Ages in Chaos: A Reconstruction of Ancient History from the Exodus to King Akhnaton [Hardcover]

Immanuel Velikovsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1952

First Edition(Stated)..350 Pages plus Ads for Book in rear

Product Details

• Hardcover: 350 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; First Edition edition (June 1952)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385048971
• ISBN-13: 978-0385048972
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,881,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Order from Chaos, December 18, 2000

By 

Holy Olio "holy_olio" (Grand Rapids, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ages in Chaos (Hardcover)

First published in 1952, Ages in Chaos was the first of six volumes covering the period from the Exodus (end of the Middle Kingdom) to Alexander the Great. Based on his booklet "Theses for the Reconstruction of Ancient History", Ages in Chaos preceded Oedipus and Akhenaten, Ramses II and His Time, People of the Sea, and the unpublished volumes Dark Age of Greece and The Assyrian Conquest (the first one and the last two are available online).

This first volume spans the period from the Exodus to Akhenaten. Biblical scholars and evangelists appear for the most part to be unfamiliar with it. The connections Velikovsky shows between Biblical events and Near Eastern history are at other times attacked or derided by believers, perhaps because they've been burned by false claims. Perhaps this attitude stems from a misplaced trust in blind belief.

Velikovsky's attention to detail and sheer erudition continue to awe and inspire. Lesser works have come and gone before and after Ages in Chaos. None have built such a convincing case. Those interested in building some heretical chronology of their own would do well to study Velikovsky's works if only to save themselves time.

His studies of the roots of various beliefs by other historians, including those of ancient times, are fascinating, and his finding synchronisms between the Old Testament and the ancient history of surrounding people and places are monumental and revolutionary. Had he published Ages in Chaos before Worlds in Collision, his impact might have been greater. Those with longtime familiarity with his chronology are certain that he will have greater impact in the future, if not directly then indirectly.

The existing consensus pseudochronology grew out of 19th century (and earlier) nonsense beliefs such as freemasonry, but remains the consensus through rejection of commonplace scientific dating techniques. As it loses credibility with each passing year, one wonders why so much venom has been expended against Velikovsky's chronology -- particularly those who have actually read the works.

See also Velikovsky's other works (new and used), David Rohl's "Pharaohs and Kings", Peter James' "Centuries of Darkness", Ryan and Pitman's "Noah's Flood", Mary Settegast's "Plato Prehistorian", and Robert Schoch's "Voices of the Rocks".

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Interdisciplnary study of complex subject, January 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ages in Chaos (Hardcover)

One of a set of four books covering ancient history,astronomy,geology,sociology,and psychology,Dr.V.covered the catastrophic history of the world,and the evidence for cometary impact on earth within historical times, decades before the current scientific interest in the subject.His conclusions require a complete rethinking and re-correlation of thoughts concerning evolution, scriptures of the various cultures, mythology,and how they should be re-considered,in a scientific approach. All of the books should be considered as a unit and added to a knowledge of his other books on the middle east--Oedipus and Akhnaton, The Sea Peoples & Ramses II,in addition to the other three of the main group, Earth In Upheaval, Worlds In Collision and Mankind In Amnesia, as well as that book which was written by him as an answer to his critics, Stargazers and Gravediggers. A large segment of the academic community attempted to suppress his books in the 50's,by putting pressure on his publisher to not print them,by threatening to refuse to buy from their textbook division if they did so. Many critiques of his work are based on distorted and inaccurate portrayals of what he said. However,Albert Einstein, after becomming acquainted with him and engaging in long debates with Dr.V., came to agree with him concerning his views. Read the books,not just the critiques.

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very convincing argument., September 11, 2000

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ages in Chaos (Hardcover)

In searching for links between the Biblical stories of the Exodus, Judges and Kings, and the annals of Egypt, Immanuel Velikovsky came to the startling conclusion that one of the two histories is off by some 600 years! Ages in Chaos reads like a mystery, with the author attempting to find the link, the place where the two histories come together. With a breathtaking depth of research, he places the Exodus at the end of the Middle Kingdom, and connects the Biblical stories with events known from Egyptian history. Most fascinating is the author's conclusion as to the identity of the Queen of Sheba, and the Hyksos.

I found the book highly convincing, and highly readable. I enjoyed every page of it and recommend it wholeheartedly.