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Atlantis and the Ten Plagues of Egypt: The Secret History Hidden in the Valley of the Kings

Atlantis and the Ten Plagues of Egypt: The Secret History Hidden in the Valley of the Kings

List Price: $20.00
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Rating: 1 stars
Summary:

Plausibly argued?

Review:
That's the quote from the Times Literary Supplement.

If this book is "plausibly argued", then what ISN'T plausibly argued? One has to wonder whether the British press ever credibly criticizes anything that is dreamed up by a Briton. Darwin has been enshrined as a secular deity, the Replacement hypothesis -- a racial superiority model -- has been embraced wholeheartedly, the Piltdown Hoax was immediately accepted and remained so for years, a British astronomer allegedly proved Einstein, but did not have definitive observations...

Ideas from Immanuel Velikovsky's "Oedipus and Akhenaten" are borrowed (ahem) by Phillips, but so is all the ridiculous "Moses was Akhenaten" nonsense that has swilled out of many a pen, along with "the Exodus took place when Thera erupted" fiction. The author then adds that the tale of Atlantis really did originate in Egypt as Plato says, but refers to events taking place in the north.

There was no titantic eruption on Thera in the 17th, 16th, or 15th century BC. As more rational scientists have noted, the caldera on Thera formed in prehistoric times, and probably not all at once. Furthermore, the ruins were not buried under dozens of meters of volcanic crud, despite the fact that the allegedly much less energetic Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD covered the surrounding area with much more mud and ash.

Add to this the growing realization that the Linear B writing was still in use until the 2nd c BC (Latin loan words have been identified), and that Herodotus mentions no eruption or break in occupation at Thera (he discusses the island), while one (just one) later historian records an eruption circa 200 BC.

The fact that the conventional pseudochronology is used is not in the book's favor, either. I have to think that this author is just cashing in on the wave of books featuring implausible revised antiquity. Amarna arose because Akhenaten's grandfather reintroduced worship of the Aten, reviving it from the Old Kingdom. By the time Akhenaten took the throne there was an ambitious priesthood, and a megalomaniac pharaoh. Akhenaten did nothing but play at being a god while the empire he'd inherited crumbled. Pleas for help preserved in the diplomatic archive found at Amarna were not answered.

On a positive note, the author does seem to give short shrift to one implausibility from the scholarly world -- that Nefertiti didn't die, but became the pharaoh Smenkhare.



Rating: 1 stars
Summary:

Plausibly argued?

Review:
That's the quote from the Times Literary Supplement.

If this book is "plausibly argued", then what ISN'T plausibly argued? One has to wonder whether the British press ever credibly criticizes anything that is dreamed up by a Briton. Darwin has been enshrined as a secular deity, the Replacement hypothesis -- a racial superiority model -- has been embraced wholeheartedly, the Piltdown Hoax was immediately accepted and remained so for years, a British astronomer allegedly proved Einstein, but did not have definitive observations...

Ideas from Immanuel Velikovsky's "Oedipus and Akhenaten" are borrowed (ahem) by Phillips, but so is all the ridiculous "Moses was Akhenaten" nonsense that has swilled out of many a pen, along with "the Exodus took place when Thera erupted" fiction. The author then adds that the tale of Atlantis really did originate in Egypt as Plato says, but refers to events taking place in the north.

There was no titantic eruption on Thera in the 17th, 16th, or 15th century BC. As more rational scientists have noted, the caldera on Thera formed in prehistoric times, and probably not all at once. Furthermore, the ruins were not buried under dozens of meters of volcanic crud, despite the fact that the allegedly much less energetic Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD covered the surrounding area with much more mud and ash.

Add to this the growing realization that the Linear B writing was still in use until the 2nd c BC (Latin loan words have been identified), and that Herodotus mentions no eruption or break in occupation at Thera (he discusses the island), while one (just one) later historian records an eruption circa 200 BC.

The fact that the conventional pseudochronology is used is not in the book's favor, either. I have to think that this author is just cashing in on the wave of books featuring implausible revised antiquity. Amarna arose because Akhenaten's grandfather reintroduced worship of the Aten, reviving it from the Old Kingdom. By the time Akhenaten took the throne there was an ambitious priesthood, and a megalomaniac pharaoh. Akhenaten did nothing but play at being a god while the empire he'd inherited crumbled. Pleas for help preserved in the diplomatic archive found at Amarna were not answered.

On a positive note, the author does seem to give short shrift to one implausibility from the scholarly world -- that Nefertiti didn't die, but became the pharaoh Smenkhare.



Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A fantastic historical detective story
Review: Graham Phillips is an absolutely brilliant writer and brings history to life in a way that no other author I know of can. In this remarkable book he reveals compelling evidence that the Ten Plagues of the Exodus were real, historical events. If anyone finds that difficult to believe then I suggest you read it. In my opinion there is no doubt that Graham has cracked one of history's most extraordinary mysteries.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Egyptian history brought back to life
Review: If you were fed up with books about Ancient Egypt and never thought you would read one again, then try this. It is a really fascinating read. In short, the theme is that Exodus plagues of the Bible were true events caused by a natural catastrophe, but there is far more here that is enlightening and engaging. The author examines the period when the Exodus appears to be set - sometime in the fourteenth century BC - and, by using the records that survive from that time, he paints a vivid picture of one of the most fascinating and little understood eras of human history: when the idea of a single god first became a part of organized religion. He also proposes answers to a number of historical enigmas, such as the identity of the real Moses and the truth behind the Atlantis legend, and introduces a new mystery of his own - that the famous facemask of Tutankhamun does not represent the king at all but his scheming brother. In my opinion, this last riddle alone makes the book well worth reading.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An Egyptian blockbuster - It has to be
Review: It begins with the opening of the strangest tomb ever found in the Valley of the Kings. A mummy whose name has been erased and its soul bound by talismans of magical protection. An ancient Egyptian who was so feared that the priesthood thought they had to imprison his spirit for all time. It all sounds like fiction - but it's not. Each detail of the find is preserved in the writings of the archaeologists who found it and can still be read today. It is remarkable that no one has brought the details of this discovery to light before. This alone would make a great movie. But it's only the beginning.

