00:00 This podcast episode discusses the seven wonders of the ancient world and introduces the hosts and guest producer.

04:38 The list of the seven wonders of the ancient world dates back to ancient Greece and was created to encourage Greeks to visit and explore these sites, which were considered must-sees for tourists.

09:17 The Great Pyramid of Giza, specifically the pyramid of Khufu, is the largest and tallest pyramid in Egypt and was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

13:56 The Great Pyramid of Giza, built during the reign of King Khufu, is a massive feat of engineering made up of over two million limestone and granite blocks, with a 51 degree slope on each side and a tight fit between the blocks, suggesting it was intentionally designed to withstand the test of time.

18:30 The Great Pyramid of Giza was originally covered in limestone and had a smooth exterior, but over time, earthquakes caused the limestone to be removed and used to rebuild Cairo, and the entrance to the pyramid that is currently used was carved in the 9th century by a looter who was unable to find anything inside.

23:17 The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which may not have even existed, were a grand botanical garden with plants and trees planted in a large building with water flowing through it in the desert, possibly built by King Nebuchadnezzar for his wife, Amethyst, but there is no concrete evidence of their existence.

28:11 The historian from Greece who wrote about Babylon 100 years after Nebuchadnezzar did not mention the hanging gardens at all, leading some to believe that maybe they were located in another place in Assyria, possibly built by the ruler of Nineveh.

32:45 The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was a massive Greek temple known for its impressive columns and ornate detail, and it was dedicated to the goddess Artemis, who was the Greek precursor to the Roman Diana and the goddess of fertility, the hunt, and the moon.

37:40 The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was a popular tourist destination and a statue of Artemis, adorned with what some believe to be bull testicles, was a major attraction, with replicas being sold in gift shops to boost the local economy; however, in 356 BC, a pyromaniac named Herostratus burned down the temple for the sole purpose of gaining infamy.

42:35 The temple was eventually rebuilt after being burned down, but it was raided and destroyed multiple times, including by an earthquake and a Christian mob.