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Pyramid Quest: Secrets of the Great Pyramid and the Dawn of Civilization

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Pyramid Quest:Secrets of the Great Pyramid
and the Dawn of Civilization
by Dr. Robert M. Schoch

TARCHER/PENGUIN June 2005
ISBN: 1585424056

Review by

Dr. Colette M. Dowell

Egypt with her Sphinx, Pyramids and Temples has been revered as the cradle of civilization and her Ancient Wisdom teachings have long been sought for their secrets and mysteries. Throughout millenniums the Great Pyramid of `Khufu' has been acknowledged as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and recognized as the last to remain. Its location situated on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile claims yet another great monumental sculpture known as the Great Sphinx attributed to the Old Kingdom's 4th Dynasty, while Pharaoh Khafre was in reign
c. 2500 B.C. The Pharaoh Khafre is thought to be the son of the Pharaoh Khufu.

Many people have come to Egypt to take her land, treasures and ancient knowledge of science, wisdom and culture. Some have come, as nations conquering her for her plentiful-ness and glory at the same time destroying that which they were trying to possess. Others have come to acquire and understand the mystique of Pharaonic and Ancient Egyptian philosophy. One man has journalized his quest of seeking answers to questions, riddles and thoughts and has written a book on what he and others have discovered and theorized upon. This man is a geologist named Dr. Robert M. Schoch. His latest book outlining these new discoveries and theories is appropriately titled Pyramid Quest.

Schoch is first known for his collaborative work with Egyptologist John Anthony West in the early 1990s concerning the re-dating of the Great Sphinx to an earlier date, prior to c. 2500 B.C. as held traditionally in Egyptian and World history. Their collaborated work originally developed from R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz's lifetime research of Egyptian Monuments, Science, Philosophy and Culture. In Schwaller's studies he speaks of Egypt being far more advanced and ancient then traditionally thought. One of Schwaller's most remarkable observations notated was his view of the Great Sphinx as being sculpted much earlier than c. 2500 B.C. and not originally in the reign of Khafre or even attributable to the 4th Dynasty of Egypt.

Schwaller observed water erosion wearing the Sphinx, which had to start from an earlier time when the lands of Egypt were wetter, with more water, prior c. 3000 B.C. With Schoch being a geologist along with West's knowledge they were able to conduct a series of geological studies and seismic surveys revealing the Great Sphinx to be much older (c. 5000 - 7000 B.C.) and the erosion factor being that of water-rain and not that of wind. From that moment of realization Dr. Schoch has continuously searched and furthered his interests and curiosities. His initial findings on the Sphinx have led him on a trail throughout Ancient Egypt to the steps of the Great Pyramid. Schoch has now entered the Great Pyramid and yearns to further his comprehension of the great monument and the builders who were so highly sophisticated in their knowledge of the earth and sky sciences as well as their culture and cosmology.

Schoch captures information from all areas of thought and science by searching for ancient texts, art, diagrams, and design methods. He personally engages in scientific studies of rock erosion and geological research on aspects of related and non-related sites. He calculates numbers, refers to symbology and comprehends forms of Egyptian Hieroglyphs and consults experts in the field of hieratical writings. He collaborates with many scientists, Egyptologists, historical writers and official dignitaries of antiquities. Schoch couples his open mind with scientific regiment and is drawn to journey into the soul of the Great Pyramid and history of the Ancient Egyptians. Pyramid Quest exemplifies the vastness of the Ancient Egyptian's mysteries and the diligence of Schoch's wonderment and desire to comprehend them.

In the first half of Pyramid Quest Schoch lays a very interesting foundation for the plausible hypothesis that Egypt is exceedingly far more ancient than traditionally thought. He reaches down into distant and obscure texts, which have been buried under more modern translations and correlates the data. Schoch chronologically details many facets of variable analyses from many astute philosophers, scientists and time travelers. Some chambers and passages closed off to other scientists have been opened explicitly for Schoch to enter and explore. Many of his findings are discussed and allow the reader a view inside these forbidden chambers and learn about the many contradicting hypotheses and presiding historical legends. He even delves into more modern fringe theories in search for any truths and logically combines controversial issues into some rather interesting and challenging thoughts. Schoch also addresses some formative thoughts on his personal and collaborated findings on the re-dating of the Sphinx, the Great Pyramid and Ancient Egyptians making Pyramid Quest a most unique book filled with classic and modern pop culture literature addressing Ancient Egypt.

