Excellent and very easy to use, 01 May 2008
I have seen several books on egyptian heiroglyphs and I have to say this is the best one for beginners by far. Collier takes the reader step by step through the maze which is ancient egyptian language. It explains how to tell which order to read them, how to decipher with relation to context as well as many excercises after each chapter to ensure you can put into practice what you have learnt. For anyone looking to learn this is the book for you!

An excellent book!!, 12 Dec 2005
A brilliant book which is clear, easy to understand, and simple enough for anyone who is dedicated and has an open mind to learn from. I am only 16 years old, so if I can already read simple offering formulas and descriptions of ethical behaviour, most people can. It gets harder as the book progresses but not too hard that I get stuck, and if I am desperate, there are answers to the exercises in the back to help me work out what I have done wrong so I can learn from my mistakes. I am already on chapter 7 and have already had no problems with it, because the teaching is step-by-step until the end of every chapter when there are exercises to do, which are accompanied by vocabulary lists to help transliterate and translate, and in the back of the book there are sign lists with info and even a short dictionary. There is enough in this small book to be able to go to museums or even Egypt itself and impress those around you by the skills you have learnt from this book! This is a perfect start to my career in Egyptology!

Cat Square Squiggle God-symbol, 22 Nov 2005
Well, what title should I give for a book on Egyptian hieroglyphs?

Actually, the information blurb from the Library Journal linked to the book's entry here states: 'Reference collections desiring more complete coverage will want Alan Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar (1957. 3d ed.) despite some obsolescence in the treatment of the verbal system.'

I actually learned hieroglyphs using that text at the University of London in the 1980s. But I have assembled a collection of more accessible books on how to learn hieroglyphs as refreshers and for sharing. I have four texts, and this was the first of the lot.

If you are truly interested in learning Egyptian hieroglyphs for an upcoming trip to Egypt or to visit a museum with a collection (I amazed a friend once by being able to read an inscription at the museum; I confessed that of the hundreds of 'paragraphs' of hieroglyphs in the collection, that that was one of only two I could decipher without my notebook), Collier and Manley's 'How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs' is a good choice for learning.

It begins with a basic description of the way in which hieroglyphs are used (some signs are words, but actually very few, and others are sound-meaning symbols). Collier and Manley introduce a transliteration system to ease your way into pronunciation (and pronunciation is very sketchy, given the fact there are no recordings from ancient Egypt). Symbols can vary occasionally for sound, meaning, and determinative value.

The pattern of hieroglyphs is also variable. Generally, you always want to 'read into the face', i.e., the picto-glyphs will be facing the direction from which to start -- more often right to left than left to right, and columns go top to bottom. There are no punctuation marks and no word breaks -- this can make meanings hard to decipher.

Consider the example:

IAMNOWHERE
which could be broken into
I AM NOW HERE
or
I AM NOWHERE
and in this case, context might not help provide which meaning is the true one. Or perhaps the author is poetical and sees the trouble of distinction and means that trouble to be present.

No wonder hieroglyphs are hard!

Collier and Manley's book is excellent in basic vocabulary building and basic grammar. And, if you're like me and will make flash cards, you'll become a better draw-er too.

There are exercises, and pictures of inscriptions to practice on, and a key to the exercises in the back of the book.

Hieroglyphs, 17 Apr 2005
This book is a good introduction, however it could have been a lot better. The explanations are quite good but it doesn't confirm to the number system of most other books. Which mars what was a good primer. The diagrams were on the whole good. I would say that this was a good book to get people interested. The title is a bit over the top, since you will not be reading that many inscriptions with the information provided. All in all a decent enough book.

Excellent for General Interest or further study, 09 Feb 2005
Brilliant Book. Very detailed and easily used. Parts of it are a little hard going but the effort is worth it when you visit somewhere like the British Museam or Egypt itself.
I enjoyed it so much i took Bill Manleys Class on the book at Glasgow University

Excellent and very easy to use, 01 May 2008
I have seen several books on egyptian heiroglyphs and I have to say this is the best one for beginners by far. Collier takes the reader step by step through the maze which is ancient egyptian language. It explains how to tell which order to read them, how to decipher with relation to context as well as many excercises after each chapter to ensure you can put into practice what you have learnt. For anyone looking to learn this is the book for you!

An excellent book!!, 12 Dec 2005
A brilliant book which is clear, easy to understand, and simple enough for anyone who is dedicated and has an open mind to learn from. I am only 16 years old, so if I can already read simple offering formulas and descriptions of ethical behaviour, most people can. It gets harder as the book progresses but not too hard that I get stuck, and if I am desperate, there are answers to the exercises in the back to help me work out what I have done wrong so I can learn from my mistakes. I am already on chapter 7 and have already had no problems with it, because the teaching is step-by-step until the end of every chapter when there are exercises to do, which are accompanied by vocabulary lists to help transliterate and translate, and in the back of the book there are sign lists with info and even a short dictionary. There is enough in this small book to be able to go to museums or even Egypt itself and impress those around you by the skills you have learnt from this book! This is a perfect start to my career in Egyptology!

Cat Square Squiggle God-symbol, 22 Nov 2005
Well, what title should I give for a book on Egyptian hieroglyphs?

Actually, the information blurb from the Library Journal linked to the book's entry here states: 'Reference collections desiring more complete coverage will want Alan Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar (1957. 3d ed.) despite some obsolescence in the treatment of the verbal system.'

I actually learned hieroglyphs using that text at the University of London in the 1980s. But I have assembled a collection of more accessible books on how to learn hieroglyphs as refreshers and for sharing. I have four texts, and this was the first of the lot.

If you are truly interested in learning Egyptian hieroglyphs for an upcoming trip to Egypt or to visit a museum with a collection (I amazed a friend once by being able to read an inscription at the museum; I confessed that of the hundreds of 'paragraphs' of hieroglyphs in the collection, that that was one of only two I could decipher without my notebook), Collier and Manley's 'How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs' is a good choice for learning.

It begins with a basic description of the way in which hieroglyphs are used (some signs are words, but actually very few, and others are sound-meaning symbols). Collier and Manley introduce a transliteration system to ease your way into pronunciation (and pronunciation is very sketchy, given the fact there are no recordings from ancient Egypt). Symbols can vary occasionally for sound, meaning, and determinative value.

The pattern of hieroglyphs is also variable. Generally, you always want to 'read into the face', i.e., the picto-glyphs will be facing the direction from which to start -- more often right to left than left to right, and columns go top to bottom. There are no punctuation marks and no word breaks -- this can make meanings hard to decipher.

Consider the example:

IAMNOWHERE
which could be broken into
I AM NOW HERE
or
I AM NOWHERE
and in this case, context might not help provide which meaning is the true one. Or perhaps the author is poetical and sees the trouble of distinction and means that trouble to be present.

No wonder hieroglyphs are hard!

Collier and Manley's book is excellent in basic vocabulary building and basic grammar. And, if you're like me and will make flash cards, you'll become a better draw-er too.

There are exercises, and pictures of inscriptions to practice on, and a key to the exercises in the back of the book.

Hieroglyphs, 17 Apr 2005
This book is a good introduction, however it could have been a lot better. The explanations are quite good but it doesn't confirm to the number system of most other books. Which mars what was a good primer. The diagrams were on the whole good. I would say that this was a good book to get people interested. The title is a bit over the top, since you will not be reading that many inscriptions with the information provided. All in all a decent enough book.

Excellent for General Interest or further study, 09 Feb 2005
Brilliant Book. Very detailed and easily used. Parts of it are a little hard going but the effort is worth it when you visit somewhere like the British Museam or Egypt itself.
I enjoyed it so much i took Bill Manleys Class on the book at Glasgow University

Best guide to the Valley, 05 Nov 2002
I have been to the Valley of the Kings now about 15-20 times, and for me it is still one of the most powerful and impressive places in the world. When you consider that some of the most powerful men and women were buried here, in a short period, it leaves you in awe.
Previous to reading this book, I had used the John Rohmer book, Valley of the Kings. This is also a good book, but it is not a guide, it is more a historic introduction to the Valley.
For anyone with not a great knowledge of Luxor or ancient Egypt, this is the perfect guide. It assumes no previous knowledge of the history of the area, and explains it well.
The maps and plans are usful, as they can give you an idea of what is there.

THE COMPLETE ARMCHAIR TRAVELLER, 21 May 2002
Nicholas and Richard have come up trumps yet again. This dynamic duo has put together a superb piece of work that acts as your passport to "The Valley". With this book in your hands you can almost be there and certainly take in fact after fact without heat, flies and sand. However, for anybody visiting The Valley this has got to be in your rucksack as an aide memoire while you seek out the tombs, burial pits and much more. These well-seasoned writers (Nicholas has written a similar book in this series, The Complete Tutankhamun and Richard the Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt) provide plans of tombs, photographs and have gone into fine detail. For those of you who need a reference work I suggest you take a look, I did and I am very happy thank you. This masterpiece has plenty of detail on the finds in each tomb with oodles of background information. The authors also provide you with guidance on which tombs to visit if you have time constraints. For those of you who like to hear and see another point of view, consider reading 'Guide to the Valley of the Kings' by Alberto Siliotti. Alberto captures the bigger picture with a touch more visual emphasis on tomb layout and wall detail. Both of these books are excellent and I would find it difficult to choose one over the other and resulted in my obtaining both!

