Daredevil Climber Scales Great Pyramid, Faces Lifetime Ban from Egypt
In January 2016, 18-year-old Andrej Ciesielski from Munich undertook a perilous and unauthorized ascent of Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or Cheops.
Despite strict prohibitions against climbing the 4,500-year-old monument, Ciesielski scaled the 138-meter (455-foot) structure in just eight minutes, capturing the experience on video and in photographs.
Ciesielski recounted that he began his climb while listening to music, initially unnoticed. However, halfway up, he attracted attention, and security personnel shouted at him to descend.
Undeterred, he continued to the summit, where he documented panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Upon descending, Ciesielski was detained by Egyptian authorities.
Although climbing the pyramids is illegal and punishable by up to three years in prison, he was released after claiming ignorance of the law and promising not to repeat the offense.
Nevertheless, Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities issued a lifetime ban, prohibiting him from re-entering the country.
Despite authorities confiscating his equipment and deleting the footage, Ciesielski managed to recover and share his materials online, sparking widespread attention and debate over the preservation of historical sites and the risks associated with such stunts.
📹 Andrej Ciesielski
