Prompt Cast
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: A Brief History
TLDR The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were a collection of man-made sites and attractions that were highly regarded in the ancient world. While some wonders, like the Great Pyramid of Giza, still exist today, others, like the Temple of Artemis and the Lighthouse of Alexandria, were destroyed over time. The existence of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the wonders, is still debated among historians.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were a list of man-made sites and attractions that travelers in the ancient world were encouraged to see.
01:30
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only remaining wonder of the ancient world and was the first one to be created, with its original smooth limestone surface now mostly looted.
02:52
The Mausoleum at Helikarnassus was a highly ornate tomb that was destroyed by earthquakes and used as building material for a castle, leaving only broken pillars and stones.
04:18
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was a tall structure built on the island of Theros that guided ships into the port of Alexandria, but was eventually destroyed by earthquakes and replaced with a fort.
05:39
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus had three different versions, with the final version being destroyed during an invasion in 268 CE.
07:09
The Colossus of Rhodes was a giant statue of the Greek god Helios that stood on the harbor of Rhodes, but it was destroyed by an earthquake and later melted down by an invading army, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon may not have actually existed.
08:38
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon may not have actually existed, as there are no first-person accounts of people who visited Babylon mentioning it, it is not located near the other ancient wonders, and efforts to pin down its location have been inconclusive.
