There’s something undeniably magical about the Giza Plateau. Maybe it’s the way the Great Pyramid of Khufu pierces the sky, or the quiet mystery of the Sphinx gazing eastward. But every few years, a discovery or a dramatic new theory stirs the sands, and the Internet, with whispers of a lost city beneath the pyramids. So what’s myth, what’s misread radar, and what’s real? Let’s dig in (metaphorically, for now).
The buzz: A hidden underground city?
In early 2025, headlines screamed that satellite-based radar had uncovered an "underground city stretching over 6,500 feet" right beneath the pyramids. The claims, made by researchers using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), described a network of enormous shafts and chambers deep under the plateau. Cue the YouTube explainers, TikTok theories, and ancient aliens reboots. But before you pack your bag to explore the Egyptian underworld, let’s take a closer look.
So... Is there really a city down there?
Short answer? Not quite — but the full story is still pretty amazing. The idea of something beneath the Giza Plateau isn’t new. Tomb shafts, workers' quarters, and even a three-level underground structure known as the Osiris Shaft have been excavated by archaeologists like Dr. Zahi Hawass. That particular shaft, under Khafre’s causeway, revealed water-filled chambers and granite sarcophagi. Spooky, yes. Mysterious, definitely. But not a lost city. And those recent SAR scans? Most experts are skeptical. Geophysicists have pointed out that satellite-based radar has limitations; it can’t reliably identify detailed underground structures hundreds of meters deep in dense limestone. The “city” might just be a misinterpretation of natural fissures or older known tombs.
But wait… There is something new
Before you give up on the mystery entirely: yes, there have been exciting new discoveries at Giza!
The Hidden Corridor in the Great Pyramid: In 2023, archaeologists used muon-scanning (a cosmic-ray-based imaging method) to detect a previously unknown 9-meter-long corridor just above the main entrance to Khufu’s pyramid. A literal hidden passage inside one of the world’s most famous monuments? That’s the stuff of dreams.
Anomalies in the Western Cemetery: Just west of the Great Pyramid, ground-penetrating radar recently picked up a large L-shaped structure buried about 2 meters down. It appears to lead to a deeper vertical void. Excavations are ongoing, and researchers believe it might be a yet-undiscovered tomb, perhaps of a priest or noble connected to Khufu’s court.
New Tombs Discovered: In the last decade alone, archaeologists have uncovered the colorful tomb of Hetpet (a priestess), a Fifth Dynasty tomb of two high-ranking officials, and more. These are tangible, documented finds that expand our understanding of ancient Egypt’s social fabric.
Recommended tickets to Pyramids of Giza
What experts are saying
Dr. Zahi Hawass, arguably the most famous Egyptologist alive, has been very vocal in dismissing the recent “underground city” claims. In his words, “There is no evidence. We’ve excavated these areas before. What they are describing is not real.” He also emphasized that any legitimate discovery would go through Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, which monitors all excavations on the plateau. And yet, Hawass himself has overseen digs that revealed previously unknown shafts, tombs, and anomalies like the Osiris Shaft. So while there may not be a hidden metropolis, the sands of Giza are always shifting, and secrets still lie beneath.
Final thoughts: What’s myth, what’s real, and why it’s all worth watching
There may not be an “underground city” filled with Atlantean artifacts or alien machinery beneath the pyramids, but what is there is equally awe-inspiring. Think tombs that haven't seen light in 4,500 years. Chambers waiting to be mapped. Corridors revealing architectural secrets from the dawn of civilization.
So the next time you see a headline shouting about lost cities under the pyramids, click it, but bring your curiosity and your skepticism. Because under the layers of hype, there’s always a grain of truth… and maybe a granite sarcophagus waiting to be found.
