Archaeologists say the design of the Great Pyramid of Giza naturally protects it from earthquakes

For more than four and a half thousand years, the Pyramid of Khufu stood on the Giza Plateau, withstanding dozens of earthquakes without serious structural damage. New research conducted by the National Institute for Astronomy and Geophysics Research in Egypt provides a quantitative explanation for this remarkable durability. The structure’s natural vibration frequencies appear to differ sharply from those of the surrounding ground, a mismatch that may have helped the monument avoid damaging resonance during earthquakes.

Skull pyramid. Image source: Douwe C. van der Zee / CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Great Pyramid, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Khufu, was built by Pharaoh Khufu (Khufu) around 2600 BC over a period of about 26 years, making it the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Originally about 147 meters high, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years before it was surpassed by Lincoln Cathedral in England in 1311 AD.

Its current height of 137 meters reflects the loss of the original smooth limestone casing over the centuries.

Since its construction, the ancient monument has weathered several earthquakes — including one in 1847 with an estimated magnitude of 6.8, and another in 1992 with a magnitude of 5.8 — without sustaining major damage externally or internally.

However, there is currently little evidence to support theories explaining structural resilience.

Lead researcher Dr. Assem Salama and his colleagues from Egypt and Japan said: “The Pyramid of Khufu was the oldest pyramid constructed in the northwestern part of the Giza Plateau in Cairo during the Old Kingdom.”

“The pyramid was originally built to a height of 146.59 metres, with a base length of approximately 230.33 meters per side, and an inclination angle of 51 degrees.”

“However, current measurements indicate that the current elevation is approximately 137 metres, reflecting the loss of the original casing stones and summit over time.”

“The pyramid structure consists of a core and cap of horizontal stones, with supporting blocks scattered throughout.”

“The Pyramid of Khufu is estimated to contain approximately 2.3 million stone blocks, each carefully placed to achieve its massive size and stability.”

“Inside, the pyramid consists of eight main elements: the main entrance with a descending corridor, the entrance created by the workers of Caliph al-Ma’mun, the subterranean chamber, the great gallery, the queen’s chamber, the king’s chamber, relief chambers, and columns.”

“This complex arrangement highlights the characteristics of advanced engineering and architectural planning for the construction of the Old Kingdom pyramids.”

In their new research, the authors recorded seismic noise at 37 sites, including the King’s Chamber, Queen’s Chamber, decompression chambers, building blocks, and in the surrounding soil.

Most sections of the pyramid share a remarkably constant fundamental frequency of between 2 and 2.6 Hz, while the surrounding soil vibrates at about 0.6 Hz.

This separation would likely reduce the risk of earthquakes increasing shaking within the structure itself.

The researchers also found that vibration amplification generally increased with height inside the pyramid but decreased in the pressure relief chambers above the King’s Chamber, suggesting that those spaces may help dissipate seismic stress.

However, they caution against overstating the findings: While the frequency mismatch may explain part of the pyramid’s durability, there is no direct evidence that the ancient Egyptian builders intentionally designed the monument to protect against earthquakes.

“Any suggestion of deliberate seismic amelioration by ancient Egyptian architects remains speculative and cannot be proven by geophysical measurements alone,” they said.

The team’s findings were published on May 21, 2026 in the journal Scientific Reports.

_____

M. Aljabri et al. 2026. Architectural and geotechnical aspects affecting earthquake resistance of the ancient Egyptian pyramid of Khufu. Sci Rep 16, 14032; doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-49962-6

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos