INCREDIBLE LOST CITIES of the Ancient World
INCREDIBLE LOST CITIES of the Ancient World
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00:00Cities come and cities go. Some fall to war, some are swallowed in desert sands,
00:06and some are victim to nature's wrath. Luckily though, they often leave behind
00:10ruins. So although they are lost for a while, we eventually stumble upon their
00:15remains. And today we're exploring 15 lost cities of the ancient world. Let's
00:20begin with number 15, Herculaneum. In the shadow of Mount Vesuvius on the Bay of
00:24Naples lies the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum. Or rather, it did lie. Once
00:30upon a time before the volcano wiped it out. Well, now Herculaneum is often
00:34overshadowed by its more famous neighbor, Pompeii. But this ancient city deserved
00:39some props too. Over time the town flourished under its Roman rule. It
00:43became a popping little resort town, popular with the elite because of its
00:46stunning views and luxurious villas. The richest of the rich flock to Herculaneum
00:51to kick back and relax in style, but even money can't buy your way out of a
00:55volcanic eruption. And the fate of this ancient city is the same as Pompeii's.
01:00Well, sort of. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, Pompeii was buried under layers
01:06of ash and pumice. Herculaneum, however, was engulfed by a pyroclastic flow, which
01:11is a fast-moving mixture of hot gas, ash, and rock fragments. And because the city
01:15was covered so quickly, it was really well preserved. Bad news for the
01:19residents, since they all died almost instantly, but good news for historians,
01:23since they can learn a lot about what life was like in the ancient city. We
01:27really only knew about it through ancient texts and the odd surface
01:30discovery. However, all that changed in the 18th century, when the town was
01:34rediscovered during excavations led by the Bourbon King of Naples, Charles III.
01:38Basically, the entire city was encased in a thick layer of pyroclastic material,
01:43which solidified into a dense protective shell. So, the town's structures and
01:48artifacts were all well-preserved. And as such, Herculaneum's ruins offer a
01:52wealth of insights into Roman life, architecture, and culture. The town's most
01:56notable feature includes its luxurious villas, public baths, and the striking
02:00shoreline, which is why it was the go-to choice for rich vacays back in the day.
02:05Number 14. Carthage. Carthage was a force to be reckoned with in its time. It was
02:12once a formidable maritime power, a busy commercial hub, and a center for
02:16intellect, culture, and learning. Carthage was founded by the Phoenicians in the
02:209th century BC, and it quickly became the dominant force in the Mediterranean.
02:23The city controlled entire trade routes, established colonies, and challenged the
02:28supremacy of rival empires like Rome and Greece. It was located in the Gulf of
02:32Tunis, and Carthage was a powerhouse. Its influence was spread wide and it
02:37attracted people from all over the ancient world. However, although Carthage
02:40was powerful, it wasn't immune to the effects of war. Carthage was destroyed in
02:44146 BC during the famous Punic Wars. However, luckily, we do have some ruins
02:50left though. Given Carthage's status, these ruins have been widely explored in
02:54the hopes that we, as a modern society, can learn more about this city on the
02:58Gulf. Life here revolved around trade, industry, and religion. The city had
03:02bustling markets full of goods like pottery, textiles, and precious metals, as
03:07well as foods. Workshops produced things like weapons, jewelry, and luxury items,
03:11and the city itself had a wide assortment of shrines, temples, and
03:14sanctuaries. And although the city fell to war, the ruins are fairly well
03:19preserved, so it gives us a pretty nice look back into ancient Phoenician and
03:23Roman life. Number 13. Troy. Troy. Few ancient cities are as famous as the
03:30legendary city of Troy. In fact, Troy is, hands down, one of the most legendary and
03:35enigmatic sites in human history. It's known for its epic stories about the
03:39Trojan War. Troy existed only in the storybooks for centuries. It was
03:43literally lost. Now, the story of Troy begins in the Bronze Age, around the
03:48third millennium BC, when the city was founded. At first, it was just a small
03:52settlement near the Dardanelles Strait, and over the centuries, though, Troy grew
03:55into a thriving city-state. Because of its location, it was coveted prize for
04:00rival powers who wanted it so they could gain control of maritime trade in the
04:04Aegean region. Now, Troy's claim to fame was from Homer's epic poem, The Iliad.