No Egyptology bookshelf should be without it..., 08 Sep 2000
Any book by Nicholas Reeves is worth reading, and a book by Nicholas Reeves on the Valley of the Kings is a treat indeed.

This is a wonderfully-illustrated, updated and more accessible version of Reeves' hard-to-find, hard-to-read and hard-to-afford Valley of the Kings: Decline of a Royal Necropolis. In other words, it's the only book you'll ever need on the Valley of the Kings in general.

This book fully delivers on it's titled promise of being complete - every aspect of the Valley and its tombs is covered, and if there's something missing here, I can't find it.

Packed with maps, illustrations and photographs, this book is as much a joy to look at as it is to read. Nicholas Reeves has a real passion for the Valley of the Kings and had produced a brilliant and detailed work on its history, excavation, tombs and abandonment.

Read it from cover to cover, use it as a (reliable) reference work, dip into it from time to time...however you use this book, you'll enjoy it.

In my opinion this is one of the very best generally-available books on Ancient Egypt at the moment.

Excellent and very easy to use, 01 May 2008
I have seen several books on egyptian heiroglyphs and I have to say this is the best one for beginners by far. Collier takes the reader step by step through the maze which is ancient egyptian language. It explains how to tell which order to read them, how to decipher with relation to context as well as many excercises after each chapter to ensure you can put into practice what you have learnt. For anyone looking to learn this is the book for you!

An excellent book!!, 12 Dec 2005
A brilliant book which is clear, easy to understand, and simple enough for anyone who is dedicated and has an open mind to learn from. I am only 16 years old, so if I can already read simple offering formulas and descriptions of ethical behaviour, most people can. It gets harder as the book progresses but not too hard that I get stuck, and if I am desperate, there are answers to the exercises in the back to help me work out what I have done wrong so I can learn from my mistakes. I am already on chapter 7 and have already had no problems with it, because the teaching is step-by-step until the end of every chapter when there are exercises to do, which are accompanied by vocabulary lists to help transliterate and translate, and in the back of the book there are sign lists with info and even a short dictionary. There is enough in this small book to be able to go to museums or even Egypt itself and impress those around you by the skills you have learnt from this book! This is a perfect start to my career in Egyptology!

Cat Square Squiggle God-symbol, 22 Nov 2005
Well, what title should I give for a book on Egyptian hieroglyphs?

Actually, the information blurb from the Library Journal linked to the book's entry here states: 'Reference collections desiring more complete coverage will want Alan Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar (1957. 3d ed.) despite some obsolescence in the treatment of the verbal system.'

I actually learned hieroglyphs using that text at the University of London in the 1980s. But I have assembled a collection of more accessible books on how to learn hieroglyphs as refreshers and for sharing. I have four texts, and this was the first of the lot.

If you are truly interested in learning Egyptian hieroglyphs for an upcoming trip to Egypt or to visit a museum with a collection (I amazed a friend once by being able to read an inscription at the museum; I confessed that of the hundreds of 'paragraphs' of hieroglyphs in the collection, that that was one of only two I could decipher without my notebook), Collier and Manley's 'How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs' is a good choice for learning.

It begins with a basic description of the way in which hieroglyphs are used (some signs are words, but actually very few, and others are sound-meaning symbols). Collier and Manley introduce a transliteration system to ease your way into pronunciation (and pronunciation is very sketchy, given the fact there are no recordings from ancient Egypt). Symbols can vary occasionally for sound, meaning, and determinative value.

The pattern of hieroglyphs is also variable. Generally, you always want to 'read into the face', i.e., the picto-glyphs will be facing the direction from which to start -- more often right to left than left to right, and columns go top to bottom. There are no punctuation marks and no word breaks -- this can make meanings hard to decipher.

Consider the example:

IAMNOWHERE
which could be broken into
I AM NOW HERE
or
I AM NOWHERE
and in this case, context might not help provide which meaning is the true one. Or perhaps the author is poetical and sees the trouble of distinction and means that trouble to be present.

No wonder hieroglyphs are hard!

Collier and Manley's book is excellent in basic vocabulary building and basic grammar. And, if you're like me and will make flash cards, you'll become a better draw-er too.

There are exercises, and pictures of inscriptions to practice on, and a key to the exercises in the back of the book.

Hieroglyphs, 17 Apr 2005
This book is a good introduction, however it could have been a lot better. The explanations are quite good but it doesn't confirm to the number system of most other books. Which mars what was a good primer. The diagrams were on the whole good. I would say that this was a good book to get people interested. The title is a bit over the top, since you will not be reading that many inscriptions with the information provided. All in all a decent enough book.

Excellent for General Interest or further study, 09 Feb 2005
Brilliant Book. Very detailed and easily used. Parts of it are a little hard going but the effort is worth it when you visit somewhere like the British Museam or Egypt itself.
I enjoyed it so much i took Bill Manleys Class on the book at Glasgow University

Best guide to the Valley, 05 Nov 2002
I have been to the Valley of the Kings now about 15-20 times, and for me it is still one of the most powerful and impressive places in the world. When you consider that some of the most powerful men and women were buried here, in a short period, it leaves you in awe.
Previous to reading this book, I had used the John Rohmer book, Valley of the Kings. This is also a good book, but it is not a guide, it is more a historic introduction to the Valley.
For anyone with not a great knowledge of Luxor or ancient Egypt, this is the perfect guide. It assumes no previous knowledge of the history of the area, and explains it well.
The maps and plans are usful, as they can give you an idea of what is there.

THE COMPLETE ARMCHAIR TRAVELLER, 21 May 2002
Nicholas and Richard have come up trumps yet again. This dynamic duo has put together a superb piece of work that acts as your passport to "The Valley". With this book in your hands you can almost be there and certainly take in fact after fact without heat, flies and sand. However, for anybody visiting The Valley this has got to be in your rucksack as an aide memoire while you seek out the tombs, burial pits and much more. These well-seasoned writers (Nicholas has written a similar book in this series, The Complete Tutankhamun and Richard the Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt) provide plans of tombs, photographs and have gone into fine detail. For those of you who need a reference work I suggest you take a look, I did and I am very happy thank you. This masterpiece has plenty of detail on the finds in each tomb with oodles of background information. The authors also provide you with guidance on which tombs to visit if you have time constraints. For those of you who like to hear and see another point of view, consider reading 'Guide to the Valley of the Kings' by Alberto Siliotti. Alberto captures the bigger picture with a touch more visual emphasis on tomb layout and wall detail. Both of these books are excellent and I would find it difficult to choose one over the other and resulted in my obtaining both!

No Egyptology bookshelf should be without it..., 08 Sep 2000
Any book by Nicholas Reeves is worth reading, and a book by Nicholas Reeves on the Valley of the Kings is a treat indeed.

This is a wonderfully-illustrated, updated and more accessible version of Reeves' hard-to-find, hard-to-read and hard-to-afford Valley of the Kings: Decline of a Royal Necropolis. In other words, it's the only book you'll ever need on the Valley of the Kings in general.

This book fully delivers on it's titled promise of being complete - every aspect of the Valley and its tombs is covered, and if there's something missing here, I can't find it.

Packed with maps, illustrations and photographs, this book is as much a joy to look at as it is to read. Nicholas Reeves has a real passion for the Valley of the Kings and had produced a brilliant and detailed work on its history, excavation, tombs and abandonment.

Read it from cover to cover, use it as a (reliable) reference work, dip into it from time to time...however you use this book, you'll enjoy it.

In my opinion this is one of the very best generally-available books on Ancient Egypt at the moment.

Buildin's, 31 Dec 2008
Mr. Lehner gives us a book, with a mass of technical detail, about the greatest, and most enduring, structures ever built by man. And he is no pyramidiot, givng unprovable but fascinating theories, unlike some other modern authors.
There are maps and illustrations and descriptions of all the major pyramids. The construction details are set out in a logical and easily followed chronological progression. And the whole thing is lightened with the occasionial touch of humour, e.g. one of the gangs engaged in the construction of the Pyramid of Men-Kau-Re is defined as the "Drunkards of M.", - as they called themselves. A book well worth buying, both for the casual reader and the serious student.

The Most Comprehensive Book I Have Read on the Subject, 23 Jan 2008

The author Mark Lehner has written or contributed to a number of historical books, several of them on Egyptian history and this I think is the best of them all. The pyramids were one of the seven wonders of the world and still are one of the world's wonders, although far removed from the glorious sight that they must have been in ancient times.

It is probably true to say that more has been written about the pyramids than any other man made structure on earth and that includes the Great Wall of China and our own Stonehenge. Much of what has been written about the pyramids has been conjecture and to put it kindly stretching the truth to make a good story. The author himself is no stranger to putting forward theories of his own regarding the pyramids and it is up to the reader's how much credence they place in these and other theories. What we do know is that the pyramids were built to precise measurements, so accurate in fact that even today with all the modern building equipment at our disposal we would struggle to emulate the ancient builders. They were also aligned in a particular direction and calculations of where exactly the stars appeared in the Egyptian night sky at the time of their construction, could suggest that at least one of their uses was astronomical

This book quite rightly concentrates on the main Egyptian pyramids and the sphinx and covers all the latest data formulated by today's archaeologists and scientists. This includes how the pyramids were thought to have been built, a Herculean task in itself. Also there are exciting computer generated images of the inside of the pyramids, in fact just about every question you could ask is answered for you in this superb book, even down to a guide for visiting the pyramids themselves.


Excellent, 06 Mar 2007
I have been to Egypt, the first time was in 1993, and I made my mind up that I'd like to study Egyptology.

