The Riddle Of The Pyramids [Paperback]

Kurt Mendelssohn (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (1977)
• ASIN: B000OQSKPW
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The building of the great pyramids as a way to build Egypt, November 10, 1997

By 

Cristiano De Lucrezia ([e-mail]) (Rome, Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Riddle of the Pyramids (Hardcover)

A physician tries to pay back a debt: he could graduate (1933) thanks to a smart "redirection" of money from archaeology to physics in his university. He analyzes the whole process of the building of the great pyramids in Giza, Dashur and, above all, Meidum, to demonstrate several facts. Among them: 1. Ancient Egyptian did not wait for a pyramid to be completed to start the next one 2. The IV dinasty pharaos used this activity to unifiy a tribe-organized Egypt to a powerful big nation. I won't tell you the whole story: you'll discover it. (sorry for my english: I'm italian!)

4.0 out of 5 stars Mostly Good, April 21, 2011

By 

doglar (Newark, DE United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Riddle of the Pyramids (Paperback)

I am not sure how I came to own this book because I have had it for a long time before getting a chance to read it. It was probably due to its discussion of the Meidum pyramid. I agree with his premise that the Meidum pyramid did not collapse due to stone robbing and I think he makes a decent case of refuting that premise. The strongest evidence given for the stone robbing is some ancient graffiti stating how wonderful the pyramid was, but this is easily neutralized in the book as a standard statement made by visitors when visiting such a monument. I suppose they had manners back then, no need to expound the fact the emperor has no clothes! There is a lot more about Egyptian culture than needed for the analysis on the collapse, although I did learn one of two things about ancient Egyptians in the process. Some calculations may not be exactly correct and I will be double checking them. I think the material could have been covered in about half the book. The pictures are probably worth it. In the end, I was a little disappointed in the "proof" since I essentially agree with the conclusions.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The evolution of pyramid building and their purpose, April 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Riddle of the Pyramids (Hardcover)

The author takes a reasoned and well
researched approach to the enigma of
the pyramids. We follow the
evolution of buiding techniques
begining with small mastaba tombs,
to the magnificence of the Great
Pyramid. The purpose of the
pyramids was moreover, a method of
organizing the people and
establishing a common goal. The
resultant civilization that evolved
around the pyramids was due to
the organizational and logistical
skills of the ruling class. After
the IV Dynasty, without strong
leadership, Egypt descends into the
First Intermediate Period, with
widespread chaos and lack of
leadership. The Great Age of the
Pyramids is over...although they are
built by succeeding Pharoahs for yet
another millenia, they pale in
comparison to the originals.