For you enthusiasts who like geometry, mathematics and numerology, there is a tremendous amount of references and defined terms of structured analysis on the Great Pyramid and its significant measurements encoding numerical keys as geodesic data, specific star alignments and scared scriptures. The Egyptian Book of the Dead and other distinct ancient texts are referenced and given considerable attention to for understanding variable ritualistic initiations of Egyptian spiritual cosmology. Plato, Herodotus, The Rosicrucians, Manly P. Hall and other philosophers, theologians and occultists are delivered in contrast to Christian and Judaic beliefs and modern day fanatics known as pyramidiots. Scientific REG (Random Event Generators) experiments are discussed as well as personal revelations and experiences people have had in the Grand Gallery, chambers and passages of the Great Pyramid. Schoch also speaks of his own transcendence into heightened awareness of body, mind and spirit while inside the mysterious monument and shares his feelings.

Several oblique theories on how the Great Pyramid was built are exhibited and the greatest surveys ever taken and the most interesting views are referred to and accounted for. The different eras and methods of construction are considered in great detail dissecting a master plan and design for the Great Pyramid. Information gathered from engineers, astronomers, surveyors and builders lends credence to a master plan and design, which took centuries to build and complete. The site on which the Great Pyramid stands today may have once been held sacred before its time of construction. During construction portions of the Great Pyramid show evidence of possibly being an astronomical observatory enabling its accuracy of bearings and alignments to the four cardinal points giving way to the development of a calendrical system.

And then there is always the question of what was the actual purpose of the Great Pyramid: Tomb or otherwise? In Schoch's opinion it could have served as a temple of initiation for a Neophyte to the Secret Ancient Wisdom teachings. He also describes some very unusual theories by other authors and researchers published for its use referring to a nuclear power plant and transporting plutonium to Mars, and yet another suggesting it to be a giant water pump. You will read of its use as a prophetic biblical divining device as well as many other obtuse functions.

Pyramid Quest is an incredible undertaking and a very valuable book for any who are interested in Egyptology and the Great Pyramid. The second half is literally detailed appendices about the variable hypotheses and legends that have been formulated throughout the centuries of many researchers, authors and the likes in their quest for understanding the Great Pyramid. Most importantly Schoch has laid out conversions of metrology and variances in surveys giving the reader easy access to hard found numerical, mathematical and geometrical data. Pyramid Quest exceeds in content any other book ever written pertaining to The Great Pyramid.

Many of the photos and illustrations are historical, one of a kind and very rare. They complement the text and serve as visual guides enhancing Schoch's overviews of various studies. You will get the chance to see inside the Great Pyramid and its surrounding features. The bibliography is intense and full of references pertaining to other material comprising the abundance of research acknowledged concerning Egypt and related topics. Dr. Robert M. Schoch along with the help of Robert Aquinas McNally will be considered among the classic authors revered for their endearing contributions to the collective body of research on Egyptology and the Great Pyramid. Pyramid Quest does embody many secrets of the Great Pyramid and the dawn of civilization.

by

Dr. Colette M. Dowell

THis is the best book I own showing the chambers and general blueprint of the great pyramids. It is a wonderful book to keep on the coffee table!

Pyramid Quest could only have been written by a scientist, but anyone who has ever been fascinated by the pyramids of Egypt will find it intrigueing and enlightening! In addition to being a geologist of total integrity and a superb author, Dr. Schoch is also a master of Egyptology, Ancient History, Archaeoastrology, and the mysteries of the "old religion". All of these topics make the book pure joy for any seeker of Truth! Spellbinding! This book explains it all.

This is another of a series of similar books that I have read from the "alternative camp", or those researchers and authors like Robert Bauval, Graham Hancock, and John Anthony West whose views and theories on the age and origin of the sphinx, and the pyramids, differ from the orthodox view of most Egyptologists. Their basic position is that the sphinx and possibly the pyramids, are ancient; far more ancient than is commonly accepted by the scientific community, and that the sphinx and the pyramids are the product of an ancient and lost civilization far more advanced than the Egyptians.

Schock is a geologist and Ph.D. who was brought to Giza by John Anthony West and who together with West rocked the scientific community in the 1990's by dating the sphinx to as old as 10,500 B.C. by studying the damage to the sphinx's body and the sphinx enclosure and theorizing that it was caused by water erosion during a time some 7,000 years ago when the Nile valley received copious amounts of rainfall.

McNally is a writer and a poet with an interest in ancient civilizations. Together they present an intriguing and captivating view of the "alternative camp" on prehistoric cultured societies; the age of the Giza plateau; its builders; mathematical constants such as pi and phi, as well as other secret knowledge, built into the pyramids; the celestial alignments of the pyramids, the great pyramid in particular; and the science of the construction of the pyramids. Almost a third of the book is appendixes intended to support this view and go into detail on the pyramid's internal and external dimensions, dimension ratios, geometry, and trigonometry. They trace the foundation of the Great pyramid to an Egyptian sacred site 7,000 B.C. and suggest that the pyramids were never used as tombs by rather for ritual training, initiations, and other mystical or cultic purposes.

