A Czech professor (Egyptology/Charles Univ.) summarizes the latest research on the design and construction of pyramids, leads a guided tour of virtually all of them, and smacks the naughty hands of those who believe that extraterrestrials were behind them. Richly illustrated, Verner's volume displays both a deep respect for the research of Egyptologists and a comprehensive knowledge of it. He reveals that even today debates rage over some of the most fundamental issues in his discipline-and that there are pyramids remaining to be discovered. Beginning with a swift history of the European interest in pyramids (properly crediting Napoleon for his role in studying and preserving the structures), he offers an engaging, lucid account of Egyptian religion, which conceived "earthly life [as] merely an episode on the way to eternity." He describes in precise, graphic detail the preparation of mummies, the mortuary process, and the construction of the pyramids, noting the Egyptians' impressive knowledge of engineering and mathematics and concluding that moving such huge stones to such heights involved ramps, lifting devices, oxen, and many men-though nowhere near as many as have often been suggested. His longest discussion is reserved for a description of each pyramid, beginning with the Third Dynasty (ca. 2680 bce) and concluding with the Thirteenth (about 1,000 years later). Pyramid junkies will no doubt find all of this riveting; general readers, like slave laborers, will weary after a few centuries. Still, Verner occasionally drops entertaining tidbits amid the dry estimates of pyramid height and quality of stone, as when a fight among family dogs estranges early-20th-century experts Cecil Firth and Battiscomb Gunn, and when Verner discusses the Great Sphinx and eviscerates pseudo-scientific "pyramidologists." (Alas, there's no map of Egypt with the principal sites marked.) An important, comprehensive resource for the study of those most mysteriously, enduringly impressive structures. (b&w illustrations throughout)

Director of the Egyptology Institute of Charles University in Prague and leader of the Czech excavations at Abusir's Fifth Dynasty pyramid field, Verner has assembled the first comprehensive study of Egypt's pyramids since the revised edition of the late I.E.S. Edwards's classic The Pyramids of Egypt and Ahmed Fakhry's The Pyramids (both o.p.). This completely revised English-language edition is based on the German translation of the original 1997 Czech publication. The organization of the authoritative text is chronological, tracing the cultural and architectural evolution of the Egyptian pyramids from the mastaba tombs of the Archaic Period, through the step pyramids of the Third Dynasty, to the "true pyramids" of the later Old Kingdom and the subsequent decline in their structure and size in later periods. "Pyramidology" and mystic lore are covered in a brief epilog titled "The Secrets of the Pyramids." In addition to a solid bibliography, useful appendixes include "Basic Dimensions of the Pyramids," "Egyptologists and Pyramid Scholars," a glossary, and a "Chronological List of Rulers and Dynasties." The illustrations are clear and directly related to the text. Recommended for all libraries. Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Syst., Ft. Pierce, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Professor Verner of Prague's distinguished Charles University discusses current research into the pyramids of ancient Egypt. His book focuses on research of the last decade and excavations over the past 20 years. Verner divides his book into chapters according to pharaonic dynasty, spotlighting individual pharaohs' pyramids. He not only explains the layout of each pyramid but also presents various theories on how each pyramid was built and tells stories about the people that were buried there. The author's stated goal was to make discussions and research surrounding these gigantic ancient monuments accessible to the general public, and he certainly has succeeded. --Julia Glynn