Osiris Shaft: Underground tomb discovered beneath Giza causeway. Located under Kafre's causeway, approximately one-third between the Great Sphinx and Khafre's Pyramid First discovered in 1945 by Abdel Moneim Abdul Baqi when guides were swimming in the underground shaft Excavated by Zahi Hawass in summer 1999
Beneath Giza's causeway lies the Osiris Shaft, first discovered in 1945 when guide Abdel Moneim Abdul Baqi fell into an underground shaft while inspecting water sources. Zahi Hawass excavated it in 1999 — a three-shaft complex with chambers and a granite sarcophagus, linked to ancient beliefs about Osiris and the Egyptian underworld. 🔱
Key Facts
- Located under Kafre's causeway, approximately one-third between the Great Sphinx and Khafre's Pyramid
- First discovered in 1945 by Abdel Moneim Abdul Baqi when guides were swimming in the underground shaft
- Excavated by Zahi Hawass in summer 1999
- Contains three distinct shafts: first leads to single chamber, second to one larger chamber surrounded by six smaller chambers, third leads to single large chamber with sarcophagus
- Lower level chamber had water table issues and contained large granite sarcophagus
- Hawas concluded it was an underground tomb of many chambers with water and four pillars similar to Osireion layout
- Connected to New Kingdom texts about underground shafts linked to the Netherworld and god Osiris
- Water purity was noted for several years, used by workers and guides as water source
Related site: Osiris Shaft — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: The Sphinx - Part 5 - Underground Areas by History, Myths & Legends