the best minds ever to work in Egyptology. He used both common sense and intelligence, and rarely found himself swept up in the fantasies that abound in Egyptology. This book is an excellent example of his meticulous work. Read, for example, his chapter deciphering the contents of KV55. Not just the mummy, but the shrines and other objects, found in a hopeless jumble. Guided by what is simple and probable, he presents a reasonable explanation of how the tomb was found in that state it was; and how such a mixed burial, with objects referring to Akhenaten, Tiye and Smenkhara, came to be. He also treats Akhenaten’s “monotheism” with much less awe that it is usually given. He points out that it wasn’t quite a religion ahead of its time, but a return to Old Kingdom sun-worship, and that it was by no means monotheism as we now consider it.”