Although in my second year of studying Egyptology, during my first year this was one of the books I used to widen my knowledge about all the pyramids in Ancient Egypt, it wasn't a study book but I was glad to find it.:-)

It's an excellent book for discovering the pyramids and has some fantastic photographs. It's brings you up to date with the latest discoveries through using modern technology. It's packed with lots of information and covers all the known pyramids up to the time of printing of the book. It's defiantly worth the money.

Whether you are studying Egyptology, going away to Egypt for a holiday or just enjoy reading about the Egyptian history it's a fantastic book to give you an insight to what the pyramids were used for and how they functioned.

It makes an excellent edition to my little Egyptian library, which now stands at nearly 1000 books on this subject. :-)


The Complete Picture, 08 Feb 2006
This has got to be one of the reference books you have in your rucksack when you visit any of the pyramids. I would actually rate this book as “best value” for the wide spectrum of information, photographs and diagrams at your disposal. If you are on a budget or need a starter book this is the one to go for; read it and move on from there.

Mark Lehner has hit the right spot with me with this cracking all round winner. I particularly like the format of “The Complete…” series such as Complete Valley of the Kings and The Complete Tutankhamum because the sections are almost stand alone and allow you to drop in and out at your leisure. This one really is a stormer with approximately 550 illustrations with about 80 in colour.

Mark Lehner was a proponent of alternative theories and was inspired by the sleeping prophet Edgar Cayce. However, Mark found out that linking Atlantis to the Pyramids did not stand up to scientific scrutiny but continued his work with a new found scientific method and joined the ranks of mainstream Egyptologists. The rest is history because this book is written by an accepted academic but readable. I would strongly recommend this book for any readers who enjoy alternative theories regarding the pyramids. You can use this book to form a baseline of generally established facts before accepting the latest interpretation without a point of reference. At the end of the day you are still the judge but at least you have compared it work that has generally undergone peer review.

There book has five main sections: Introduction, Tomb and Temple, Explorers and Scientists, The Whole Pyramid Catalogue and The Living Pyramid. The introduction is a short section providing an overview of pyramid statistics, chronology of Pyramid builders, locations, pyramid profiles and standard pyramid complex.

Tomb and Temple is relatively short and introduces Ka, Ba, burial rituals, the netherworld, pyramid texts, akhet, duat and ben ben stone. This is a brief but sound trip into the myths and rituals of the underworld.

Explorers and Scientists is a relatively short summary of the famous names such as: Herodotus, Manetho, al-Mamum, Abd al-Latif, John Greaves, Benoit de Maillet, Pococke & Norden, Davidson, Napoleon, Belzoni, Caviglia, Vyse, Lepsius, Mariette, Petrie, Symth, Reisner, Borchardt, Emery, Lauer, Firth, and Quibell. A detailed breakdown of recent explorations 1887-1997 is provided along with a summary of recent discoveries.

The Whole Pyramid Catalogue is the largest section in the book and this is where the book opens up in front of you, literally. Some pages are folded back on themselves in order to allow the reader to unfold a four page panoramic view and better experience visually the author’s viewpoints. A combination of maps, line drawings and photographs provides the budding explorer with an armchair experience of the pyramids. From the pictures and diagrams the reader should be better able to construct a minds-eye 3-D image of the major pyramids and have a feel for the layout of passages and chambers.

The living Pyramid explores the possible methods by which the pyramids may have been built, but with emphasis on objective evidence such as tomb relief’s, ramps, ancient tools and NOVA experiments. There is a guidance section offering advise on visiting the pyramids to help the researcher or tourist optimise there time in Giza, Saqqara, Abusir and Meidum. In the closing pages of the book there is an excellent guide to further reading and references to the sources, quotations and illustrations used throughout the book.

The best layman's guide to the pyramids EVER, 06 Jul 1999
Whether your interest in the pyramids is historical, archaeological or esoteric, this has to be the best book available. It's very well written by an author who really knows his subject, and it systematically covers all the pyramid monuments of Egypt. Although the text is scholarly it's also very readable, and each pyramid is covered in a separate section so it's easy to look up a particular pyramid or dip into the book at random. Most importantly, however, it is fabulously illustrated, not just with superb colour photographs but with diagrams and computer reconstructions. For every pyramid there is a map showing its location, and detailed plans and cross sections showing the complete structure and substructure with all the tunnels, shafts and chambers. The book manages to strike a perfect balance between presenting factual detail and stimulating your imagination, and is the next best thing to an actual visit to Egypt. I really can't recommend it highly enough.

Describing the inner halls of the temple of Abu Simbel, Egyptologist Richard Wilkinson writes "In February and October, the sun's rays penetrated some 60m through its inner halls where they illuminated the statues of the deified Rameses and his companion gods". Such evocative detail brings an ancient culture to life and The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt is full of it. As it picks its way through a "complex and tangled" story of over 3,000 years of temple building, the monuments are reconstructed and "offer a unique view into the lives and minds of the ancient Egyptians". Revealing the fascinating depth of knowledge that now exists about the nature and symbolism of Egypt's eternal stone symbols, Wilkinson also indicates how much more there is to learn. Not a lightweight book, literally or metaphorically speaking, this is a volume that asks to be pored over--although the section of descriptions of individual temples, organised by geographical area, is a useful reference tool. Specialist vocabulary (for which there is no glossary) occasionally crops up in the text but informative diagrams and stimulating page design help to make this book attractive to a wide audience. Ending with useful advice for travellers, the combination of a highly illuminating text and superb photographs which is The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt will surely inspire and enrich many a visit to the monuments. --Karen Tiley

Excellent and very easy to use, 01 May 2008
I have seen several books on egyptian heiroglyphs and I have to say this is the best one for beginners by far. Collier takes the reader step by step through the maze which is ancient egyptian language. It explains how to tell which order to read them, how to decipher with relation to context as well as many excercises after each chapter to ensure you can put into practice what you have learnt. For anyone looking to learn this is the book for you!

An excellent book!!, 12 Dec 2005
A brilliant book which is clear, easy to understand, and simple enough for anyone who is dedicated and has an open mind to learn from. I am only 16 years old, so if I can already read simple offering formulas and descriptions of ethical behaviour, most people can. It gets harder as the book progresses but not too hard that I get stuck, and if I am desperate, there are answers to the exercises in the back to help me work out what I have done wrong so I can learn from my mistakes. I am already on chapter 7 and have already had no problems with it, because the teaching is step-by-step until the end of every chapter when there are exercises to do, which are accompanied by vocabulary lists to help transliterate and translate, and in the back of the book there are sign lists with info and even a short dictionary. There is enough in this small book to be able to go to museums or even Egypt itself and impress those around you by the skills you have learnt from this book! This is a perfect start to my career in Egyptology!

Cat Square Squiggle God-symbol, 22 Nov 2005
Well, what title should I give for a book on Egyptian hieroglyphs?

Actually, the information blurb from the Library Journal linked to the book's entry here states: 'Reference collections desiring more complete coverage will want Alan Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar (1957. 3d ed.) despite some obsolescence in the treatment of the verbal system.'

I actually learned hieroglyphs using that text at the University of London in the 1980s. But I have assembled a collection of more accessible books on how to learn hieroglyphs as refreshers and for sharing. I have four texts, and this was the first of the lot.

If you are truly interested in learning Egyptian hieroglyphs for an upcoming trip to Egypt or to visit a museum with a collection (I amazed a friend once by being able to read an inscription at the museum; I confessed that of the hundreds of 'paragraphs' of hieroglyphs in the collection, that that was one of only two I could decipher without my notebook), Collier and Manley's 'How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs' is a good choice for learning.

It begins with a basic description of the way in which hieroglyphs are used (some signs are words, but actually very few, and others are sound-meaning symbols). Collier and Manley introduce a transliteration system to ease your way into pronunciation (and pronunciation is very sketchy, given the fact there are no recordings from ancient Egypt). Symbols can vary occasionally for sound, meaning, and determinative value.

The pattern of hieroglyphs is also variable. Generally, you always want to 'read into the face', i.e., the picto-glyphs will be facing the direction from which to start -- more often right to left than left to right, and columns go top to bottom. There are no punctuation marks and no word breaks -- this can make meanings hard to decipher.

Consider the example:

IAMNOWHERE
which could be broken into
I AM NOW HERE
or
I AM NOWHERE
and in this case, context might not help provide which meaning is the true one. Or perhaps the author is poetical and sees the trouble of distinction and means that trouble to be present.

No wonder hieroglyphs are hard!

Collier and Manley's book is excellent in basic vocabulary building and basic grammar. And, if you're like me and will make flash cards, you'll become a better draw-er too.

There are exercises, and pictures of inscriptions to practice on, and a key to the exercises in the back of the book.

Hieroglyphs, 17 Apr 2005
This book is a good introduction, however it could have been a lot better. The explanations are quite good but it doesn't confirm to the number system of most other books. Which mars what was a good primer. The diagrams were on the whole good. I would say that this was a good book to get people interested. The title is a bit over the top, since you will not be reading that many inscriptions with the information provided. All in all a decent enough book.

