Great Pyramid has withstood for more than 4,500 years in Egypt, and a study with 37 sensors reveals how its vibrations may have reduced damage in earthquakes.

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 01/06/2026 at 23:41

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Research led by Asem Salema, from the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics in Cairo, measured vibrations inside and around the Great Pyramid with 37 sensors and indicated that frequency differences in relation to the ground may have helped the monument withstand for more than 4,500 years

Study published in Scientific Reports measured vibrations inside and around the Great Pyramid in Egypt and identified frequency differences between the monument and the ground, a factor that may have reduced resonance and helped preserve the structure for millennia.

Great Pyramid had vibrations measured in study

The Great Pyramid of Khufu has withstood for more than 4,500 years on the Giza Plateau, including the 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Cairo in 1992, and new measurements explain part of this stability.

A team led by Asem Salema, from the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics in Cairo, analyzed vibrations inside and around the structure. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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Why resonance explains resistance

The main discovery was the difference between the frequencies of the Great Pyramid and the frequencies of the ground of the Giza Plateau. This separation reduces the chance of resonance, a phenomenon that can amplify tremors when structure and terrain vibrate similarly.

In earthquakes, resonance increases the absorption of energy by the building. By vibrating at a different frequency from the sand and surrounding terrain, the pyramid tends to receive less energy from the ground during seismic shocks.

This result does not mean that only frequency explains the monument’s survival. Resistance also depends on the shape, materials, mass distribution, and internal solutions used by the Egyptian builders.

Even so, the measurement offers a physical explanation for an ancient question: how a construction made in the Old Kingdom, between 2600 and 2450 B.C., has withstood millennia of earthquakes, storms, and structural losses.

Engineering of the Great Pyramid also helped

The pyramid was erected with limestone blocks of about 2.5 tons. Archaeologists believe that these stones were moved by ramps incorporated into the structure and then grounded during construction.

The pyramidal shape favors stability because it concentrates most of the mass at the base and reduces weight up to the apex. The symmetry also helps distribute loads from the center, avoiding major imbalances.

Another observed point is the empty chambers above the King’s Chamber. They function as relief spaces, capable of reducing part of the accumulated pressure on the upper levels during seismic responses.

The limestone used at the base and body of the construction can also contribute to dissipating ascending vibrations. Combined with the internal chambers, this material helps explain why the Great Pyramid suffered minimal damage in 1992.

Salema stated that reducing the risk of resonance may contribute to the seismic resistance of the monument over millennia. He also emphasized that any idea of intentional seismic optimization by the ancient architects remains speculative.

Thus, the study does not prove that the Egyptians designed the pyramid to withstand earthquakes. What it shows is that the combination of natural frequency, geometry, mass, limestone, and internal chambers made the monument exceptionally resistant.

With information from popularmechanics.

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Great Pyramid has withstood for more than 4,500 years in Egypt, and a study with 37 sensors reveals how its vibrations may have reduced damage in earthquakes.

Great Pyramid had vibrations measured in study

Why resonance explains resistance

Engineering of the Great Pyramid also helped

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