His quest to discover the identity of this mummy and the reasons for its strange and unique form of burial, leads the author to make what must be the most astonishing series of discoveries about Egyptian history that have ever been made. Moses, the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea and the Exodus really occurred as described in the Bible. Beyond belief? Graham Phillips produces archaeological, historical and scientific evidence to prove it. This too would also make a fantastic movie in its own right. But it doesn't end there. The author discovers that these events were the result of a gigantic volcanic cataclysm that also created the legend of Atlantis. Another movie here!

Ultimately, Phillips returns to the mysterious mummy, concluding that it was the earthly remains of the man whose evil influence was deemed responsible for the catastrophe - a forgotten Egyptian king named Smenkhkare, the brother of Tutankhamun. Finally, he reveals the most incredible fact of all. The fabulous treasures found in Tut's tomb were originally intended for his brother's tomb and the death mask of Tutankhamun - probably the most famous historical artifact ever found - really bears the face of Smenkhkare - the most feared man in Egyptian history. Yet another movie! Why and how this came to be, would be giving away a nail-biting finale of this well-written, well-researched and page-turner of a book.

This book has been in publication for over a year. If it is not in pre-production for a big-budget movie by now I would be very surprised. I reckon that sometime in the next couple of years this will be a blockbuster to rival National Treasure. Remember who said it first.


Rating: 3 stars
Summary: fact and fiction
Review: This book is a mix of fact and fiction, but then again many books today are like that. My advice to you is be skeptical about any author that he knows the truth of a major historical event. IF any real truth is found, the media and many REAL scholars such as arecheologists and university professors will be talking about it.
There are many books that talk what really happened to Tutankamen, and his brother. Weather he really is Moses, there is simply not enough proof. maybe yes, maybe no.
After reading the Da Vinci Code, it makes one think. What really is true. Is history really fabricated by the World Elite and secretly held by Secret Societies.
Well, people certainly buy the books that says the later, if they continue to sell, publishers will keep coming out with it.
If you really want to learn the truth. Go to Egypt on a tour and see for yourself. There is nothing like personal experience. BEst of luck and happy treasure hunting!!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great book ? title confusing
Review: This book is a real gem. Graham Phillips' revelation that the golden face mask on the coffin of Tutankhamun does not depict the famous boy king is truly fascinating. I can't believe that no one has noticed it before. Just compare it with the famous death mask - it clearly is not the same. I also found it remarkable that no one has realized that the ten plagues of Egypt so resemble the effects of volcanic fallout before.

Keep up the good work Mr. Phillips - and keep everybody on their toes.

The only thing I don't quite understand is the title. Atlantis does not seem to have anything to do with this book, apart from on one page.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great book ¿ title confusing
Review: This book is a real gem. Graham Phillips' revelation that the golden face mask on the coffin of Tutankhamun does not depict the famous boy king is truly fascinating. I can't believe that no one has noticed it before. Just compare it with the famous death mask - it clearly is not the same. I also found it remarkable that no one has realized that the ten plagues of Egypt so resemble the effects of volcanic fallout before.

Keep up the good work Mr. Phillips - and keep everybody on their toes.

The only thing I don't quite understand is the title. Atlantis does not seem to have anything to do with this book, apart from on one page.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A catastrophe theory that no longer sounds so improbable.
Review: This is a cleverly written historical detective story set against a backdrop of in-depth and scholarly research. The author finds archaeological and scientific evidence to suggest that certain seemingly unbelievable destructive events recorded in the Old Testament really occurred. To give an example, he puts together discoveries from Egyptian tombs with geological surveys of the Mediterranean seabed to show that a huge tsunami may have thrashed the Egyptian coast in the fourteenth century BCE to cause what the Bible describes as the parting of the Red Sea in which the Pharaoh's army was drowned by a gigantic wave. This event, the book suggests, could also have devastated a civilization on the island of Crete to give rise to the legend of Atlantis. Many crazy and unfounded ideas have found their way into print concerning Atlantis and biblical mysteries in recent years but this is definitely not one of those. The author critically examines the findings of accredited archaeologists, Egyptologists and scientists in developing his hypotheses which he arrives at step by logical step. Historians today tend to shy away from sensational-sounding catastrophe theories when it comes to the decline of ancient civilizations, but following the tragic events in south Asia recently this book makes one think seriously about just how devastating natural cataclysms can really be.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fascinating Book
Review: This is a really fascinating book which links the Bible with archaeology. The ten plagues of the Exodus that the Bible tells us made it possible for Moses and the Israelites to escape slavery in Egypt has got to be one of the most important events in history - if the they really occurred. I have long wondered whether or not the Exodus account was fact or mythology and this book has persuaded me that it is based to a large degree on historical truth.


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