Excellent for General Interest or further study, 09 Feb 2005
Brilliant Book. Very detailed and easily used. Parts of it are a little hard going but the effort is worth it when you visit somewhere like the British Museam or Egypt itself.
I enjoyed it so much i took Bill Manleys Class on the book at Glasgow University

Best guide to the Valley, 05 Nov 2002
I have been to the Valley of the Kings now about 15-20 times, and for me it is still one of the most powerful and impressive places in the world. When you consider that some of the most powerful men and women were buried here, in a short period, it leaves you in awe.
Previous to reading this book, I had used the John Rohmer book, Valley of the Kings. This is also a good book, but it is not a guide, it is more a historic introduction to the Valley.
For anyone with not a great knowledge of Luxor or ancient Egypt, this is the perfect guide. It assumes no previous knowledge of the history of the area, and explains it well.
The maps and plans are usful, as they can give you an idea of what is there.

THE COMPLETE ARMCHAIR TRAVELLER, 21 May 2002
Nicholas and Richard have come up trumps yet again. This dynamic duo has put together a superb piece of work that acts as your passport to "The Valley". With this book in your hands you can almost be there and certainly take in fact after fact without heat, flies and sand. However, for anybody visiting The Valley this has got to be in your rucksack as an aide memoire while you seek out the tombs, burial pits and much more. These well-seasoned writers (Nicholas has written a similar book in this series, The Complete Tutankhamun and Richard the Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt) provide plans of tombs, photographs and have gone into fine detail. For those of you who need a reference work I suggest you take a look, I did and I am very happy thank you. This masterpiece has plenty of detail on the finds in each tomb with oodles of background information. The authors also provide you with guidance on which tombs to visit if you have time constraints. For those of you who like to hear and see another point of view, consider reading 'Guide to the Valley of the Kings' by Alberto Siliotti. Alberto captures the bigger picture with a touch more visual emphasis on tomb layout and wall detail. Both of these books are excellent and I would find it difficult to choose one over the other and resulted in my obtaining both!

No Egyptology bookshelf should be without it..., 08 Sep 2000
Any book by Nicholas Reeves is worth reading, and a book by Nicholas Reeves on the Valley of the Kings is a treat indeed.

This is a wonderfully-illustrated, updated and more accessible version of Reeves' hard-to-find, hard-to-read and hard-to-afford Valley of the Kings: Decline of a Royal Necropolis. In other words, it's the only book you'll ever need on the Valley of the Kings in general.

This book fully delivers on it's titled promise of being complete - every aspect of the Valley and its tombs is covered, and if there's something missing here, I can't find it.

Packed with maps, illustrations and photographs, this book is as much a joy to look at as it is to read. Nicholas Reeves has a real passion for the Valley of the Kings and had produced a brilliant and detailed work on its history, excavation, tombs and abandonment.

Read it from cover to cover, use it as a (reliable) reference work, dip into it from time to time...however you use this book, you'll enjoy it.

In my opinion this is one of the very best generally-available books on Ancient Egypt at the moment.

Buildin's, 31 Dec 2008
Mr. Lehner gives us a book, with a mass of technical detail, about the greatest, and most enduring, structures ever built by man. And he is no pyramidiot, givng unprovable but fascinating theories, unlike some other modern authors.
There are maps and illustrations and descriptions of all the major pyramids. The construction details are set out in a logical and easily followed chronological progression. And the whole thing is lightened with the occasionial touch of humour, e.g. one of the gangs engaged in the construction of the Pyramid of Men-Kau-Re is defined as the "Drunkards of M.", - as they called themselves. A book well worth buying, both for the casual reader and the serious student.

The Most Comprehensive Book I Have Read on the Subject, 23 Jan 2008

The author Mark Lehner has written or contributed to a number of historical books, several of them on Egyptian history and this I think is the best of them all. The pyramids were one of the seven wonders of the world and still are one of the world's wonders, although far removed from the glorious sight that they must have been in ancient times.

It is probably true to say that more has been written about the pyramids than any other man made structure on earth and that includes the Great Wall of China and our own Stonehenge. Much of what has been written about the pyramids has been conjecture and to put it kindly stretching the truth to make a good story. The author himself is no stranger to putting forward theories of his own regarding the pyramids and it is up to the reader's how much credence they place in these and other theories. What we do know is that the pyramids were built to precise measurements, so accurate in fact that even today with all the modern building equipment at our disposal we would struggle to emulate the ancient builders. They were also aligned in a particular direction and calculations of where exactly the stars appeared in the Egyptian night sky at the time of their construction, could suggest that at least one of their uses was astronomical

This book quite rightly concentrates on the main Egyptian pyramids and the sphinx and covers all the latest data formulated by today's archaeologists and scientists. This includes how the pyramids were thought to have been built, a Herculean task in itself. Also there are exciting computer generated images of the inside of the pyramids, in fact just about every question you could ask is answered for you in this superb book, even down to a guide for visiting the pyramids themselves.


Excellent, 06 Mar 2007
I have been to Egypt, the first time was in 1993, and I made my mind up that I'd like to study Egyptology.

Although in my second year of studying Egyptology, during my first year this was one of the books I used to widen my knowledge about all the pyramids in Ancient Egypt, it wasn't a study book but I was glad to find it.:-)

It's an excellent book for discovering the pyramids and has some fantastic photographs. It's brings you up to date with the latest discoveries through using modern technology. It's packed with lots of information and covers all the known pyramids up to the time of printing of the book. It's defiantly worth the money.

Whether you are studying Egyptology, going away to Egypt for a holiday or just enjoy reading about the Egyptian history it's a fantastic book to give you an insight to what the pyramids were used for and how they functioned.

It makes an excellent edition to my little Egyptian library, which now stands at nearly 1000 books on this subject. :-)


The Complete Picture, 08 Feb 2006
This has got to be one of the reference books you have in your rucksack when you visit any of the pyramids. I would actually rate this book as “best value” for the wide spectrum of information, photographs and diagrams at your disposal. If you are on a budget or need a starter book this is the one to go for; read it and move on from there.

Mark Lehner has hit the right spot with me with this cracking all round winner. I particularly like the format of “The Complete…” series such as Complete Valley of the Kings and The Complete Tutankhamum because the sections are almost stand alone and allow you to drop in and out at your leisure. This one really is a stormer with approximately 550 illustrations with about 80 in colour.

Mark Lehner was a proponent of alternative theories and was inspired by the sleeping prophet Edgar Cayce. However, Mark found out that linking Atlantis to the Pyramids did not stand up to scientific scrutiny but continued his work with a new found scientific method and joined the ranks of mainstream Egyptologists. The rest is history because this book is written by an accepted academic but readable. I would strongly recommend this book for any readers who enjoy alternative theories regarding the pyramids. You can use this book to form a baseline of generally established facts before accepting the latest interpretation without a point of reference. At the end of the day you are still the judge but at least you have compared it work that has generally undergone peer review.

There book has five main sections: Introduction, Tomb and Temple, Explorers and Scientists, The Whole Pyramid Catalogue and The Living Pyramid. The introduction is a short section providing an overview of pyramid statistics, chronology of Pyramid builders, locations, pyramid profiles and standard pyramid complex.

Tomb and Temple is relatively short and introduces Ka, Ba, burial rituals, the netherworld, pyramid texts, akhet, duat and ben ben stone. This is a brief but sound trip into the myths and rituals of the underworld.

Explorers and Scientists is a relatively short summary of the famous names such as: Herodotus, Manetho, al-Mamum, Abd al-Latif, John Greaves, Benoit de Maillet, Pococke & Norden, Davidson, Napoleon, Belzoni, Caviglia, Vyse, Lepsius, Mariette, Petrie, Symth, Reisner, Borchardt, Emery, Lauer, Firth, and Quibell. A detailed breakdown of recent explorations 1887-1997 is provided along with a summary of recent discoveries.

The Whole Pyramid Catalogue is the largest section in the book and this is where the book opens up in front of you, literally. Some pages are folded back on themselves in order to allow the reader to unfold a four page panoramic view and better experience visually the author’s viewpoints. A combination of maps, line drawings and photographs provides the budding explorer with an armchair experience of the pyramids. From the pictures and diagrams the reader should be better able to construct a minds-eye 3-D image of the major pyramids and have a feel for the layout of passages and chambers.

The living Pyramid explores the possible methods by which the pyramids may have been built, but with emphasis on objective evidence such as tomb relief’s, ramps, ancient tools and NOVA experiments. There is a guidance section offering advise on visiting the pyramids to help the researcher or tourist optimise there time in Giza, Saqqara, Abusir and Meidum. In the closing pages of the book there is an excellent guide to further reading and references to the sources, quotations and illustrations used throughout the book.

The best layman's guide to the pyramids EVER, 06 Jul 1999
Whether your interest in the pyramids is historical, archaeological or esoteric, this has to be the best book available. It's very well written by an author who really knows his subject, and it systematically covers all the pyramid monuments of Egypt. Although the text is scholarly it's also very readable, and each pyramid is covered in a separate section so it's easy to look up a particular pyramid or dip into the book at random. Most importantly, however, it is fabulously illustrated, not just with superb colour photographs but with diagrams and computer reconstructions. For every pyramid there is a map showing its location, and detailed plans and cross sections showing the complete structure and substructure with all the tunnels, shafts and chambers. The book manages to strike a perfect balance between presenting factual detail and stimulating your imagination, and is the next best thing to an actual visit to Egypt. I really can't recommend it highly enough.

Excellent, 06 Mar 2007
I have been to Egypt, the first time was in 1993, and I made my mind up that I'd like to study Egyptology.

