Hidden Chamber Discovered in Egypt's Great Pyramid
The Great Pyramid of Giza, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, continues to captivate us. Recently, scientists uncovered a hidden chamber 30 meters deep inside the pyramid using groundbreaking technology. This marks the first significant discovery in the site since the 19th century.
(Illustration photo: shutterstock)Scientists have discovered a previously unknown hidden chamber inside Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, according to an article published in the journal Nature. An international team of researchers from Japan and China revealed the chamber, located approximately 30 meters deep within the pyramid. The discovery was made using Muon Tomography, a technique that records muons, subatomic particles penetrating the stone, similar to X-rays but operating at deeper levels.
The Great Pyramid of Giza, known as the Pyramid of Khufu, after the Pharaoh during whose reign it was built between 2,580 and 2,560 BCE, is the oldest and only surviving wonder of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. Excavations began in 820 CE to uncover the pyramid's hidden secrets by tunneling through its massive walls. Centuries later, in the 19th century, dynamite was used to blow open spaces inside the pyramid.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is known to have three chambers, serving, like other Egyptian pyramids, as a burial place for the king.
The chamber was found as part of the "ScanPyramids" project, aimed at identifying hidden rooms within the Great Pyramid and its neighbors in Giza and Dahshur. The project combines thermal imaging, radiography, and 3D reconstruction, with researchers stating these methods are non-invasive and do not damage the structure.
The purpose of the chamber remains a mystery. According to Mehdi Tayoubi, one of the researchers, "It's very preliminary. It could consist of one or more structures... maybe it might have been another 'Grand Gallery.'"
Former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities speculates the space might have served builders as an access route to complete chambers below it. Additionally, some suggest it was deliberately left empty to reduce weight on the gallery ceiling beneath.
Mehdi Tayoubi also stated, "We don't know if this large void is horizontal or inclined, if it consists of one or several successive structures."
He further added, "What we are sure about is that the space is there, it's impressive, and as far as I know, no theory has predicted it. The good news is that it exists, and it is very large."
According to scientists, this is the first significant discovery at the site since the 19th century.
