Overview

A decade ago, French architect Jean-Pierre Houdin became obsessed by the centuriesold question: How was the Great Pyramid built How, in a nation of farmers only recently emerged from the Stone Age, could such a massive, complex, and enduring structure have been envisioned and constructed Laboring at his computer ten hours a day for five years—creating exquisitely detailed 3-D models of the Pyramid's interior—Houdin finally had his answer. It was a startling revelation that cast a fresh light on the minds that conceived one of the wonders of the ancient world. Written by world-renowned Egyptologist Bob Brier in collaboration with Houdin, The Secret of the Great Pyramid moves deftly between the ancient and the modern, chronicling two equally fascinating interrelated histories. It is a remarkable account of the step-by-step planning and assembling of the magnificent edifice—the brainchild of an innovative genius, the Egyptian architect Hemienu, who imagined, organized, and oversaw a monumental construction project that took more than two decades to complete and that employed the services of hundreds of architects, mathematicians, boatbuilders, stonemasons, and metallurgists. Here also is the riveting story of Jean-Pierre Houdin's single-minded search for solutions to the mysteries that have bedeviled Egyptologists for centuries, such as the purpose of the enigmatic Grand Gallery and the Pyramid's crack.

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9780061655531

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Reviews

Great fun for Egyptophiles. --Barbara Mertz, author of Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphics

""Houdin's theory solves many mysteries about the huge structure."" -- Scientific American "" The authors' prose is lucid, aided by drawings and photos, and the theories are intriguing."" -- Publishers Weekly ""It's a plausible theory, well-illustrated, and makes a useful addition to the always seductive study of pyramids...An intriguing new twist to an old enigma."" -- Kirkus Reviews "" Great fun for Egyptophiles."" -- Barbara Mertz, author of Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphics ""A serious attempt at a new explanation for one of the oldest Egyptological mysteries."" -- Peter Der Manuelian, Giza Archives Project Director, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Great fun for Egyptophiles. -- Barbara Mertz, author of Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphics

Author Information

Bob Brier is a world-famous Egyptologist who has conducted research on pyramids and tombs in fifteen countries. A senior research fellow at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University, he is the author of seven books, including The Murder of Tutankhamen, and hosted the Great Egyptian series for the Learning Channel. Jean-Pierre Houdin left his Parisian architecture firm in 1999 to devote himself to solving the mystery of the Great Pyramid. He has been awarded the Montgolfier Prize for his research.

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