Although in my second year of studying Egyptology, during my first year this was one of the books I used to widen my knowledge about all the temples in Ancient Egypt, it wasn't a study book but I was glad to find it. :-)

It's an excellent book for discovering about the temples and it has some fantastic photographs. It's defiantly worth the money. Whether you are studying Egyptology, going away to Egypt for a holiday or just enjoy reading about the Egyptian history it's a fantastic book to give you an insight to what the temples were used for and how they functioned.

It makes an excellent edition to my little Egyptian library, which now stands at nearly 1000 books on this subject. :-)


Well written and illustrated, 16 Jan 2007
Generally, the problem with Egyptology for the starter is that there is little about the Temples that you can visit. There is a great deal about the pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Philae, but little about the purpose and reason for their existence.
Here in one boomis all the known temples, there origins and development.One of the key points about any Egyptian temple: tye were livinbg organisms, forever changing and deverlping, yet the same.
They all have the same items, and usually in the samer place. Here you will find out why tere is a Birth Room, but no one was ever born in the Temple. Where the last hieorglyohic inscription was made.
Well worth the buy, get it if your going to Egypt and want to know more about what you are seeing then is easily found in the average guide.

A must have book for your Egyption collection!, 11 Apr 2001
This book follows the excellent previous titles in the series, well laid out and easy to read. A most valuable reference tool that fills the gap in the market. It gives an excellent insight into the progression of Egyptian buildings over the ceturies. References to interesting facts of the alinments of the temples and how they have changed with the specific movement of steller bodies such as Sirius and the Sun. As I said earlier a must have book, well worth twice the selling price. Richie Wells

Excellent and very easy to use, 01 May 2008
I have seen several books on egyptian heiroglyphs and I have to say this is the best one for beginners by far. Collier takes the reader step by step through the maze which is ancient egyptian language. It explains how to tell which order to read them, how to decipher with relation to context as well as many excercises after each chapter to ensure you can put into practice what you have learnt. For anyone looking to learn this is the book for you!

An excellent book!!, 12 Dec 2005
A brilliant book which is clear, easy to understand, and simple enough for anyone who is dedicated and has an open mind to learn from. I am only 16 years old, so if I can already read simple offering formulas and descriptions of ethical behaviour, most people can. It gets harder as the book progresses but not too hard that I get stuck, and if I am desperate, there are answers to the exercises in the back to help me work out what I have done wrong so I can learn from my mistakes. I am already on chapter 7 and have already had no problems with it, because the teaching is step-by-step until the end of every chapter when there are exercises to do, which are accompanied by vocabulary lists to help transliterate and translate, and in the back of the book there are sign lists with info and even a short dictionary. There is enough in this small book to be able to go to museums or even Egypt itself and impress those around you by the skills you have learnt from this book! This is a perfect start to my career in Egyptology!

Cat Square Squiggle God-symbol, 22 Nov 2005
Well, what title should I give for a book on Egyptian hieroglyphs?

Actually, the information blurb from the Library Journal linked to the book's entry here states: 'Reference collections desiring more complete coverage will want Alan Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar (1957. 3d ed.) despite some obsolescence in the treatment of the verbal system.'

I actually learned hieroglyphs using that text at the University of London in the 1980s. But I have assembled a collection of more accessible books on how to learn hieroglyphs as refreshers and for sharing. I have four texts, and this was the first of the lot.

If you are truly interested in learning Egyptian hieroglyphs for an upcoming trip to Egypt or to visit a museum with a collection (I amazed a friend once by being able to read an inscription at the museum; I confessed that of the hundreds of 'paragraphs' of hieroglyphs in the collection, that that was one of only two I could decipher without my notebook), Collier and Manley's 'How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs' is a good choice for learning.

It begins with a basic description of the way in which hieroglyphs are used (some signs are words, but actually very few, and others are sound-meaning symbols). Collier and Manley introduce a transliteration system to ease your way into pronunciation (and pronunciation is very sketchy, given the fact there are no recordings from ancient Egypt). Symbols can vary occasionally for sound, meaning, and determinative value.

The pattern of hieroglyphs is also variable. Generally, you always want to 'read into the face', i.e., the picto-glyphs will be facing the direction from which to start -- more often right to left than left to right, and columns go top to bottom. There are no punctuation marks and no word breaks -- this can make meanings hard to decipher.

Consider the example:

IAMNOWHERE
which could be broken into
I AM NOW HERE
or
I AM NOWHERE
and in this case, context might not help provide which meaning is the true one. Or perhaps the author is poetical and sees the trouble of distinction and means that trouble to be present.

No wonder hieroglyphs are hard!

Collier and Manley's book is excellent in basic vocabulary building and basic grammar. And, if you're like me and will make flash cards, you'll become a better draw-er too.

There are exercises, and pictures of inscriptions to practice on, and a key to the exercises in the back of the book.

Hieroglyphs, 17 Apr 2005
This book is a good introduction, however it could have been a lot better. The explanations are quite good but it doesn't confirm to the number system of most other books. Which mars what was a good primer. The diagrams were on the whole good. I would say that this was a good book to get people interested. The title is a bit over the top, since you will not be reading that many inscriptions with the information provided. All in all a decent enough book.

Excellent for General Interest or further study, 09 Feb 2005
Brilliant Book. Very detailed and easily used. Parts of it are a little hard going but the effort is worth it when you visit somewhere like the British Museam or Egypt itself.
I enjoyed it so much i took Bill Manleys Class on the book at Glasgow University

Best guide to the Valley, 05 Nov 2002
I have been to the Valley of the Kings now about 15-20 times, and for me it is still one of the most powerful and impressive places in the world. When you consider that some of the most powerful men and women were buried here, in a short period, it leaves you in awe.
Previous to reading this book, I had used the John Rohmer book, Valley of the Kings. This is also a good book, but it is not a guide, it is more a historic introduction to the Valley.
For anyone with not a great knowledge of Luxor or ancient Egypt, this is the perfect guide. It assumes no previous knowledge of the history of the area, and explains it well.
The maps and plans are usful, as they can give you an idea of what is there.

THE COMPLETE ARMCHAIR TRAVELLER, 21 May 2002
Nicholas and Richard have come up trumps yet again. This dynamic duo has put together a superb piece of work that acts as your passport to "The Valley". With this book in your hands you can almost be there and certainly take in fact after fact without heat, flies and sand. However, for anybody visiting The Valley this has got to be in your rucksack as an aide memoire while you seek out the tombs, burial pits and much more. These well-seasoned writers (Nicholas has written a similar book in this series, The Complete Tutankhamun and Richard the Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt) provide plans of tombs, photographs and have gone into fine detail. For those of you who need a reference work I suggest you take a look, I did and I am very happy thank you. This masterpiece has plenty of detail on the finds in each tomb with oodles of background information. The authors also provide you with guidance on which tombs to visit if you have time constraints. For those of you who like to hear and see another point of view, consider reading 'Guide to the Valley of the Kings' by Alberto Siliotti. Alberto captures the bigger picture with a touch more visual emphasis on tomb layout and wall detail. Both of these books are excellent and I would find it difficult to choose one over the other and resulted in my obtaining both!

No Egyptology bookshelf should be without it..., 08 Sep 2000
Any book by Nicholas Reeves is worth reading, and a book by Nicholas Reeves on the Valley of the Kings is a treat indeed.

This is a wonderfully-illustrated, updated and more accessible version of Reeves' hard-to-find, hard-to-read and hard-to-afford Valley of the Kings: Decline of a Royal Necropolis. In other words, it's the only book you'll ever need on the Valley of the Kings in general.

This book fully delivers on it's titled promise of being complete - every aspect of the Valley and its tombs is covered, and if there's something missing here, I can't find it.

Packed with maps, illustrations and photographs, this book is as much a joy to look at as it is to read. Nicholas Reeves has a real passion for the Valley of the Kings and had produced a brilliant and detailed work on its history, excavation, tombs and abandonment.

Read it from cover to cover, use it as a (reliable) reference work, dip into it from time to time...however you use this book, you'll enjoy it.

In my opinion this is one of the very best generally-available books on Ancient Egypt at the moment.

Buildin's, 31 Dec 2008
Mr. Lehner gives us a book, with a mass of technical detail, about the greatest, and most enduring, structures ever built by man. And he is no pyramidiot, givng unprovable but fascinating theories, unlike some other modern authors.
There are maps and illustrations and descriptions of all the major pyramids. The construction details are set out in a logical and easily followed chronological progression. And the whole thing is lightened with the occasionial touch of humour, e.g. one of the gangs engaged in the construction of the Pyramid of Men-Kau-Re is defined as the "Drunkards of M.", - as they called themselves. A book well worth buying, both for the casual reader and the serious student.

The Most Comprehensive Book I Have Read on the Subject, 23 Jan 2008

The author Mark Lehner has written or contributed to a number of historical books, several of them on Egyptian history and this I think is the best of them all. The pyramids were one of the seven wonders of the world and still are one of the world's wonders, although far removed from the glorious sight that they must have been in ancient times.

It is probably true to say that more has been written about the pyramids than any other man made structure on earth and that includes the Great Wall of China and our own Stonehenge. Much of what has been written about the pyramids has been conjecture and to put it kindly stretching the truth to make a good story. The author himself is no stranger to putting forward theories of his own regarding the pyramids and it is up to the reader's how much credence they place in these and other theories. What we do know is that the pyramids were built to precise measurements, so accurate in fact that even today with all the modern building equipment at our disposal we would struggle to emulate the ancient builders. They were also aligned in a particular direction and calculations of where exactly the stars appeared in the Egyptian night sky at the time of their construction, could suggest that at least one of their uses was astronomical

This book quite rightly concentrates on the main Egyptian pyramids and the sphinx and covers all the latest data formulated by today's archaeologists and scientists. This includes how the pyramids were thought to have been built, a Herculean task in itself. Also there are exciting computer generated images of the inside of the pyramids, in fact just about every question you could ask is answered for you in this superb book, even down to a guide for visiting the pyramids themselves.


