The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egyptian Architecture (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780691114880)

The definitive reference on the diverse monuments built by the ancient Egyptians across three millennia, this generously illustrated volume surveys the ancient world's most remarkable architecture.

Dieter Arnold--a leading expert on Egyptian building and design--includes more than 300 illustrations and 600 alphabetically arranged entries spanning every type of building and every aspect of construction and design. He provides separate entries for each of the major Egyptian sites, from Abu Simbel in the south to Cleopatra's palaces in Alexandria. These document ordinary towns and houses as well as monuments as varied as the Step Pyramid of Djoser (the world's first significant stone building), the tombs of the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, and the great temples that line the Upper Nile. Other entries cover materials (from reed and mud-brick to sandstone and granite) and construction techniques (including pyramid building and the erection of obelisks). The accessible text also addresses the symbolic meanings of various types of building, the importance of building orientation, and myriad architectural features, such as columns and false doors.

Destined to be the standard reference for years to come, this comprehensive encyclopedia offers a welcome overview of the magnificent structures that continue to lure pilgrims and tourists, impress architects, and inspire awe. It will be enjoyed by serious devotees of architecture and archaeology as well as by armchair travelers and all who have wondered how the great pyramids were built.

Author: Dieter Arnold
ISBN-10: 0691114889
ISBN-13: 9780691114880
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Language: English
Published: 02/09/2003
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 2.32lbs
Size: 10.06h x 7.87w x 1.17d

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 02/15/2003 pg. 126
Booklist 09/01/2003 pg. 170
School Library Journal 10/01/2003 pg. 103
American Reference Bks Annual 01/01/2004 pg. 440
Rec Ref Bks for Small/Med Libr 01/01/2004 pg. 200