I'm bias because I love this kind of stuff, and although not the best book I've read by the "alternative camp", I found this to be a great read.

Pyramid Quest is an excellent inquiry into ancient wisdom, truth, and the mysteries, not only of The Great Pyramid, but of life itself. It is an amazingly well written measurement of man's quest for meaning. Dr. Schoch powerfully outlines, describes, and captures the heart of the mystery that is The Great Pyramid.

A thoroughly captivating read. My only gripe is that the font is so small as to be uncomfortable to read, and half the book is appendices - published in an even tinier font. Presumably, this was done to keep the cost of the book as low as possible, but it's counter-productive IMO. Less hardy readers might soon give up on it, which would be a misfortune as this is a worthy book. Essentially, a scholarly presentation with a lot of dry detail and mathematical formulae, the author's purpose is to challenge conventional scholarship using their own methodology against them. The results are impressive. He apparently proves that the Sphinx was built thousands of years before the generally accepted date, and thus a highly developed civilization existed eons before the so-called beginning of recorded history around 3000BCE. He considers the significance of the pyramids and Egyptian culture on Western esoteric lore and mysticism, and though he implies a continuous thread of ancient secret knowledge has been kept alive, like the rest of us, he hasn't quite managed to figure it all out yet.

Finally, a book that doesn't insult the history of the ancient Egyptians or humanity as a whole by postulating silly theories about alien space men or fantastic cosmic generators for the lost race from planet x. I think Schock has presented a great piece of exploratory and fact-based Egyptology that will make the Hancocks, Bauvals and Hawas' turn their heads in notice. The Appendices are worth the price of the book alone. Not as good as 'Voices of the Rocks' but well worth the read if you're a fan of hermetic philosophy

After his careful and penetrating examination of the erosion and age-wear on the Sphinx, Robert Schoch, a geologist by trade, is back and studying the riddle of the Great Pyramid.

The construction of the Great Pyramid is generally attributed to Khufu, of the Fourth Dynasty, and Schoch looks at all available evidence to prove or refute this hypothesis. He presents, in a fair and balanced way, arguments made by researchers, scientists, adventurers, and cranks, about the age, function, construction methods and overall meaning of the Great Pyramids, and the Giza complex in general. As a general overview of the writings and thought poured forth on this enigmatic monument, this book alone is well worth reading.

It is usually assumed that the Great Pyramid was built as one single construction project, but Schoch gives us a number of persuasive reasons to believe this may not have been the case. For starters, the Egyptians were constantly revising and rebuilding their various structures in other locations; and there is ample reason for having built up structures at this site which had specific functions as religious sites, astronomical observatories, and the like, which need not necessarily have ended up in the form they have now taken. In the end, this is Schoch's general premise.

Along the way, however, we are treated to careful analysis and layout of various aspects of the pyramid, including its significance as an astrological tracking device (simultaneously locking at least part of its construction date in about a thousand years prior to Khufu's reign); its encompassing the concepts of pi and phi; its almost unbelievable engineering precision; and much more. Each of the chambers and passages are discussed in detail, every marking and quarry mark is covered; the book is exhaustive in most every detail of this magnificant structure.

One final highlight is the time spent addressing the theories of virtually every other commentator on the Pyramid, from serious to insane. In that regard, this book covers more territory than any other, and moreover treats each author with a respect they do not all necessarily deserve. For further details, or to cover points not substantial enough to require a full chapter, there is an appendix of over 100 pages going into subjects large and small.

My only criticism would be that, first, there are nowhere near enough photos, and the sketches of the inner construction of the pyramid are too small and not anywhere near as detailed as the text which accompanies them. Graphically this book could have been a good deal better. And second, the print font for most of the book is very small by today's standards, and that used for the appendix is truly tiny. What's the deal?

If you have good eyes, and you have another better illustrated book on the Great Pyramid, then combine it with Schoch's & McNally's text and you will have all you will need to know about the building, dating, uses and purposes of the Great Pyramid, the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.

This book is based on pseudo-science, building an entire theory on an
unproven dating of the erosion of a few limestone geological features and transposing this supposition to the dating of the Great Pyramid and Sphinx. All the evidence of a dozen other pyramids and monuments in the area of Giza proves the Great Pyramid was built by King Khufu, and the Sphinx by one of his successors, King Khafre.