04:08In it, the wife of Menelaus, Helen, was abducted by the Prince of Troy, Paris.
04:13This abduction sparked a decade-long conflict that ended in the city's
04:17destruction by way of the iconic Trojan horse. Now, for centuries, no one knew the
04:21exact location of the city, was it real, and how much of Homer's story was true.
04:25Well, it wasn't until the 19th century when German archaeologist Heinrich
04:29Schliemann started excavating at a site near the village of Hisarlik. To his
04:33surprise, he discovered massive fortifications, defensive walls, and a
04:37trove of artifacts. All these findings corresponded to the descriptions of Troy
04:42found in ancient texts, and voila, the Bronze Age city of Troy had finally been
04:46found. But what really happened to Troy? Well, there's evidence to suggest a
04:51massive fire swept through the city sometime around 1200 BC, decimating a lot
04:55of the structures. This likely caused the mass evacuation of the city, although no
04:59one knows for sure. But, in any case, the city was abandoned sometime in the early
05:03centuries for the first millennium BC. The ruins lay hidden beneath layers of
05:07soil, sediment, until their rediscovery. Word is still out on what happened to
05:12Helena and Paris, though, the part of Troy that's still believed to be firmly
05:15rooted in myth. Number 12. Petra. Also known as the Rose City, when it comes to
05:23sheer beauty, few lost cities of the ancient world can even hold a candle to
05:27the stunning city of Petra. The remains of this city are located in the rugged
05:31desert landscapes of modern-day Jordan, where the city was carved into the rose
05:35red sandstone cliffs. Petra is renowned for its incredible architecture, its rich
05:40history, and its enigmatic beauty. The city was abandoned for centuries before
05:43it was rediscovered in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Bracquart.
05:48Apparently, he disguised himself as an Arab merchant to explore the area, and
05:52lo and behold, he found this long-lost city. Petra was built sometime during the
05:564th century BC, when it was established as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom.
06:00Now, the city was strategically located at the crossroads of major trade routes
06:04and it linked Arabia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean. And as such, Petra was a
06:08bustling city, known for its wealth, commerce, and culture. So, what happened to
06:14the prosperous city of Petra? Well, it was probably a combination of things. The
06:18decline of the Nabataean Kingdom, earthquakes, and changes in trade routes
06:22all played a part in the decline. By the 6th century, the city was pretty much
06:26abandoned, and the people who had once lived there moved on to other regions.
06:29Historians have gained a pretty good understanding of Petra through
06:32archaeological excavations and historical records, but the oral
06:35traditions of the Bedouin tribes have also helped filled in some gaps, since
06:40they've been living in the region for centuries. The city had a wide assortment
06:43of tombs, temples, theaters, and homes, all of which were intricately carved into the
06:48sandstone. Petra is now one of Jordan's most popular tourist spots, but the ruins
06:53are fragile, so there are efforts in place to save and protect what little we
06:57have left of the Rose City.
