New LED Lights Illuminate Giza Pyramids' Inner Chambers
Jul 20, 2025
A new lighting system using modern LED technology has been installed inside the three Pyramids of Giza, Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, through a collaboration between the Egyptian and Spanish governments. The initiative was implemented by the Supreme Council of Antiquities as part of an ongoing national strategy to improve archaeological sites and museums according to international preservation standards.
The new lighting setup, which includes eco-friendly 'cool' LED fixtures, was selected to avoid damaging ancient stone surfaces while improving visibility throughout the internal corridors, burial chambers, and other enclosed areas of the pyramids. All scientific and technical studies necessary for the project were conducted prior to the installation to ensure preservation integrity.
A team of Spanish archaeologists and engineers worked alongside Egyptian specialists to deliver a lighting design that balances monument protection with sustainability goals. Throughout the process, the archaeological character of the site has been fully maintained.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily News Egypt
4 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
Local development minister explores digital transformation of Egyptian cities with Esri
Local Development Minister Manal Awad met with Richard Budden, Director of Local Governments and Smart Cities at global GIS leader Esri, to discuss strengthening the digital capabilities of Egyptian cities through advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2025 Esri International User Conference in San Diego, California. Also in attendance were Hisham El Helbawy, Assistant Minister for National Projects; Hossam Al Qawish, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation; and several Esri representatives. During the meeting, Awad highlighted the Ministry's conviction that cities are central to driving sustainable development. She stressed that equipping local administrations with accurate, real-time data is the first step towards achieving spatial justice and improving citizens' quality of life. She pointed to the 'Atlas of Egyptian Cities' as a successful model showing how GIS can transform local governance. The atlas, she explained, has enhanced the ability of local authorities to monitor demographic and climate changes, set service and investment priorities, and respond more effectively to emerging challenges. Awad noted that the Ministry is working to build the capacity of governorates to use GIS tools to identify development gaps, analyse service efficiency, and ensure more equitable resource allocation—particularly in medium and small cities, which need integrated and targeted interventions. She also underlined the importance of creating interactive digital platforms at the city level. These platforms, she said, would facilitate data exchange, support urban planning, enable knowledge sharing with global partners, and strengthen crisis response and resilient urban expansion efforts. Richard Budden praised the Ministry's progress in digital transformation and noted that the Atlas of Egyptian Cities has become an important reference for local governments globally on applying GIS in evidence-based policymaking. Budden reaffirmed Esri's commitment to supporting medium and small cities in developing countries and expressed readiness to tailor digital toolkits and platforms to fit the needs of Egyptian cities. He also welcomed the idea of launching training programmes in partnership with the Ministry to help create a new generation of planners and decision-makers skilled in using GIS for daily operations and strategic planning. Awad further emphasised the need to deepen integration between spatial planning tools and public budgeting processes to better align local development priorities with resource allocation. She invited Esri to collaborate on developing flexible, integrated tools to support this alignment. Concluding the meeting, she expressed hope to establish clear implementation steps for cooperation in areas such as local planning, urban monitoring, and managing urban growth. These efforts, she said, aim to build smart, inclusive, and resilient Egyptian cities in line with global sustainable development goals. Both sides agreed to expand technical cooperation between the Ministry of Local Development and Esri, guided by a joint roadmap focused on developing geographic platforms, urban tracking applications, and capacity building as part of Egypt's integrated development strategy.
CairoScene
13 hours ago
- CairoScene
New LED Lights Illuminate Giza Pyramids' Inner Chambers
A modern LED lighting system has been installed inside the Giza Pyramids, preserving their structure while enriching the visitor experience with clearer, sustainable interior illumination. Jul 20, 2025 A new lighting system using modern LED technology has been installed inside the three Pyramids of Giza, Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, through a collaboration between the Egyptian and Spanish governments. The initiative was implemented by the Supreme Council of Antiquities as part of an ongoing national strategy to improve archaeological sites and museums according to international preservation standards. The new lighting setup, which includes eco-friendly 'cool' LED fixtures, was selected to avoid damaging ancient stone surfaces while improving visibility throughout the internal corridors, burial chambers, and other enclosed areas of the pyramids. All scientific and technical studies necessary for the project were conducted prior to the installation to ensure preservation integrity. A team of Spanish archaeologists and engineers worked alongside Egyptian specialists to deliver a lighting design that balances monument protection with sustainability goals. Throughout the process, the archaeological character of the site has been fully maintained.
Egypt Independent
4 days ago
- Egypt Independent
Three scenarios for Nile water flowing to Egypt soon amid Ethiopian Dam operations: Water expert
Cairo University Geology and Water Resources Professor Abbas Sharaqi stated that there are three possibilities for Nile water to begin flowing towards Sudan and Egypt soon, following Ethiopia's closure of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam's (GERD) gates. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Sharaqi explained that Ethiopia has opened the gates of the Tekeze Dam on the Atbara River, while the GERD remains closed for water storage. He noted that water from the Tekeze Dam flows towards the Upper Atbara and Setit dams, then to the Khashm al-Girba Dam in Sudan, and from there into the main Nile River, eventually reaching Lake Nasser in Egypt. The Atbara River in Ethiopia contributes approximately 11 billion cubic meters of water annually to the Nile, he said, accounting for about 13 percent of the river's total flow. He clarified that its storage capacity is roughly nine billion cubic meters. The GERD reservoir is also nearing its previous storage level of 60 billion cubic meters at an elevation of 638 meters, he said, which is expected within a few days. The current water reserve stands at approximately 58 billion cubic meters at an elevation of 637 meters. Sharaqi then outlined three scenarios that Ethiopia is likely to adopt shortly: Opening the GERD Spillway Gates: Ethiopia might begin opening the spillway gates, as it did last year, to allow water to pass towards Sudan and Egypt. Overtopping the Middle Section: The gates could remain closed to test the flow of water over the dam's middle section after the GERD reservoir is completely filled. Flow through Turbines (Least Likely): The least probable scenario is that water will pass through the power-generating turbines. Professor Sharaqi noted that the GERD reservoir requires an additional four billion cubic meters of water to reach full storage capacity. This volume could be collected within a week, given the current inflow rate of approximately 300 million cubic meters per day. He further stated: 'Water is expected to flow from the spillway gates within days, or over the middle section by the end of this month, while the operation of the turbines remains unlikely.' 'In all scenarios, water will flow towards Sudan and Egypt, and the High Dam is fully prepared for the arrival of water at any time, whether from the turbines, spillway gates, or over the middle section.' Tensions remain Earlier in July, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had announced that the GERD's construction was complete and it would be inaugurated next September after the summer rainy season subsides. He extended an invitation to Egypt and Sudan to attend the opening ceremony. In response, Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam stated that Egypt categorically rejects Ethiopia's continued imposition of a fait accompli through unilateral actions concerning the Nile River, viewing it instead as a shared international water resource. According to a ministry statement, Ethiopia has consistently promoted the completion of the dam despite failing to reach a binding agreement with the downstream nations and the fundamental reservations expressed by both Egypt and Sudan. He added that this reflects Ethiopia's approach based on a mindset that, 'Seeks to impose water hegemony instead of embracing the principle of partnership and cooperation—something the Egyptian state will not permit.' Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stated, 'Our position has not changed at all; Egypt will not allow any harm regarding the Nile River waters.' He stressed the necessity of translating Ethiopia's statements into a written document that regulates the future relationship between the two countries and guarantees the rights of future generations.