Excellent, 06 Mar 2007
I have been to Egypt, the first time was in 1993, and I made my mind up that I'd like to study Egyptology.

Although in my second year of studying Egyptology, during my first year this was one of the books I used to widen my knowledge about all the pyramids in Ancient Egypt, it wasn't a study book but I was glad to find it.:-)

It's an excellent book for discovering the pyramids and has some fantastic photographs. It's brings you up to date with the latest discoveries through using modern technology. It's packed with lots of information and covers all the known pyramids up to the time of printing of the book. It's defiantly worth the money.

Whether you are studying Egyptology, going away to Egypt for a holiday or just enjoy reading about the Egyptian history it's a fantastic book to give you an insight to what the pyramids were used for and how they functioned.

It makes an excellent edition to my little Egyptian library, which now stands at nearly 1000 books on this subject. :-)


The Complete Picture, 08 Feb 2006
This has got to be one of the reference books you have in your rucksack when you visit any of the pyramids. I would actually rate this book as “best value” for the wide spectrum of information, photographs and diagrams at your disposal. If you are on a budget or need a starter book this is the one to go for; read it and move on from there.

Mark Lehner has hit the right spot with me with this cracking all round winner. I particularly like the format of “The Complete…” series such as Complete Valley of the Kings and The Complete Tutankhamum because the sections are almost stand alone and allow you to drop in and out at your leisure. This one really is a stormer with approximately 550 illustrations with about 80 in colour.

Mark Lehner was a proponent of alternative theories and was inspired by the sleeping prophet Edgar Cayce. However, Mark found out that linking Atlantis to the Pyramids did not stand up to scientific scrutiny but continued his work with a new found scientific method and joined the ranks of mainstream Egyptologists. The rest is history because this book is written by an accepted academic but readable. I would strongly recommend this book for any readers who enjoy alternative theories regarding the pyramids. You can use this book to form a baseline of generally established facts before accepting the latest interpretation without a point of reference. At the end of the day you are still the judge but at least you have compared it work that has generally undergone peer review.

There book has five main sections: Introduction, Tomb and Temple, Explorers and Scientists, The Whole Pyramid Catalogue and The Living Pyramid. The introduction is a short section providing an overview of pyramid statistics, chronology of Pyramid builders, locations, pyramid profiles and standard pyramid complex.

Tomb and Temple is relatively short and introduces Ka, Ba, burial rituals, the netherworld, pyramid texts, akhet, duat and ben ben stone. This is a brief but sound trip into the myths and rituals of the underworld.

Explorers and Scientists is a relatively short summary of the famous names such as: Herodotus, Manetho, al-Mamum, Abd al-Latif, John Greaves, Benoit de Maillet, Pococke & Norden, Davidson, Napoleon, Belzoni, Caviglia, Vyse, Lepsius, Mariette, Petrie, Symth, Reisner, Borchardt, Emery, Lauer, Firth, and Quibell. A detailed breakdown of recent explorations 1887-1997 is provided along with a summary of recent discoveries.

The Whole Pyramid Catalogue is the largest section in the book and this is where the book opens up in front of you, literally. Some pages are folded back on themselves in order to allow the reader to unfold a four page panoramic view and better experience visually the author’s viewpoints. A combination of maps, line drawings and photographs provides the budding explorer with an armchair experience of the pyramids. From the pictures and diagrams the reader should be better able to construct a minds-eye 3-D image of the major pyramids and have a feel for the layout of passages and chambers.

The living Pyramid explores the possible methods by which the pyramids may have been built, but with emphasis on objective evidence such as tomb relief’s, ramps, ancient tools and NOVA experiments. There is a guidance section offering advise on visiting the pyramids to help the researcher or tourist optimise there time in Giza, Saqqara, Abusir and Meidum. In the closing pages of the book there is an excellent guide to further reading and references to the sources, quotations and illustrations used throughout the book.

The best layman's guide to the pyramids EVER, 06 Jul 1999
Whether your interest in the pyramids is historical, archaeological or esoteric, this has to be the best book available. It's very well written by an author who really knows his subject, and it systematically covers all the pyramid monuments of Egypt. Although the text is scholarly it's also very readable, and each pyramid is covered in a separate section so it's easy to look up a particular pyramid or dip into the book at random. Most importantly, however, it is fabulously illustrated, not just with superb colour photographs but with diagrams and computer reconstructions. For every pyramid there is a map showing its location, and detailed plans and cross sections showing the complete structure and substructure with all the tunnels, shafts and chambers. The book manages to strike a perfect balance between presenting factual detail and stimulating your imagination, and is the next best thing to an actual visit to Egypt. I really can't recommend it highly enough.

Excellent, 06 Mar 2007
I have been to Egypt, the first time was in 1993, and I made my mind up that I'd like to study Egyptology.

Although in my second year of studying Egyptology, during my first year this was one of the books I used to widen my knowledge about all the temples in Ancient Egypt, it wasn't a study book but I was glad to find it. :-)

It's an excellent book for discovering about the temples and it has some fantastic photographs. It's defiantly worth the money. Whether you are studying Egyptology, going away to Egypt for a holiday or just enjoy reading about the Egyptian history it's a fantastic book to give you an insight to what the temples were used for and how they functioned.

It makes an excellent edition to my little Egyptian library, which now stands at nearly 1000 books on this subject. :-)


Well written and illustrated, 16 Jan 2007
Generally, the problem with Egyptology for the starter is that there is little about the Temples that you can visit. There is a great deal about the pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Philae, but little about the purpose and reason for their existence.
Here in one boomis all the known temples, there origins and development.One of the key points about any Egyptian temple: tye were livinbg organisms, forever changing and deverlping, yet the same.
They all have the same items, and usually in the samer place. Here you will find out why tere is a Birth Room, but no one was ever born in the Temple. Where the last hieorglyohic inscription was made.
Well worth the buy, get it if your going to Egypt and want to know more about what you are seeing then is easily found in the average guide.

A must have book for your Egyption collection!, 11 Apr 2001
This book follows the excellent previous titles in the series, well laid out and easy to read. A most valuable reference tool that fills the gap in the market. It gives an excellent insight into the progression of Egyptian buildings over the ceturies. References to interesting facts of the alinments of the temples and how they have changed with the specific movement of steller bodies such as Sirius and the Sun. As I said earlier a must have book, well worth twice the selling price. Richie Wells

The Best Book on the Pharaohs of Egypt, 11 Dec 2008
This book has been translated into nearly 20 languages thus far and is in my opinion the best book ever written on the pharaohs. Peter A. Clayton is a member of the Society of Antiquaries in Burlington House, Piccadilly, and regularly gives lectures on tours in Egpyt. The layout of the book is wonderfully intuitive and Chronicle of the Pharaohs is one of the most consulted books in my own personal library as a general reference tool on Egypt and the Pharaohs. Especially useful is that Clayton provides the most important cartouches next to the name of each Pharaoh, something which, e.g. the very weak British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt does not do.

Excellent and very easy to use, 01 May 2008
I have seen several books on egyptian heiroglyphs and I have to say this is the best one for beginners by far. Collier takes the reader step by step through the maze which is ancient egyptian language. It explains how to tell which order to read them, how to decipher with relation to context as well as many excercises after each chapter to ensure you can put into practice what you have learnt. For anyone looking to learn this is the book for you!

An excellent book!!, 12 Dec 2005
A brilliant book which is clear, easy to understand, and simple enough for anyone who is dedicated and has an open mind to learn from. I am only 16 years old, so if I can already read simple offering formulas and descriptions of ethical behaviour, most people can. It gets harder as the book progresses but not too hard that I get stuck, and if I am desperate, there are answers to the exercises in the back to help me work out what I have done wrong so I can learn from my mistakes. I am already on chapter 7 and have already had no problems with it, because the teaching is step-by-step until the end of every chapter when there are exercises to do, which are accompanied by vocabulary lists to help transliterate and translate, and in the back of the book there are sign lists with info and even a short dictionary. There is enough in this small book to be able to go to museums or even Egypt itself and impress those around you by the skills you have learnt from this book! This is a perfect start to my career in Egyptology!

Cat Square Squiggle God-symbol, 22 Nov 2005
Well, what title should I give for a book on Egyptian hieroglyphs?

Actually, the information blurb from the Library Journal linked to the book's entry here states: 'Reference collections desiring more complete coverage will want Alan Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar (1957. 3d ed.) despite some obsolescence in the treatment of the verbal system.'

I actually learned hieroglyphs using that text at the University of London in the 1980s. But I have assembled a collection of more accessible books on how to learn hieroglyphs as refreshers and for sharing. I have four texts, and this was the first of the lot.

If you are truly interested in learning Egyptian hieroglyphs for an upcoming trip to Egypt or to visit a museum with a collection (I amazed a friend once by being able to read an inscription at the museum; I confessed that of the hundreds of 'paragraphs' of hieroglyphs in the collection, that that was one of only two I could decipher without my notebook), Collier and Manley's 'How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs' is a good choice for learning.

It begins with a basic description of the way in which hieroglyphs are used (some signs are words, but actually very few, and others are sound-meaning symbols). Collier and Manley introduce a transliteration system to ease your way into pronunciation (and pronunciation is very sketchy, given the fact there are no recordings from ancient Egypt). Symbols can vary occasionally for sound, meaning, and determinative value.

The pattern of hieroglyphs is also variable. Generally, you always want to 'read into the face', i.e., the picto-glyphs will be facing the direction from which to start -- more often right to left than left to right, and columns go top to bottom. There are no punctuation marks and no word breaks -- this can make meanings hard to decipher.

Consider the example:

IAMNOWHERE
which could be broken into
I AM NOW HERE
or
I AM NOWHERE
and in this case, context might not help provide which meaning is the true one. Or perhaps the author is poetical and sees the trouble of distinction and means that trouble to be present.

No wonder hieroglyphs are hard!

Collier and Manley's book is excellent in basic vocabulary building and basic grammar. And, if you're like me and will make flash cards, you'll become a better draw-er too.

There are exercises, and pictures of inscriptions to practice on, and a key to the exercises in the back of the book.

Hieroglyphs, 17 Apr 2005
This book is a good introduction, however it could have been a lot better. The explanations are quite good but it doesn't confirm to the number system of most other books. Which mars what was a good primer. The diagrams were on the whole good. I would say that this was a good book to get people interested. The title is a bit over the top, since you will not be reading that many inscriptions with the information provided. All in all a decent enough book.

Excellent for General Interest or further study, 09 Feb 2005
Brilliant Book. Very detailed and easily used. Parts of it are a little hard going but the effort is worth it when you visit somewhere like the British Museam or Egypt itself.
I enjoyed it so much i took Bill Manleys Class on the book at Glasgow University

Best guide to the Valley, 05 Nov 2002
I have been to the Valley of the Kings now about 15-20 times, and for me it is still one of the most powerful and impressive places in the world. When you consider that some of the most powerful men and women were buried here, in a short period, it leaves you in awe.
Previous to reading this book, I had used the John Rohmer book, Valley of the Kings. This is also a good book, but it is not a guide, it is more a historic introduction to the Valley.
For anyone with not a great knowledge of Luxor or ancient Egypt, this is the perfect guide. It assumes no previous knowledge of the history of the area, and explains it well.
The maps and plans are usful, as they can give you an idea of what is there.

THE COMPLETE ARMCHAIR TRAVELLER, 21 May 2002
Nicholas and Richard have come up trumps yet again. This dynamic duo has put together a superb piece of work that acts as your passport to "The Valley". With this book in your hands you can almost be there and certainly take in fact after fact without heat, flies and sand. However, for anybody visiting The Valley this has got to be in your rucksack as an aide memoire while you seek out the tombs, burial pits and much more. These well-seasoned writers (Nicholas has written a similar book in this series, The Complete Tutankhamun and Richard the Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt) provide plans of tombs, photographs and have gone into fine detail. For those of you who need a reference work I suggest you take a look, I did and I am very happy thank you. This masterpiece has plenty of detail on the finds in each tomb with oodles of background information. The authors also provide you with guidance on which tombs to visit if you have time constraints. For those of you who like to hear and see another point of view, consider reading 'Guide to the Valley of the Kings' by Alberto Siliotti. Alberto captures the bigger picture with a touch more visual emphasis on tomb layout and wall detail. Both of these books are excellent and I would find it difficult to choose one over the other and resulted in my obtaining both!

No Egyptology bookshelf should be without it..., 08 Sep 2000
Any book by Nicholas Reeves is worth reading, and a book by Nicholas Reeves on the Valley of the Kings is a treat indeed.

This is a wonderfully-illustrated, updated and more accessible version of Reeves' hard-to-find, hard-to-read and hard-to-afford Valley of the Kings: Decline of a Royal Necropolis. In other words, it's the only book you'll ever need on the Valley of the Kings in general.

This book fully delivers on it's titled promise of being complete - every aspect of the Valley and its tombs is covered, and if there's something missing here, I can't find it.

Packed with maps, illustrations and photographs, this book is as much a joy to look at as it is to read. Nicholas Reeves has a real passion for the Valley of the Kings and had produced a brilliant and detailed work on its history, excavation, tombs and abandonment.

Read it from cover to cover, use it as a (reliable) reference work, dip into it from time to time...however you use this book, you'll enjoy it.

In my opinion this is one of the very best generally-available books on Ancient Egypt at the moment.

Buildin's, 31 Dec 2008
Mr. Lehner gives us a book, with a mass of technical detail, about the greatest, and most enduring, structures ever built by man. And he is no pyramidiot, givng unprovable but fascinating theories, unlike some other modern authors.
There are maps and illustrations and descriptions of all the major pyramids. The construction details are set out in a logical and easily followed chronological progression. And the whole thing is lightened with the occasionial touch of humour, e.g. one of the gangs engaged in the construction of the Pyramid of Men-Kau-Re is defined as the "Drunkards of M.", - as they called themselves. A book well worth buying, both for the casual reader and the serious student.

The Most Comprehensive Book I Have Read on the Subject, 23 Jan 2008

The author Mark Lehner has written or contributed to a number of historical books, several of them on Egyptian history and this I think is the best of them all. The pyramids were one of the seven wonders of the world and still are one of the world's wonders, although far removed from the glorious sight that they must have been in ancient times.

It is probably true to say that more has been written about the pyramids than any other man made structure on earth and that includes the Great Wall of China and our own Stonehenge. Much of what has been written about the pyramids has been conjecture and to put it kindly stretching the truth to make a good story. The author himself is no stranger to putting forward theories of his own regarding the pyramids and it is up to the reader's how much credence they place in these and other theories. What we do know is that the pyramids were built to precise measurements, so accurate in fact that even today with all the modern building equipment at our disposal we would struggle to emulate the ancient builders. They were also aligned in a particular direction and calculations of where exactly the stars appeared in the Egyptian night sky at the time of their construction, could suggest that at least one of their uses was astronomical

This book quite rightly concentrates on the main Egyptian pyramids and the sphinx and covers all the latest data formulated by today's archaeologists and scientists. This includes how the pyramids were thought to have been built, a Herculean task in itself. Also there are exciting computer generated images of the inside of the pyramids, in fact just about every question you could ask is answered for you in this superb book, even down to a guide for visiting the pyramids themselves.


Excellent, 06 Mar 2007
I have been to Egypt, the first time was in 1993, and I made my mind up that I'd like to study Egyptology.

Although in my second year of studying Egyptology, during my first year this was one of the books I used to widen my knowledge about all the pyramids in Ancient Egypt, it wasn't a study book but I was glad to find it.:-)

It's an excellent book for discovering the pyramids and has some fantastic photographs. It's brings you up to date with the latest discoveries through using modern technology. It's packed with lots of information and covers all the known pyramids up to the time of printing of the book. It's defiantly worth the money.

Whether you are studying Egyptology, going away to Egypt for a holiday or just enjoy reading about the Egyptian history it's a fantastic book to give you an insight to what the pyramids were used for and how they functioned.

It makes an excellent edition to my little Egyptian library, which now stands at nearly 1000 books on this subject. :-)


The Complete Picture, 08 Feb 2006
This has got to be one of the reference books you have in your rucksack when you visit any of the pyramids. I would actually rate this book as “best value” for the wide spectrum of information, photographs and diagrams at your disposal. If you are on a budget or need a starter book this is the one to go for; read it and move on from there.

Mark Lehner has hit the right spot with me with this cracking all round winner. I particularly like the format of “The Complete…” series such as Complete Valley of the Kings and The Complete Tutankhamum because the sections are almost stand alone and allow you to drop in and out at your leisure. This one really is a stormer with approximately 550 illustrations with about 80 in colour.

Mark Lehner was a proponent of alternative theories and was inspired by the sleeping prophet Edgar Cayce. However, Mark found out that linking Atlantis to the Pyramids did not stand up to scientific scrutiny but continued his work with a new found scientific method and joined the ranks of mainstream Egyptologists. The rest is history because this book is written by an accepted academic but readable. I would strongly recommend this book for any readers who enjoy alternative theories regarding the pyramids. You can use this book to form a baseline of generally established facts before accepting the latest interpretation without a point of reference. At the end of the day you are still the judge but at least you have compared it work that has generally undergone peer review.

There book has five main sections: Introduction, Tomb and Temple, Explorers and Scientists, The Whole Pyramid Catalogue and The Living Pyramid. The introduction is a short section providing an overview of pyramid statistics, chronology of Pyramid builders, locations, pyramid profiles and standard pyramid complex.

Tomb and Temple is relatively short and introduces Ka, Ba, burial rituals, the netherworld, pyramid texts, akhet, duat and ben ben stone. This is a brief but sound trip into the myths and rituals of the underworld.

Explorers and Scientists is a relatively short summary of the famous names such as: Herodotus, Manetho, al-Mamum, Abd al-Latif, John Greaves, Benoit de Maillet, Pococke & Norden, Davidson, Napoleon, Belzoni, Caviglia, Vyse, Lepsius, Mariette, Petrie, Symth, Reisner, Borchardt, Emery, Lauer, Firth, and Quibell. A detailed breakdown of recent explorations 1887-1997 is provided along with a summary of recent discoveries.

