Is the Great Pyramid of Egypt Being Destroyed?

A video circulating on social media has caused concern, showing what some claimed to be the destruction of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest among Giza’s three pyramids and was constructed between 2580-2565 BC during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu. For nearly 4,000 years, it stood as the tallest man-made structure on Earth. Revered as one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,” the pyramid continues to awe visitors today and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A video circulating on social media has sparked outrage after showing individuals in high-visibility vests working on a section of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Some viewers expressed concern that the workers were damaging the ancient monument.

However, the Egyptian Ministry of… pic.twitter.com/OLm8AeoGNj

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On Sunday, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities addressed these claims in a public statement. The Ministry firmly denied any damage to the ancient pyramid, also known as Khufu’s Pyramid. Officials clarified that the scenes in the video do not show any harm or changes to the pyramid’s original stones.

The Ministry clarified that the video shows workers removing modern materials, not ancient stones, from the Great Pyramid of Giza. These materials, added decades ago, were used to cover an old electricity network installed to light up the pyramid.

Officials explained that the removal is part of a project to update the lighting system. The Supreme Council of Antiquities is overseeing the work to ensure the pyramid’s structure and original stones remain untouched.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has urged the public to verify information before sharing it on social media. Officials warned that spreading inaccurate news can create confusion and harm ongoing efforts to protect and preserve archaeological sites.

Trial project of clean energy and improve visitor services

The Great Pyramid of Giza, standing at 455 feet, is the largest of the three pyramids in the Giza complex.

Built between 2580 and 2565 BC during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world for nearly 4,000 years. It remains one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In 2022, the Ministry launched a trial project to introduce clean energy and improve visitor services in the Giza Pyramids area. The initiative includes the use of environmentally friendly electric buses and cars to transport visitors.

Seven stations have been set up for this purpose, beginning at the Visitor Center and including stops at Panorama 1, the pyramids of Menkaure, Khafre, and Khufu, the Sphinx, and ending at Panorama 4.

It is not the first time a false claim has been made about the destruction of a Pyramid in Egypt. In September 2014, online activists criticized Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities, Mamdouh al-Damati, for rehiring a company they claimed had previously damaged the Pyramid of Djoser during restoration efforts.

The activists alleged that the company’s earlier work led to significant deterioration of the pyramid’s structure. In response, Minister al-Damati dismissed these allegations, stating that the critics aimed to create chaos in the country and that the rumors had been exaggerated.