Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Egypt Unveils Discovery of Hidden Tunnel in Great Pyramid of Giza


Thu 02 Mar 2023 | 03:21 PM
Ahmed Emam - Ali Abu Deshish

Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Eissa announced on Thursday the discovery of a hidden tunnel in the Great Pyramid of Giza, fondly known as King Khufu Pyramid.

This came during a press conference that featured appearances by Dr. Zahi Hawass, former Minister of Antiquities; Dr. Hani Helal, former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and coordinator of the "ScanPyramids" exploration project; Dr. Mamdouh El Damati, former Minister of Antiquities; Dr. Khaled El-Anany, former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council.

Speaking to reporters, Eissa revealed the detection of a 9-meter-long triangular tunnel behind the main entrance to the pyramid superstructure.

In turn, Waziri said that the tunnel was likely constructed as a functional architectural feature to relieve the weight of the pyramid, possibly on either side of the main entrance, or another hidden chamber yet to be discovered.

The new discovery was made by the Scan Pyramids Project, a multinational study using the latest scientific equipment in infrared thermography, photogrammetry, 3D scanners, and software reconstruction.

The Great Pyramid was regarded as the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years.

It was built by the pharaoh Khufu who was the second pharaoh of the 4th Dynasty during the first half of the Old Kingdom period (26th century BC).

The pyramid was erected on the Giza Plateau, with construction estimated to have taken 27 years to complete.