Pyramid Quest: Secrets of the Great Pyramid and the Dawn of Civilization

This is another of a series of similar books that I have read from the "alternative camp", or those researchers and authors like Robert Bauval, Graham Hancock, and John Anthony West whose views and theories on the age and origin of the sphinx, and the pyramids, differ from the orthodox view of most Egyptologists. Their basic position is that the sphinx and possibly the pyramids, are ancient; far more ancient than is commonly accepted by the scientific community, and that the sphinx and the pyramids are the product of an ancient and lost civilization far more advanced than the Egyptians. Schock is a geologist and Ph.D. who was brought to Giza by John Anthony West and who together with West rocked the scientific community in the 1990's by dating the sphinx to as old as 10,500 B.C. by studying the damage to the sphinx's body and the sphinx enclosure and theorizing that it was caused by water erosion during a time some 7,000 years ago when the Nile valley received copious amounts of rainfall. McNally is a writer and a poet with an interest in ancient civilizations. Together they present an intriguing and captivating view of the "alternative camp" on prehistoric cultured societies; the age of the Giza plateau; its builders; mathematical constants such as pi and phi, as well as other secret knowledge, built into the pyramids; the celestial alignments of the pyramids, the great pyramid in particular; and the science of the construction of the pyramids. Almost a third of the book is appendixes intended to support this view and go into detail on the pyramid's internal and external dimensions, dimension ratios, geometry, and trigonometry. They trace the foundation of the Great pyramid to an Egyptian sacred site 7,000 B.C. and suggest that the pyramids were never used as tombs by rather for ritual training, initiations, and other mystical or cultic purposes. I'm bias because I love this kind of stuff, and although not the best book I've read by the "alternative camp", I found this to be a great read.

THis is the best book I own showing the chambers and general blueprint of the great pyramids. It is a wonderful book to keep on the coffee table!

Pyramid Quest:Secrets of the Great Pyramid and the Dawn of Civilization by Dr. Robert M. Schoch TARCHER/PENGUIN June 2005 ISBN: 1585424056 Review by Dr. Colette M. Dowell Egypt with her Sphinx, Pyramids and Temples has been revered as the cradle of civilization and her Ancient Wisdom teachings have long been sought for their secrets and mysteries. Throughout millenniums the Great Pyramid of `Khufu' has been acknowledged as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and recognized as the last to remain. Its location situated on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile claims yet another great monumental sculpture known as the Great Sphinx attributed to the Old Kingdom's 4th Dynasty, while Pharaoh Khafre was in reign c. 2500 B.C. The Pharaoh Khafre is thought to be the son of the Pharaoh Khufu. Many people have come to Egypt to take her land, treasures and ancient knowledge of science, wisdom and culture. Some have come, as nations conquering her for her plentiful-ness and glory at the same time destroying that which they were trying to possess. Others have come to acquire and understand the mystique of Pharaonic and Ancient Egyptian philosophy. One man has journalized his quest of seeking answers to questions, riddles and thoughts and has written a book on what he and others have discovered and theorized upon. This man is a geologist named Dr. Robert M. Schoch. His latest book outlining these new discoveries and theories is appropriately titled Pyramid Quest. Schoch is first known for his collaborative work with Egyptologist John Anthony West in the early 1990s concerning the re-dating of the Great Sphinx to an earlier date, prior to c. 2500 B.C. as held traditionally in Egyptian and World history. Their collaborated work originally developed from R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz's lifetime research of Egyptian Monuments, Science, Philosophy and Culture. In Schwaller's studies he speaks of Egypt being far more advanced and ancient then traditionally thought. One of Schwaller's most remarkable observations notated was his view of the Great Sphinx as being sculpted much earlier than c. 2500 B.C. and not originally in the reign of Khafre or even attributable to the 4th Dynasty of Egypt. Schwaller observed water erosion wearing the Sphinx, which had to start from an earlier time when the lands of Egypt were wetter, with more water, prior c. 3000 B.C. With Schoch being a geologist along with West's knowledge they were able to conduct a series of geological studies and seismic surveys revealing the Great Sphinx to be much older (c. 5000 - 7000 B.C.) and the erosion factor being that of water-rain and not that of wind. From that moment of realization Dr. Schoch has continuously searched and furthered his interests and curiosities. His initial findings on the Sphinx have led him on a trail throughout Ancient Egypt to the steps of the Great Pyramid. Schoch has no

Pyramid Quest could only have been written by a scientist, but anyone who has ever been fascinated by the pyramids of Egypt will find it intrigueing and enlightening! In addition to being a geologist of total integrity and a superb author, Dr. Schoch is also a master of Egyptology, Ancient History, Archaeoastrology, and the mysteries of the "old religion". All of these topics make the book pure joy for any seeker of Truth! Spellbinding! This book explains it all.

Pyramid Quest is an excellent inquiry into ancient wisdom, truth, and the mysteries, not only of The Great Pyramid, but of life itself. It is an amazingly well written measurement of man's quest for meaning. Dr. Schoch powerfully outlines, describes, and captures the heart of the mystery that is The Great Pyramid.