The pyramids of Giza as you've never seen them – and the reason why they once looked very different and may have been hard to look at. A peek at an exciting new show coming soon to National Geographic. | National Geographic UK

Ancient pyramids around the world—whether in Egypt, Mexico, or Bosnia—share fascinating similarities, not just in shape but in their potential purposes beyond what we traditionally think of as tombs or temples. In Mexico, the great pyramids at sites like Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza were aligned precisely with celestial bodies, suggesting that their builders had a sophisticated knowledge of astronomy. These pyramids may have also functioned as centers of spiritual or healing energy, channeling n