Ancient Egyptian Engineering Choices Helped the Great Pyramid of Giza Survive Earthquakes, New Research Finds
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Recent research reveals that the Great Pyramid of Giza's design contributes to its resilience against earthquakes. The study measured vibrations and found a significant difference between the pyramid's natural frequency and that of the surrounding soil. This mismatch helps protect the structure from damage during seismic events.
- ▪The Great Pyramid of Giza has survived significant earthquakes for over 4,600 years.
- ▪Researchers measured the pyramid's fundamental frequency to be between 2.0 and 2.6 hertz, while the surrounding soil was 0.6 hertz.
- ▪The pyramid's design features, such as its wide base and low center of gravity, contribute to its stability against seismic forces.
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Ancient Egyptian Engineering Choices Helped the Great Pyramid of Giza Survive Earthquakes, New Research Finds Researchers measured vibrations inside and around the pyramid to learn that the structure is surprisingly resilient against seismic tremors Christian Thorsberg | Daily Correspondent May 22, 2026 2:25 p.m. ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source Built roughly 4,600 years ago, the Great Pyramid of Giza has survived several significant earthquakes. Douwe C. van der Zee via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 4.0 For some 4,600 years, the sheer size of the Great Pyramid of Giza helped it survive conflicts and threats. But how the architectural marvel endured severe natural disasters with limited damage was unknown.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Smithsonian Magazine.
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