07:00Number 11. Angkor. Angkor is one of those lost cities that was really never lost
07:07to locals, but because it wasn't widely known to the outside world, we deem it
07:12lost. The city was located at the heart of Cambodia's dense jungle, and it was
07:16once part of the Khmer Empire, and it's best known today for Angkor Wat, a grand
07:20and sophisticated monument, which is often called a masterpiece of ancient
07:24architecture. Angkor Wat came about in the 12th century, when the King Survayarman
07:28II ascended to the throne of the Khmer Empire. He wanted to
07:32establish a lasting legacy, as kings do, to assert his divine right to rule, so he
07:38commissioned the construction of Angkor Wat. It was to be a grand temple
07:41dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, whom he considered his patron deity. Angkor
07:46Wat was built, and if his objective was to build something lasting, then yeah,
07:50objective met. Today, Angkor Wat is one of the most famous ancient religious
07:54monuments in the world. Eventually, though, the city was abandoned, and no one
07:58really knows why, but historians generally chalk it up to changes in
08:01religious and political dynamics. For centuries, the temple remained hidden in
08:05the jungle, known about only to locals, but when French explorer Henri Mohot
08:09went poking around in the jungle in the mid-19th century, he came across this
08:13extraordinary temple. He described the marvel, complete with its series of
08:17concentric galleries, courtyards, and towers, all arranged in a symmetrical
08:21layout. He detailed the central sanctuary, crowned by five lotus-shaped
08:26towers, and needless to say, this sparked interest. The walls here are adorned with
08:31intricately carved scenes from Hindu mythology, historical events, and everyday
08:35life in ancient Cambodia. These carvings offer insights into the Khmer society,
08:40religion, and the cultural practices that provide us with a window into the rich
08:44lives of the people who once lived there. Today, Angkor Wat is one of Cambodia's
08:48most iconic tourist attractions. Although much of the city is in ruins, it gives us
08:52a glimpse of what the city would have been like. The word grand comes to mind.
08:58Number 10. Ciudad Perdida. Once upon a time, the ancient city of Ciudad Perdida
09:04flourished, but when the city was abandoned, the jungle took over and
09:08devoured it. It was built by the Tairona civilization. It's believed that the city
09:13was at its peak between the 11th and the 14th centuries AD. However, when the
09:17Spanish conquistadors arrived in the late 16th century, they found the city
09:20abandoned. They left it to be swallowed by the relentless growth of the
09:25surrounding rainforest. But what we do know about this place comes primarily
09:28from archaeological excavations, as well as the oral traditions of the indigenous
09:32tribes in the region. The city had about 2,000 to 8,000 residents in its heyday.
09:37Now, that's a lot of people for the time, so the city would have been a significant
09:40one, both for population and for the culture in pre-Columbian times.
09:44Structurally, the city had a series of terraces that were carved into the
09:48mountainside. These terraces were connected by stone staircases and
09:51pathways. The people would have used them for agriculture, and they likely grew
09:56crops like maize, which is corn, beans, and yucca in the steep terrain. It also had a
10:01main hub, the downtown core. It was a network of plazas, temples, and ceremonial
10:07buildings. These were all constructed with precision-cut stone blocks, and
10:11the people who lived there were skilled artisans, and they produced a wide range
10:14of pottery, jewelry, and textiles. Furthermore, the city was a strategic
10:18location for trading. Since it was located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa
10:22Marta mountain range, it facilitated trade routes with neighboring communities
10:26along the Caribbean coast. Once the city was abandoned, though, it became hidden in
10:30the jungle. In fact, it was only known about to the indigenous people in the
10:33region. It wasn't officially discovered by the outside world until the 1970s, when
10:38treasure hunters were exploring the area based on rumors of unfound gold and
10:43wealth.
10:44Number 9. Palmyra
10:47The ancient city of Palmyra once sat in the heart of the Syrian desert, but
10:51unlike other ancient cities, this city was lost not once, but twice. The first
10:56time it was lost was to the desert sands. The second time it was lost was to war.
