Over the years there have been many theories of how the great pyramids of Egypt were constructed. Some claim that aliens descended to earth and built them, and others claim that the pyramids hold great psychic power. In his new book, Mountains of the Pharaohs, Zahi Hawass quickly puts these theories to rest and instead gives us a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the pharaohs whose mortuary temples the pyramids were, and the ordinary Egyptians who constructed them.
Hawass is a renowned archeologist whose work excavating the Giza plateau has led to many important new discoveries, but instead of reading like a pedantic, technical treatise, this book is a captivating read. Hawass prefaces many of the chapters with a fictional glimpse into the court of the particular pharaoh responsible for a certain pyramid. This creates a feeling of connection to those who conceived of and built these amazing monuments. Through his excavations of the villages and cemeteries of the workers, Hawass also sets aside the long-held theory that the pyramids were built by slaves. Instead, he paints a picture of an entire economy formed around these construction projects, most of which took many years, and also touches on the regular Egyptians who would have contributed money or materials or food to the projects. After all, the pyramids would become the representation of the pharaohs as gods whom ordinary citizens would want to worship and pay tribute to.
Hawass has created a book that is infectiously interesting, mostly because he himself comes across on the pages as someone who is fascinated by his job and his discoveries. It reads like a friend enthusiastically sharing the most amazing facts he's discovered, and yet there is a solid basis of research and knowledge behind his easy prose. Anyone with a casual interest in Egyptology would find this a great place to begin learning about life as it really was for those who constructed such lasting monuments
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