Pharaohs and Pyramids: A Guide through Old Kingdom Egypt

Abstract

Egyptian pyramids were considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and today, some 4500 years later, they still inspire awe and admiration. But the first time visitor to Egypt may be surprised at the number of pyramids at Meidum, Dahsur, Saggara, Abusir and Giza, which have earned the Old Kingdom the epithet, The Pyramid Age. Most of these monuments were constructed in the vicinity of the ancient capital city of Memphis, making nearly all the sites accessible to tourists on day trips from Cairo. Hart guides the reader through the principal pyramids, mastabas and other surviving monuments to show how and why that civilization (contemporary with the first stage of Stonehenge) produced these remarkable buildings, and what they reveal of the life of the ancient Egyptians. Containing information on the latest archeological discoveries, this is a chronological guide and a handbook to some of the most astonishing constructions ever built by man.