Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Ballantine Books (1987), 95 pages
Description
Where was Camelot? Who sculpted the terrifying effigies of Easter Island? Has Atlantis been located? What was the purpose of the Great Pyramid? Is the ark on Ararat? What was Stonehenge used for? Was God an astronaut? What is the real evidence of extraterrestrial visitation to the earth? Ageless riddles...mysterious questions... unexpected answers!
User reviews
LibraryThing member mattries37315
The enigmas of history have spawned theories, either scientifically based or plain conjecture. In Ancient Mysteries, Rupert Furneaux attempted to answer timeless questions covering the world through the use of science.
Furneaux covered over 30 “mysteries” that covered such subjects as Atlantis,
Unfortunately for this book, Furneaux used scientific conclusions 20 years old by the time the book was published which are even more out-of-date today. Yet, not all of his answers were based on science through they were not far out theories which he pretty much attempted to dismiss as much as possible. For several topics, Furneaux attempted to straddle the line between “scientific consensus” and far-out theories, so mixed success at best and just plain bad at worst.
The background information Furneaux gives for each of the topics he writes about, though definitely not up-to-date, is the best part of the book. However, the out-of-date science, the occasional stretch of the science that Furneaux, and sometimes condescending tone the author uses in some topics makes he want to caution people away from this unless they are really well read in history.
Furneaux covered over 30 “mysteries” that covered such subjects as Atlantis,
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several monumental architectural structures around the world, Biblical mysteries, several ethnic groups and cultures, mysteries centered in Britain and the Americas, hoaxes, and “soon-to-be” 21st-century enigmas. Through all of them Furneaux attempts to give a description of why the topic in question is a mystery and then over the history of theories before giving as “definite” answer as possible.Unfortunately for this book, Furneaux used scientific conclusions 20 years old by the time the book was published which are even more out-of-date today. Yet, not all of his answers were based on science through they were not far out theories which he pretty much attempted to dismiss as much as possible. For several topics, Furneaux attempted to straddle the line between “scientific consensus” and far-out theories, so mixed success at best and just plain bad at worst.
The background information Furneaux gives for each of the topics he writes about, though definitely not up-to-date, is the best part of the book. However, the out-of-date science, the occasional stretch of the science that Furneaux, and sometimes condescending tone the author uses in some topics makes he want to caution people away from this unless they are really well read in history.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1977
Physical description
95 p.; 4.25 inches
ISBN
0345345282 / 9780345345288