The Great Pyramid of Giza has fascinated humanity for millennia, and recent discoveries are challenging long-held assumptions about its true purpose. Herodotus and Giza discoveries set to rewrite history, the Greek historian Herodotus, writing in the 5th century BC, was among the first to document the pyramid’s mysteries. His work provides a crucial historical link between Greek scholarship and Egypt’s greatest architectural marvel, paving the way for the groundbreaking findings emerging today.
Herodotus: The Greek Historian and the Pyramids
In his seminal work, The Histories, Herodotus examined Egypt’s past and the construction of the Great Pyramid. Writing more than two millennia after its completion, he relied on indirect sources, including Egyptian priests, local officials, Greek settlers, and translators.
He attributed the pyramid’s construction to Pharaoh Khufu (known in Greek as Cheops) but mistakenly placed his reign after the Ramesside Period (19th and 20th dynasties). He portrayed Khufu as a despotic ruler, which may have contributed to the Greek belief that such massive monuments could only have been built through the ruthless exploitation of the populace.
Herodotus claimed that the Great Pyramid took 20 years to complete, built by 100,000 workers rotating every three months—though later Diodorus Siculus estimated the number at 350,000. He also described the construction of a broad causeway, which he considered nearly as remarkable as the pyramid itself. While modern archaeology has revised many of his details, his writings remain a valuable historical record, fuelling continued debate.
A Groundbreaking Modern Discovery Beneath the Pyramids
Fast forward to the 21st century, and cutting-edge Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology has revealed an enormous underground network beneath the Giza Pyramid Complex. A research team led by Corrado Malanga (University of Pisa) and Filippo Biondi (University of Strathclyde) uncovered an extensive subterranean system stretching 2 kilometres beneath all three pyramids, featuring:
- Five identical structures near the base of the Khafre Pyramid, interconnected by geometric pathways.
- Eight vertical, hollow cylindrical shafts, arranged in two parallel rows, descending 648 metres underground.
- Two vast cube-shaped chambers, each 80 metres wide, positioned at the lowest depths.
Biondi also developed specialised software that converts radar signals into sound-like data, enabling the detection of minute underground vibrations. This breakthrough allowed the team to construct a 3D model of the underground network, revealing previously unknown structures beneath the pyramids.
What Were the Pyramids Really For?
For centuries, Egyptologists have asserted that the pyramids were tombs for pharaohs, constructed using ramps and levers around 2500 BC. However, these new discoveries suggest their function may have been far more complex and technologically advanced.
Some researchers propose that the pyramids may not have been built for burials at all, but instead served an unknown scientific or energy-related purpose:
- The precise mathematical design of the pyramids incorporates Pi, the Golden Ratio, and even the speed of light.
- Nikola Tesla theorised that the pyramids could have been energy-harnessing structures, tapping into the Earth’s electromagnetic field.
- Christopher Dunn suggested that the Great Pyramid functioned as a power plant, converting vibrational energy into electricity.
- Joseph Farrell speculated that it could have been an ancient energy weapon, capable of focusing immense power.
The newly discovered cylindrical wells may have acted as channels for energy or sound waves, while the cube-shaped structures at the bottom of the system could have stored or stabilised energy, functioning similarly to a power generator or even a resonance-based technology.
The Greek Connection: From Herodotus to Modern Science
While Herodotus lacked modern tools, his detailed accounts demonstrate that ancient Greek scholars played a critical role in preserving and analysing Egypt’s monumental heritage. Herodotus and the discoveries at Giza rewrite human history, his documentation of the Great Pyramid, though written long after its construction, remains one of the earliest recorded sources of information about its origins.
Now, with the use of advanced radar scanning and satellite imaging, researchers are uncovering secrets that challenge the traditional narrative—secrets that Greek thinkers were among the first to question.
Excavation Challenges and the Future of Giza’s Secrets
Despite the astonishing discoveries, archaeological excavation remains highly restricted at Giza. Gaining permission for large-scale digs is historically difficult, as Egyptian authorities tightly control access to the site.
The research team, which includes Armando Mei and Nicole Ciccolo, has been advocating for further exploration. In February and March 2025, they released statements detailing the Khafre Research Project SAR Technology, which provided in-depth findings on the vast underground city beneath the pyramids.
The team plans to present their findings at scientific conferences and press briefings, hoping to gain wider recognition for what could be one of the greatest archaeological breakthroughs in human history.
Could Herodotus Have Been Right All Along?
Could Herodotus’ writings contain clues to lost technologies or forgotten knowledge? With each new discovery, the Greek connection to Giza’s mysteries grows stronger.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the Great Pyramid of Giza is far more than just an ancient tomb—it may hold the key to a lost chapter in human civilisation.
