The Pyramids and Sphinx

London: Reader's Digest Association Limited,. Very Good/Very Good. 1971. Hard Cover. 4to London, 1971. Hard Cover - Cloth. Book Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Dustwrapper: Very Good. Wonders of Man series. 172 pages clean and tight. THE PHARAOHS OF EGYPT wielded immense power during their lifetimes and achieved immortality as gods upon their deaths. Thus. it is not surprising that the largest and most famous stone structures in the world were erected to house the mortal remains of three such divine rulers. Nearby stands the Sphinx, the mysterious half-human, half-leonine figure that has attracted and puzzled observers for centuries. The Pyramids and Sphinx vividly traces the epic course of Egyptian civilisation, from the first primitive settlements along the Nile to the triumphant era of the Old Kingdom pyramid builders. It scans the chaos of political rivalries between dynasties and focuses on the compelling cultural achievements of the glorious Eighteenth Dynasty. The Pyramids and Sphinx also describes the impact of successive foreign conquests on Egypt as it passed through its Greek, Roman, Coptic, and Arab periods. Here finally is a succinct review of the fascinating stories of the archaeologists-from Napoleon's time to the present-who came to unravel the mysteries of ancient Egypt. Supplementing the narrative are some 140 illustrations-nearly one half in full colour. Colossal statues in granite and basalt, gorgeous treasures from the tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamen, delicately coloured wall paintings, papyrus scrolls, and modern views of temples and ruins combine to recreate the spirit of a vanished civilisation. .