Egyptian antiquities officials have announced the discovery of a hidden corridor inside the 4,500 year old Pyramid of Khufu or the Great Pyramid of Giza. Archaeologists are yet to unravel the purpose the corridor served.

The corridor, 9m (30ft) long and 2.1m (7ft) wide, was first detected in 2016 using an imaging technique called muography. 

The Great Pyramid of Giza is named after a Fourth Dynasty pharaoh Khufu, or Cheops, who reigned from 2509 to 2483 B.C.  There is no unanimity about how it was built.

Today, the pyramids are the most important historical attractions of Egypt.

Located just outside the Egyptian capital Cairo, the Pyramid of Khufu  is one of the three structures that make up the Giza pyramid complex. Originally built to a height of 146 meters, the Pyramid of Khufu now stands at 139 meters. 

Formerly known as the Pyramid of Cheops, the Great Pyramid of Giza has attracted generations of history enthusiasts and researchers over the centuries. 

The structure is the only of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to have survived to this day. 

World's oldest wonder
The mystery of how exactly the ancient Egyptians built the immense pyramids has confounded experts for centuries.

Key Takeaways

• Egyptian antiquities authorities have confirmed the existence of a hidden internal channel above the main entrance of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
• The corridor is 9m (30ft) long and 2.1m (7ft) wide.
• Today, the pyramids are the most important historical attractions of Egypt.
• The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to have survived to this day.