Ancient Egypt started as a Pristine Society, transitioning from Neolithic to Bronze Age without significant intrusion from any other culture, supported by the bountiful Nile, yet isolated from the rest of the world by surrounding deserts, as though set up for an unconscious, controlled experiment…
The Ancient Egyptians were highly intelligent, and developed a degree of artistic brilliance, non pareil. Their civilization underwent three upheavals, each for quite different reasons...despite which their beliefs endured for 5000 years...
Is it possible, that by understanding the social evolution of ancient Egypt that we might cast new light on today' issues, problems and opportunities?
This site looks at the ancient Egyptian society as it matured over its three kingdoms. It also focuses on the pyramids of the 3rd and 4th Dynasty, examining some of the many myths surrounding them, and replacing those myths with a rather more exciting possibility…
That's just a taster — this site has all sorts of interesting stuff — if you are into ancient Egypt, and even if you are not:
- There is a photographic excursion to support the notion that there was only one, extended Royal Necropolis during the 3rd, 4th and 5th Dynasties
- There is an interesting debunking section on myths that have grown up about the pyramids - and there are plenty of those!
- And there is a section for those interested in architecture about how the Great Pyramid was designed, and how we find difficulty in unravelling the architectural design because we insist on using modern units of measurement for length and angle. Changing to the ancient Egyptians units, the cubit and the seked, reveals all in delightful simplicity. However, such revelations raise additional questions about why Hemiunu, the Chief Architect, chose particular relationships. Could it be that Hemiunu was interested in numerology? Or, perhaps he was designing a machine of some kind? It is a fascinating puzzle. See Numerical Magic…
- Pharaoh Khufu may have had a quite different view of the Great Pyramid's architectural purpose. After all, he was "the customer," while Hemiunu and his many teams of masons, haulers, lifters, polishers, levellers, etc., were the providers. Perhaps Hemiunu did not tell his customer everything, or perhaps Khufu stated his requirements more clearly than any previous king (pharaohs had not yet been invented in ancient Egypt.) So, a serious section on the internal design of the Great Pyramid, and what it may have really meant to Khufu. Speculative, but steeped in the culture of the period—and much more exciting than the New Age stuff and nonsense.
- There are movies about how they built the pyramids, and sections about how they did NOT build them! It is not as difficult as people seem to make out - once you dispense with Hollywood's ideas about ramps…
- For the artistically inclined there is a section on ancient Egyptian art, including plenty on pre-pharaonic art - very interesting.
- And just to show that it is not all about pyramids, there is a section on society as it evolved during the New Kingdom, to entertain - and challenge - the social psychologists.
- There are photographic cruises on the Nile, with visits to New Kingdom and Late Period temples, including Kom Ombo, Philae, Kertassi, Esna, Edfu and many more.
- There are photographic visits to the Louvre, the British Museum and, of course, Cairo Museum
- Oh! I nearly forget, I've written a couple of books you might just find interesting, too. So, there's a section on Prof's book…
So, what are you waiting for? Dig in and enjoy yourself!
