| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Lying unnoticed in many museums around the world are large numbers of ancient artefacts fashioned out of rock crystal or glass; lenticular in shape, they are habitually described by archaeologists and cataloguers as decorative in purpose; in short, as costume jewellery. To Robert Temple, however, who bolsters his classical and linguistic erudition with expertise in the field of optics, they are obviously and self-evidently lenses. As such, they form the starting point for The Crystal Sun, his wide-ranging and provocative investigation into the existence of an ancient science of optics. There is much to amaze here, not least the sheer volume of evidence that Temple is able to amass (and the seemingly even greater volume to which, for various tiresome reasons, he was unable to gain access). It is this density of proof, and the hardness of the science involved, that tend to dispel suspicions that we are entering Jesus-was-an-astronaut territory.
The narrative of Temple's discoveries is cast almost as an intellectual detective novel. (A characteristic recurring motif is his exasperation with the small-mindedness and intellectual prejudice endemic in the archaeological profession.) From the physical lenses we move to the scattered descriptions of lenses, telescopes and their use by the Greeks and Romans, the destructive use of burning-mirrors by Archimedes at the siege of Syracuse, and the true role of Prometheus, who brought fire to man from heaven. A review of ancient optical theory takes the argument deep into esoteric realms of Gnostic and alchemical thought. Stonehenge as astronomical instrument is discussed--including the startling proposal that the great circle was originally roofed with a dome. Inevitably, perhaps, the argument eventually makes its way to Egypt, real or imaginary home of all mysteries. Here, in the long final section of the book entitled "The Eye of Horus", Temple excels himself. The scale and precision of Egyptian monuments require sophisticated surveying techniques and a supporting mathematics. Temple finds these hidden in myths, partially disguised in tomb paintings embodied in the very structure of the buildings themselves. Above all, it seems, the Egyptians used light and shadow with great virtuosity. The Pyramids themselves, once clad in smooth, reflective white marble, and casting precise shadows across each other, are characterised as mystical surveying instruments on the hugest possible scale.
Temple is an engagingly garrulous and eccentric narrator, constantly interrupting himself, leaping forwards and back, starting hares he cannot pursue, pausing for personal paranormal reminiscences, but his passion and erudition are never in doubt. And is it true? Few readers can be in a position to decide. Reserve judgement, then, and enjoy an exhilarating intellectual adventure. --Robin Davidson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"The focus is as wide, and as deep, as civilization itself." - "Sunday Times
"Robert Temple's fascinating book should be read by all who have an interest in the history of science, and may well cause a revolution in this subject." - Sir Arthur C. Clarke
"Robert Temple's fascinating book should be read by all who have an interest in the history of science, and may well cause a revolution in this subject." - Sir Arthur C. Clarke
"From the Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Scholarly, annotated, appendixed and indexed - and riveting! Staring us in the face for centuries, and Temple gives us permission to see. Absolute cracker.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Robert Temple's new book sheds interesting new light on the subject of lens' in antiquity. I was disappointed however, that this version of the book does not contain a full review of the lens he has found in the course of his research. That the work is painstakingly researched is not in doubt, but it seems that Temple takes delight in alienating the one group of people who would truely appreciate his dedication - other historians - by denigrating them as blinded and against new ideas. One cannot help but feel that if Temple presented his work in a less popular more scholarly fashion his ideas would be more readily accepted. On the whole this book is interesting and does help to resolve general unanswered questions about lens' in antiquity - the evidence for the use of corrective lens' is around us everyday in the form of modern lens wearers, a group of people who would not exist without intervention in the past. Whilst his review of useful lens' exising in antiquity is excellent, Temple's other remarks on theory and religion should be taken with a pinch of salt, too much is left out for the average reader to be able make an imformed choice. This is a difficult subject tackled in a format that makes it accessible to many, however I feel that Temple lets himself down by his anti-historian stance and the inclusion of too much subjective theorising.
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Scintillating! Facts, facts and more facts, with ample footnotes, diagrams, photos, explanations for everything mentioned in this amazing 642 page tome (paperback version) and for a highly technical subject it is written in an easy to read way. I now own four amazing books by this author, and hope he writes more before he shuffles off this mortal coil.
This book will truly make you see history in a different light literally, as proof now exists of lenses in ancient history. The implications of reflecting and refracting, measuring, and magnifying, which explain The Pharos of Alexandria, Roman towers used for sending signals, minute carvings, Archimedes' death ray, how the Dogon tribe know about Sirius B's eliptical period, the Comma of Pythagoras, and how the Giza Pyramids were set out.
Illuminating and recommended.
This book will truly make you see history in a different light literally, as proof now exists of lenses in ancient history. The implications of reflecting and refracting, measuring, and magnifying, which explain The Pharos of Alexandria, Roman towers used for sending signals, minute carvings, Archimedes' death ray, how the Dogon tribe know about Sirius B's eliptical period, the Comma of Pythagoras, and how the Giza Pyramids were set out.
Illuminating and recommended.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Ancient optics
Probably correct.
I don't see why the claims of this book should not be accepted if the proof is valid.
There is nothing particularly controversial. Read more
I don't see why the claims of this book should not be accepted if the proof is valid.
There is nothing particularly controversial. Read more
Published 16 months ago by A. L. Thomson
Temple is a genius?
I bought this book because of Temple's earlier work.He is an detective/historian of the highest caliber. Read more
Published on 27 May 2000 by J. Henson
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