11:01Well, Palmyra was a grand city renowned for its magnificent architecture, rich
11:05history, and strategic location along the Silk Road. But the city was eventually
11:10abandoned, and although there are several theories as to why residents hit the
11:13road, no one knows for sure. The city emerged in the first century A.D., and
11:18was first inhabited by the Semitic people known as the Palmyrenes. The city
11:22sat at the crossroads of major trade routes, and when I say major, I mean
11:26major. This city linked the Roman Empire with Persia, India, and China, so you
11:31better believe it was a hub of commerce. By the third century, though, the city
11:36was a ghost town, where environmental change is the culprit, or economic
11:40decline, maybe, war, political instability. All these reasons are possible, but
11:44without any concrete evidence, they're all just guesses. The city's most iconic
11:49landmarks, though, include the Temple of Bel, the Temple of Balshamin, the
11:52Ark of Triumph, and the Agora. The ruins here boast a unique blend of Greek,
11:57Roman, Arabian, and Persian architectural styles, which reflect the city's
12:02strategic importance. The Temple of Bel in particular features towering columns
12:06and majestic courtyards, so it's entirely possible that it was once an epic
12:10center of religious worship and pilgrimage. Even so, once the city was
12:14abandoned, it was lost to the desert's shifting sands. It wasn't rediscovered
12:18until the 17th century. For a long time after its rediscovery, archaeologists
12:22studied the ruins of this ancient city to learn more about the people of that
12:26time. However, sadly, when civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, a lot of the
12:31ancient structures were destroyed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or
12:35ISIS. What's left now is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but a lot of the city is
12:40now gone forever, which is sad, because an ancient city isn't exactly something
12:44we can replace.
12:468. Ephesus
12:48Ephesus is an ancient city with a huge legacy. It played a pivotal role in
12:53shaping the history of the ancient Mediterranean of the Greco-Roman world.
12:57It had humble beginnings, starting out as a small settlement, but over time,
13:01that settlement grew into a thriving city before its decline in the 7th century
13:05AD. The city was founded by Greek colonists, and when it comes to ancient
13:10cities and their subsequent success, well, you know what they say, it's all
13:13about location, location, location. Ephesus had a prime location on the
13:17coast. It was nice and close to a number of important trade routes that linked
13:21Greece, Asia Minor, and the Middle East. Eventually, though, it came under Roman
13:26rule, and once that happened, the city really flourished. Ephesus became the
13:30capital of the province of Asia, and as the capital, it was a destination for
13:34anyone and everyone, welcoming travelers from all over the Roman Empire. But a
13:38proposed combination of factors, such as earthquakes, silting of the harbor, and
13:42changes in trade routes, caused the residents of Ephesus to take up residence
13:46somewhere else, and the city fell into obscurity. Today, though, we do have
13:50some pretty cool ruins. For example, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of
13:54Artemis, the theater, and the Agora give us a snapshot into the cultural
13:58diversity and sophistication of this ancient city. And luckily, the ruins are
14:02pretty well-preserved, so historians can study this ancient city to learn more
14:06about how a variety of different cultures blended together to create the
14:10unique and once-grand city of Ephesus. Moving on to number 7, Tikal. Towering
14:17pyramids and sprawling plazas? Well, welcome to the ancient city of Tikal.
14:21This city is located deep within the dense jungles of northern Guatemala, and
14:25today it stands as an example of the resilience of the ancient Mayan
14:29civilization. Tikal was once a powerful city-state, but before it rose to power,
14:33it had a humble start. The city started as a modest agricultural settlement
14:37sometime around 2000 BC. By the Late Classic period, though, I'm talking about
14:42600-900 AD, Tikal had reached its peak. It was one of the largest and most
14:47influential cities in the Mayan world. However, it was eventually abandoned and
14:51no one really knows why. Deforestation, soil depletion, and political instability
14:56are all possible reasons, but whatever the case, Tikal was deserted by the 10th
15:00century AD. Today, we study its ruins to try to learn more about why this city
15:05was lost. The iconic landmarks here include the Great Plaza, the Temple of
15:09the Jaguar, the Temple of the Mask, and the North Acropolis. Each landmark
15:14speaks to the grandeur of this city as well as to its power. So, what was life
15:19like here? Given the amount of altars, temples, and pyramids, we know that
15:23religion played a crucial role. The city likely saw its fair share of religious
15:27sacrifices and festivals to honor the gods, and it was also likely a hub of
15:31agriculture and wealth given the many structures within the city. Once it was
15:35abandoned, though, the jungle took over, which was a good thing because the city
15:39remained well-preserved, so much so that it wasn't rediscovered until the 19th
15:42century. Its rediscovery sparked renewed interest in the Maya civilization and
15:47inspired a lot more treks into the region to see what other secrets or cities lay
15:52lost beneath the jungle's unforgiving vegetation.
