For centuries, the pyramids of Giza have been a subject of fascination and mystery.
The question of how these incredible structures were built remains unsolved, and theories continue to evolve.
In recent discussions, even prominent figures like Elon Musk have stirred the pot by suggesting that aliens could have been behind the construction.
With a new discovery of underground structures beneath the pyramids, the mystery deepens, drawing both excitement and skepticism from experts and the public alike.
A Bold Claim From the Past
The idea that aliens might have helped build the pyramids is far from new.
It was popularized in 1898 by American astronomer Garrett P. Serviss, who suggested in his book Edison’s Conquest of Mars that Martian giants were responsible for creating the grand monuments of Giza.
Though Serviss’s work was a work of fiction, it laid the groundwork for a theory that persists today.
More recently, in 2020, tech mogul Elon Musk reignited the debate when he tweeted, “Aliens built the pyramids obv.”
This lighthearted comment sparked a response from Egypt’s international co-operation minister, Rania al-Mashat, who invited Musk and his SpaceX team to visit Egypt to explore the tombs of the pyramid builders for evidence against the alien theory.
The Pyramids and Their Ancient Builders
The Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest of the three pyramids, was built for Pharaoh Khufu more than 4,500 years ago.
It stood as the tallest building in the world until the 14th century.
Over the years, the notion that such an awe-inspiring structure could have been built by mere humans has been questioned.
In his 1968 book Chariots of the Gods, Swiss author Erich von Däniken claimed that the advanced technology needed to build the pyramids could only have come from extraterrestrials.
Despite these claims, experts have consistently rejected the idea of alien involvement.
British Egyptologist Professor Joyce Tyldesley, speaking on the BBC’s History Extra podcast, dismissed the theory, saying it often implies that ancient people were not capable of such feats.
She also pointed out that over time, theories about the pyramid’s origins have evolved—from speculation about lost civilizations like Atlantis to the more recent alien hypothesis.
The Search for Answers Continues
One of the most persistent mysteries surrounding the pyramids is how they were constructed.
It is believed that the Great Pyramid was built with 2.3 million limestone blocks, some weighing as much as 70 tons.
British writer Graham Hancock has pointed out the monumental challenge of moving these heavy blocks, calculating that workers would need to place one block every two minutes to complete the structure in the 24 years it took.
In the 10th century, historian Abul Hasan Ali Al-Masudi even proposed that the pyramids might have been built using acoustic levitation—a theory suggesting that sound waves could have made the blocks weightless.
While this idea remains speculative, it showcases the ongoing quest to understand the methods behind the pyramid’s construction.
A New Discovery: An Underground City
A groundbreaking discovery this month has added another layer to the mystery of the pyramids.
Researchers from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and the University of Pisa have identified what they describe as an “underground city” beneath the Giza Plateau.
This vast network of structures, which descends more than a mile into the sands, could hold the key to understanding the ancient site’s history.
The underground city is connected by geometric passages and includes eight vertical columns that descend into two massive chambers.
The arrangement of these pillars, which are aligned in perfect north-south rows, is strikingly precise, given the alignment of the Great Pyramids.
The exact purpose of these structures remains unknown, but their discovery adds to the growing body of evidence that the site holds more secrets than previously imagined.
The Future of Pyramid Research
The ongoing exploration of the pyramids, particularly the use of technology like cosmic particle scans, has allowed researchers to make fascinating new discoveries.
The recent use of muons—subatomic particles produced by cosmic rays—to scan the Great Pyramid has revealed potential hidden chambers, further sparking the imagination of those who believe in more extraordinary explanations.
The latest findings will undoubtedly lead to even more questions and speculations as experts continue to peel back the layers of history surrounding the ancient structures.
As Egyptologists and amateur historians alike eagerly await more discoveries, the Great Pyramids remain one of the world’s most enduring mysteries—one that may never be fully understood.