The Whole Pyramid Catalogue is the largest section in the book and this is where the book opens up in front of you, literally. Some pages are folded back on themselves in order to allow the reader to unfold a four page panoramic view and better experience visually the author’s viewpoints. A combination of maps, line drawings and photographs provides the budding explorer with an armchair experience of the pyramids. From the pictures and diagrams the reader should be better able to construct a minds-eye 3-D image of the major pyramids and have a feel for the layout of passages and chambers.

The living Pyramid explores the possible methods by which the pyramids may have been built, but with emphasis on objective evidence such as tomb relief’s, ramps, ancient tools and NOVA experiments. There is a guidance section offering advise on visiting the pyramids to help the researcher or tourist optimise there time in Giza, Saqqara, Abusir and Meidum. In the closing pages of the book there is an excellent guide to further reading and references to the sources, quotations and illustrations used throughout the book.

The best layman's guide to the pyramids EVER, 06 Jul 1999
Whether your interest in the pyramids is historical, archaeological or esoteric, this has to be the best book available. It's very well written by an author who really knows his subject, and it systematically covers all the pyramid monuments of Egypt. Although the text is scholarly it's also very readable, and each pyramid is covered in a separate section so it's easy to look up a particular pyramid or dip into the book at random. Most importantly, however, it is fabulously illustrated, not just with superb colour photographs but with diagrams and computer reconstructions. For every pyramid there is a map showing its location, and detailed plans and cross sections showing the complete structure and substructure with all the tunnels, shafts and chambers. The book manages to strike a perfect balance between presenting factual detail and stimulating your imagination, and is the next best thing to an actual visit to Egypt. I really can't recommend it highly enough.

Excellent, 06 Mar 2007
I have been to Egypt, the first time was in 1993, and I made my mind up that I'd like to study Egyptology.

Although in my second year of studying Egyptology, during my first year this was one of the books I used to widen my knowledge about all the temples in Ancient Egypt, it wasn't a study book but I was glad to find it. :-)

It's an excellent book for discovering about the temples and it has some fantastic photographs. It's defiantly worth the money. Whether you are studying Egyptology, going away to Egypt for a holiday or just enjoy reading about the Egyptian history it's a fantastic book to give you an insight to what the temples were used for and how they functioned.

It makes an excellent edition to my little Egyptian library, which now stands at nearly 1000 books on this subject. :-)


Well written and illustrated, 16 Jan 2007
Generally, the problem with Egyptology for the starter is that there is little about the Temples that you can visit. There is a great deal about the pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Philae, but little about the purpose and reason for their existence.
Here in one boomis all the known temples, there origins and development.One of the key points about any Egyptian temple: tye were livinbg organisms, forever changing and deverlping, yet the same.
They all have the same items, and usually in the samer place. Here you will find out why tere is a Birth Room, but no one was ever born in the Temple. Where the last hieorglyohic inscription was made.
Well worth the buy, get it if your going to Egypt and want to know more about what you are seeing then is easily found in the average guide.

A must have book for your Egyption collection!, 11 Apr 2001
This book follows the excellent previous titles in the series, well laid out and easy to read. A most valuable reference tool that fills the gap in the market. It gives an excellent insight into the progression of Egyptian buildings over the ceturies. References to interesting facts of the alinments of the temples and how they have changed with the specific movement of steller bodies such as Sirius and the Sun. As I said earlier a must have book, well worth twice the selling price. Richie Wells

The Best Book on the Pharaohs of Egypt, 11 Dec 2008
This book has been translated into nearly 20 languages thus far and is in my opinion the best book ever written on the pharaohs. Peter A. Clayton is a member of the Society of Antiquaries in Burlington House, Piccadilly, and regularly gives lectures on tours in Egpyt. The layout of the book is wonderfully intuitive and Chronicle of the Pharaohs is one of the most consulted books in my own personal library as a general reference tool on Egypt and the Pharaohs. Especially useful is that Clayton provides the most important cartouches next to the name of each Pharaoh, something which, e.g. the very weak British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt does not do.

Better value than from the exhibition!, 23 Jan 2008
If you have been to or going to the exhibition at the 02 this is basically the identical book (same ISBN) as they are selling in the gift shop for £35.00. The only difference is that the Amazon one does not have the Omar Sharif audio disk included and it has a different slipcover. In my opinion the audio is great when you are actually walking round the exhibition but standalone it is of no great shakes. This book is a great souvenir of the exhibition, maybe not the most educational but beautifully photographed, would grace any coffee table! Save your cash go to the exhibition and buy the book on line!

great! ...but a little limited, 03 Dec 2007

i bought this for my girlfriend for an extra christmas present. although i am yet to delve in properly, it has a great collection of images and the text is easy to read, broken down well and complimented by maps of burial sites etc. the only faults i can bring up, are that the information about tutunkhamun himself is a bit limited and most of the book describes of the treasures found. still an interesting read and what there is of a high quality, especially the photos which are highly detailed.

i only spent 14.99 on this elsewhere other than amazon, so it's well worth the money spent. hence why the 5 stars :)

No more please!, 09 Nov 2007
Does Zahi Hawass really write this stuff? I thought he was an Egyptologist with a job to do. Instead his name is on every flippin' book and documentary coming out of Egypt -- he is a one-man self-publicizing campaign. And the text is no good anyway, though the pictures, taken by somebody else, are OK.

Glossy and Superficial, 05 Nov 2007
This is a glossy and superficial book which makes an OK souvenir, and the sort of thing to have on hand when you spend time in the loo.

fantastic photos, 23 Jul 2007
This is a wonderful book packed with sumptuous photographs - most of them a whole page in size so you can really see all the details of the artifacts. I also thought the information was imparted in an easy-to-read way. This is a big beautiful book - well worth the money.

Excellent and very easy to use, 01 May 2008
I have seen several books on egyptian heiroglyphs and I have to say this is the best one for beginners by far. Collier takes the reader step by step through the maze which is ancient egyptian language. It explains how to tell which order to read them, how to decipher with relation to context as well as many excercises after each chapter to ensure you can put into practice what you have learnt. For anyone looking to learn this is the book for you!

An excellent book!!, 12 Dec 2005
A brilliant book which is clear, easy to understand, and simple enough for anyone who is dedicated and has an open mind to learn from. I am only 16 years old, so if I can already read simple offering formulas and descriptions of ethical behaviour, most people can. It gets harder as the book progresses but not too hard that I get stuck, and if I am desperate, there are answers to the exercises in the back to help me work out what I have done wrong so I can learn from my mistakes. I am already on chapter 7 and have already had no problems with it, because the teaching is step-by-step until the end of every chapter when there are exercises to do, which are accompanied by vocabulary lists to help transliterate and translate, and in the back of the book there are sign lists with info and even a short dictionary. There is enough in this small book to be able to go to museums or even Egypt itself and impress those around you by the skills you have learnt from this book! This is a perfect start to my career in Egyptology!

Cat Square Squiggle God-symbol, 22 Nov 2005
Well, what title should I give for a book on Egyptian hieroglyphs?

Actually, the information blurb from the Library Journal linked to the book's entry here states: 'Reference collections desiring more complete coverage will want Alan Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar (1957. 3d ed.) despite some obsolescence in the treatment of the verbal system.'

I actually learned hieroglyphs using that text at the University of London in the 1980s. But I have assembled a collection of more accessible books on how to learn hieroglyphs as refreshers and for sharing. I have four texts, and this was the first of the lot.

If you are truly interested in learning Egyptian hieroglyphs for an upcoming trip to Egypt or to visit a museum with a collection (I amazed a friend once by being able to read an inscription at the museum; I confessed that of the hundreds of 'paragraphs' of hieroglyphs in the collection, that that was one of only two I could decipher without my notebook), Collier and Manley's 'How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs' is a good choice for learning.

It begins with a basic description of the way in which hieroglyphs are used (some signs are words, but actually very few, and others are sound-meaning symbols). Collier and Manley introduce a transliteration system to ease your way into pronunciation (and pronunciation is very sketchy, given the fact there are no recordings from ancient Egypt). Symbols can vary occasionally for sound, meaning, and determinative value.

The pattern of hieroglyphs is also variable. Generally, you always want to 'read into the face', i.e., the picto-glyphs will be facing the direction from which to start -- more often right to left than left to right, and columns go top to bottom. There are no punctuation marks and no word breaks -- this can make meanings hard to decipher.

Consider the example:

IAMNOWHERE
which could be broken into
I AM NOW HERE
or
I AM NOWHERE
and in this case, context might not help provide which meaning is the true one. Or perhaps the author is poetical and sees the trouble of distinction and means that trouble to be present.

No wonder hieroglyphs are hard!

Collier and Manley's book is excellent in basic vocabulary building and basic grammar. And, if you're like me and will make flash cards, you'll become a better draw-er too.

There are exercises, and pictures of inscriptions to practice on, and a key to the exercises in the back of the book.

Hieroglyphs, 17 Apr 2005
This book is a good introduction, however it could have been a lot better. The explanations are quite good but it doesn't confirm to the number system of most other books. Which mars what was a good primer. The diagrams were on the whole good. I would say that this was a good book to get people interested. The title is a bit over the top, since you will not be reading that many inscriptions with the information provided. All in all a decent enough book.

Excellent for General Interest or further study, 09 Feb 2005
Brilliant Book. Very detailed and easily used. Parts of it are a little hard going but the effort is worth it when you visit somewhere like the British Museam or Egypt itself.
I enjoyed it