15:566. Mesa Verde The Mesa Verde Plateau sits on the cliffs
16:00of southwestern Colorado. It's way up there that you'll find Mesa Verde National
16:05Park, and in that park is the remarkable archaeological treasures of the
16:08ancestral Puebloans. For centuries, this ancient civilization thrived in the
16:13rugged landscape. They built elaborate cliff dwellings, villages, and ceremonial
16:17sites. Some of the settlements are as old as 1,000 years. They rose to the
16:21challenge of harsh environments by building multi-story stone structures,
16:25terraced fields, and elaborate irrigation systems. But like most other lost
16:29cities, Mesa Verde was eventually abandoned, and for centuries, it remained
16:33hidden. It wasn't rediscovered until the late 19th century by European
16:37settlers, but it really wasn't fully explored until fairly recently. Today,
16:42we've come to value the ruins of this ancient city, and the national park there
16:46is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so the ruins will be protected while they
16:50continue to be studied. But until we learn more, one thing is for sure, Mesa
16:54Verde is a symbol of America's rich cultural heritage and an example of the
16:58resilience and spirit of the ancestral Puebloans.
17:025. Great Zimbabwe Great Zimbabwe is located in southern
17:07Africa, and the importance of this lost ancient city can't be overstated.
17:11Great Zimbabwe is a remarkable place, known for its monumental stone
17:15structures, massive walls, and detailed carvings. It's one of Africa's most
17:20important archaeological sites. This city was founded in the 11th century
17:24AD by the ancestors of the Shona people. Over time, it became a powerful
17:28kingdom, and it dominated trade routes and was the epicenter for commerce,
17:32religion, and politics. At its peak, Great Zimbabwe housed thousands of
17:36people, which is a lot for that time, but its decline came around the 15th
17:40century. But what caused its decline is a mystery. The city was deserted,
17:45and although it's not clear why, archaeologists have given us invaluable
17:48information about this ancient lost city. Key landmarks include the Great
17:52Enclosure, the Hill Complex, and the Valley Ruins. The ruins feature massive
17:57stone walls, complex passageways, and finely crafted sculptures that depict
18:01everyday life, religious practices, and royalty. The city was built on fertile
18:05ground, so the city supported a thriving agricultural economy. Crops included
18:10maize, millet, and sorghum, and the city would have traded these crops far and
18:13wide for things like gold, ivory, and pottery. It also had a lot of sacred
18:18sites dedicated to ancestral spirits and deities, so religion was alive and well
18:22in Great Zimbabwe. Today, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so
18:26archaeologists can continue to explore this ancient city and its legacy.
18:314. ZERZURA
18:34The lost city of Zerzura is so lost, it hasn't actually ever been found, and as
18:39such, this city captured imaginations of people for centuries with the tales of
18:44hidden oases, untold riches, and mysterious white buildings. The city is
18:49mentioned in medieval Arabic manuscripts and captivated European explorers in
18:53the 19th and 20th centuries, but despite exhaustive expeditions to find it, no
18:57one has been successful. The first known references to Zerzura date back to
19:01medieval Arab texts, including a 13th century book of treasures by Al-Himyari.
19:06In that book, the city was described as a white city filled with treasures.
19:10However, the city was said to be guarded by black giants, and only those who were
19:15pure of heart could enter it. Now, that last part isn't likely true and might be
19:18one of the reasons that some people don't believe it actually existed. But,
19:22for those who do believe, they've spent a lot of time and energy trying to find
19:25this ancient city of riches. Zerzura is often described as a city with white
19:30buildings which led to its nickname, the White City of the Desert. These
19:34structures were said to gleam brilliantly in the harsh sunlight of the Sahara. It
19:39was also said to be an oasis with lots of water and lush vegetation. However,
19:43despite countless expeditions, the harsh conditions and the vast shifting sands
19:47have kept its secrets well. Perhaps, with time, the sands will shift again and
19:52will uncover this long-lost ancient city. But, for now, we'll have to make do
19:55with many historical references.
