The Egyptians' massive stone monuments, ranging from Abu Simbel in the south to Cleopatra's palaces in Alexandria, were built over a period of three millennia, and yet a common architectural tradition links them all. Dieter Arnold documents that tradition and provides a single-volume reference to one of the most remarkable architectures of the ancient world. Separate entries are provided for each of the most important sites, covering monuments as diverse as the Step Pyramid of Djoser (the world's first significant stone building), the tombs of the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari and the great temples that line the Upper Nile. Every aspect of building design and construction is considered, covering technical aspects such as building materials (from reed and mud-brick to sandstone and granite) and construction techniques (including pyramid building and the erection of obelisks). With more than 600 entries and 350 illustrations, this encyclopaedia provides a comprehensive perspective on ancient Egyptian architecture and is destined to become the standard reference on the subject for many years.publiarq.com