The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Ancient World: Unlocking the Secrets of Past Civilizations

by Brian M. Fagan

Book Overview

Some of the ancient world's most enigmatic and fascinating mysteries are introduced here in an entertaining mixture of informative text by specialists and colour photographs, maps and diagrams. The 70... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500510504
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Thames and Hudson
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 3.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.8" x 1.3" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Informative Outline of 70 Mysteries of Civilization

This large heavy coffee-table style book is basically on overview of seventy mysteries of civilization written by noted experts in their field. Each subject is outlined in an engaging, easy to read non-technical language in about five pages or so per subject, along with color pictures and drawings that aid in the understanding of that subject. I rather enjoyed the information provided on subjects to which I had little exposure which then encouraged more exploration of those subjects on my part. If you are looking for in-depth information you will have to look elsewhere. I particularly liked the information about the Maya calendar in the chapter titled "Maya Myth: Will the World End in 2012?" I have long held that 2012 will be another Y2K year in which nothing will happen (were are all going to LIVE!" doesn't sell as well as "We are all going to DIE!"), and this chapter upheld my assertion. However I was very surprised to find that the calendar does not stop at 2012 and dates well into the future with one royal anniversary projected forward to 4772 AD. Further, it is interesting to note that "Only one inscription, found at the site of Tortuguero, prophetically describes the ending of 13 Bak'tuns in 2012. Sadly, it is damaged and only partially legible." But their knowledge of numbers, as expressed in their ability to write exceeding large numbers, is astounding. It is estimated that the time frame for the invention of the long count calendar was in the year 32 BC approximately, but is believed to have been based on earlier material. The book says: "The highest value was normally the Bak'tun - a unit of 144,000 days - but we know that there were 19 higher ones, rarely expressed, all set to a coefficient of 13. The full long count was thus of an unimaginable scale, encompassing many trillions of years (far longer than our own universe has existed)." This reminds me of our more modern numbers like Google and Googleplex which when used to express a number of days, is also unimaginable. Contrast the Mayan number system with the image in my school Latin language book of Julius Caesar (100BC to 44 BC) trying to write a mere one million in Roman Numerals and failing (as I recall).

Fascinating look at the mysteries of humanity's past.

This well organized, informative and concise volume offers a clearly written collection of essays on seventy of man's most famous historical enigmas and archaeological mysteries, from humanity's origin to the disappearance of mighty empires. Each controversy is carefully detailed in a short entry of two to five pages long that explains all that is presently known about each topic drawing on the latest discoveries made through modern science and archaeological research. Each puzzling subject is presented in the manner of a question, followed by basic information that includes dates, facts, stories, scientific research, current level of knowledge, and theories to possible solutions. Moreover, for quick check-ups, each enigma is accurately placed in one of the six categories into which the book is divided: Myths & Legends; Mysteries of the Stone Age; Ancient Civilizations; Tombs & Lost Treasures; Ancient & Undeciphered Scripts; and The Fall of Civilizations. This reference is handsomely presented in a sturdy binding, printed in top-quality paper, and beautifully illustrated with over 400 spectacular photos, explanatory diagrams and detailed historical drawings. Featured among the showcased selection are King Arthur and the Holy Grail, Stonehenge, the Riddle of the Sphinx, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Etruscan Alphabet, the Trojan War, and the Collapse of the Maya. The rest of the subjects included are equal examples of real controversies, unsolved mysteries and baffling enigmas of humanity's past. No paranormal or supernatural phenomena are presented or considered as possible theories to the solution of any controversy. As a bonus, the book includes a preface that explains the criteria used to pick the selected topics, and an introduction that gives us an overview of how science and research shed light into finding satisfactory answers to these historical questions. Also included are a comprehensive bibliography and list of illustrations, especially useful for further research, and a thorough index for specific consultations. This is a fact-filled compendium that readers of all ages will undoubtedly refer to again and again. --Reviewed by M. E. Volmar

Fascinating look at the mysteries of humanity's past.

This well organized, informative and concise volume offers a clearly written collection of essays on seventy of man's most famous historical enigmas and archaeological mysteries, from humanity's origin to the disappearance of mighty empires. Each controversy is carefully detailed in a short entry of two to five pages long that explains all that is presently known about each topic drawing on the latest discoveries made through modern science and archaeological research. Each puzzling subject is presented in the manner of a question, followed by basic information that includes dates, facts, stories, scientific research, current level of knowledge, and theories to possible solutions. Moreover, for quick check-ups, each enigma is accurately placed in one of the six categories into which the book is divided: Myths & Legends; Mysteries of the Stone Age; Ancient Civilizations; Tombs & Lost Treasures; Ancient & Undeciphered Scripts; and The Fall of Civilizations. This reference is handsomely presented in a sturdy binding, printed in top-quality paper, and beautifully illustrated with over 400 spectacular photos, explanatory diagrams and detailed historical drawings. Featured among the showcased selection are King Arthur and the Holy Grail, Stonehenge, the Riddle of the Sphinx, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Etruscan Alphabet, the Trojan War, and the Collapse of the Maya. The rest of the subjects included are equal examples of real controversies, unsolved mysteries and baffling enigmas of humanity's past. No paranormal or supernatural phenomena are presented or considered as possible theories to the solution of any controversy. As a bonus, the book includes a preface that explains the criteria used to pick the selected topics, and an introduction that gives us an overview of how science and research shed light into finding satisfactory answers to these historical questions. Also included are a comprehensive bibliography and list of illustrations, especially useful for further research, and a thorough index for specific consultations. This is a fact-filled compendium that readers of all ages will undoubtedly refer to again and again. --Reviewed by Maritza Volmar

A good starting point

More of an encyclopedia of short entries concerning unsolved historical/archaeological mysteries than anything else, this book nonetheless provides enough general information to initiate those new to these ongoing debates. It also works well for people like me, who have read endlessly about some of these topics but sometimes need to look up a generality or a name associated with a particular subject. Most of the entries are concise and informative enough to provoke further reading, and the writing style is engaging and maintains interest. It covers most of the basic subjects (the development of language and writing, the Pyramids and the Sphinx, Atlantis) and a few more "obscure" ones: The Land of Punt, Mithraism, Tiwanaku (from my experience, these seem to come up short in other, similar books). (From here, one might look to "Ancient Mysteries" by James and Thorpe, which offers fewer topics but is incredibly well-researched and detailed). Good work.

Fascinating Read

I have always enjoyed books about mysterious events of the past, unknown civilizations, strange happenings, etc. This book is full of such items. The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Ancient World looks at some of these mysteries through the eyes of modern archaeology and other sciences to try to resolve at least some of the questions surrounding them. Each item is subjected to a scientific analysis of the knowledge that we have obtained to date. Generally, the situation ends up being exactly what it has been in the past... an unresolved mystery.Lavishly illustrated, it is written in a conversational style that is easy to read and understand. Logically divided into appropriate sections it starts with Myths and Legends, moves to Mysteries of the Stone Age, then to Ancient Civilizations, Tombs and Lost Treasures, Ancient and Undeciphered Scripts and the Fall of Civilizations. The only thing that I did not like about the book was the short treatment of each item. With seventy chapters (one for each of the mysteries) and roughly 300 pages that is only an average of four pages per mystery. However, at the back of the book is an extensive listing of references to consult for further information on each of the items. For those who like a complete synopsis of each mystery and the current level of knowledge this is excellent. A fascinating book, it covered not only the mysteries that I was aware of but also many that I had never heard of before. If there is one book that I would suggest to gain a basic knowledge of the greatest mysteries of the Ancient World then this one would be it.