INTRODUCTION For thousands of years, monumental structures have stood across the land of Egypt. Pyramids rise above the desert. Massive temples stretch their columns toward the sky. And enormous obelisks, carved from stone, once seemed to challenge the heavens themselves. These buildings were not simply massive architectural achievements. Behind every stone there was measurement and planning. Behind every project there were workers and skilled craftsmen. There were also quarries located far from the construction sites. The stones had to be extracted from the ground. Then they had to be transported from one place to another. After that, they had to be lifted and placed in their exact positions. All of this happened in a time when people did not have modern machines. They had no steel cranes. They had no engines or trucks. Yet the ancient Egyptians were able to construct enormous structures. This knowledge developed over many centuries. The great pyramids did not appear at the beginning of Egyptian history. They were preceded by long periods of experimentation and development. Early funerary architecture was much simpler. Then mastabas appeared. After that, stone architecture developed rapidly. During the reign of King Djoser, the Step Pyramid appeared at Saqqara. This was an important turning point in Egyptian construction. Later came further experiments during the Fourth Dynasty. Over time, Egyptian builders reached the construction of the great pyramids. Among the most famous is the Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. There, one of the greatest engineering projects of the ancient world was created. But understanding a pyramid does not begin at its summit. It begins with the ground. It begins with the choice of the location. Then comes an understanding of the geological conditions. After that comes the determination of directions. Then comes measurement. Then the extraction of stone. Then its transportation to the construction site. Finally, the stones must be lifted and placed in their positions. For this reason, the study of the pyramids requires more than one field. We need archaeology. We need engineering. We need geology. We need astronomy. We also need to understand administration and organization in ancient Egypt. A massive project cannot depend on physical strength alone. It requires an entire system. And this system is one of the most important aspects of Egyptian architecture.
ThriftBooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. We personally assess every book's quality and offer rare, out-of-print treasures. We deliver the joy of reading in recyclable packaging with free standard shipping on US orders over $15. ThriftBooks.com. Read more. Spend less.