Author Description

As General Secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and Director of Excavation at the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara, and the Bahariya Oasis, Zahi Hawass has unparalleled field experience and knowledge of the landscape of Egypt’s pyramids. As the man who performed a CAT-Scan on a subject no less great than King Tut, he is intimately familiar with the history of ancient Egypt, and is uniquely qualified to edit this in-depth survey of the famous and lesser-known pyramids of Egypt. Presented in his own signature style, his accounts truly make history come alive. Hundreds of specially commissioned photographs accompany readers on their tour of these world treasures, depicting, in detail, the distinguishing characteristics of each site. Maps, floor plans, and reconstructions accompany a compelling text, revealing the mysteries of ancient Egypt as unearthed through major excavations. From the pyramids at Giza–the emblem of the Fourth Dynasty and among the most famous archaeological sites in the world–to lesser known, older pyramids of the Third Dynasty that are the model for the later monuments, this book presents fresh insight into the civilization that developed on the banks of the Nile during the fourth and third millenia BC. Presented in a handsome slipcase, this book throws new light on the world that existed around the pyramids, on the lives of the workers who built them, and on the court dignitaries who were granted the privilege of a burial place near that of their king.