Purpose of the Robbers' Tunnel in the Great Pyramid of Giza

The so-called Robbers' Tunnel in the Great Pyramid of Giza was not dug for imprisonment or authorized access. It was forcibly excavated by tomb robbers—likely during the First Intermediate Period (c. 2181–2055 BCE) or later—to penetrate the pyramid's sealed interior and loot the burial chamber's treasures. The tunnel cuts through the masonry of the north face, bypassing the original sealed entrance and the ascending corridor's granite plugs. It emerges in the Descending Passage, allowing access to the Ascending Passage, Grand Gallery, and King's Chamber. Caliph al-Ma'mun's 9th-century expedition is often associated with its enlargement, but the original breach was ancient looting. The tunnel is now the standard tourist entry route.