19:593. Machu Picchu Machu Picchu is one of the world's most
20:03iconic sites. But, what we see today is a far cry from the once-prosperous city
20:08nestled high in the mist-covered peaks of the Andes Mountains. Machu Picchu is
20:13often referred to as the Lost City of the Incas, which is fitting since the city
20:17was lost to the outside world for hundreds of years. Only the indigenous
20:21peoples knew about the remains of this iconic city, that is, until 1911. During
20:26an expedition in search of Vilcabamba, which was the last refuge of the Inca
20:30resistance against the Spanish conquest, American historian and explorer Hiram
20:34Bingham stumbled upon the ruins of Machu Picchu. The city was constructed in the
20:3915th century, when the Inca Empire was at its peak. It was a royal estate and
20:43religious sanctuary for the Inca Emperor Pachacuti and his descendants. And, it
20:48had a pretty royal location perched on a ridge overlooking a river valley. The
20:52location gave the city natural defenses as well as a pretty epic backdrop for all
20:56the ceremonial rituals that took place there. The agricultural zone was built on
21:01steep slopes and allowed the Inca to cultivate crops like maize, potatoes, and
21:04quinoa. The urban zone featured stone buildings and temples, and they had
21:08functional designs as well as some amazing architectural beauty. The most
21:12famous structure here is the Hitching Post of the Sun, and one look at it and
21:16you can see why it's so revered. This structure was likely an astronomical
21:20observatory, and while it is the most famous, the Temple of the Sun, the Royal
21:24Palace, and the Sacred Palace, they're all noteworthy too in their own right.
21:28Despite all the significance here though, the city was abandoned sometime during
21:31the late 16th century. No one knows why, but many historians believe it has
21:35something to do with the Spanish conquest and the slew of pesky diseases
21:39brought over by the European invaders. Today, this lost city is one of the most
21:44visited tourist destinations in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and
21:48an enduring legacy of the iconic Inca Empire.
21:52Number 2. Pompeii
21:55The name Pompeii often conjures up images of a spewing volcano and a city
22:00covered in lava. In the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, the ancient city of Pompeii
22:04once thrived as a bustling hub of commerce and culture in the Roman Empire.
22:09Today, however, Pompeii stands as a haunting reminder of the destructive
22:12power of nature. The city was decimated by the cataclysmic eruption of
22:16Vesuvius in 79 AD. On August 24th in that year, Mount Vesuvius erupted.
22:22This eruption was so fierce that it's considered one of the loudest sounds to
22:26ever be heard on Earth. The residents here didn't stand a chance. It's
22:30estimated that it took around 10 to 20 minutes for the entire city to become
22:34engulfed in hot avalanches of rock, ash, and gases. Most of the city's 20,000
22:39residents were killed within 15 minutes, according to historians.
22:43The city of Pompeii, buried beneath layers of volcanic debris, was largely
22:47forgotten about for almost 1,700 years. In the 18th century, the city was
22:52rediscovered during excavations. It was a remarkable thing because the city was
22:56very well preserved. As such, it gave us an unprecedented insight into what
23:00daily life would have been like for the people of Pompeii. The city is laid out
23:04in a grid of streets, and the streets are lined with houses, temples, shops,
23:08and public buildings. Among the most famous is the Forum, the Amphitheater,
23:12the House of the Veti, and the Villa of Mysteries. Each of these buildings speak
23:17to the wealth, sophistication, and artistic achievements of Pompeian society.
23:21Pompeii was a thriving city full of busy markets, workshops, temples, shrines,
23:26and taverns. It also held numerous religious festivals and ceremonies to
23:30honor the Roman gods and goddesses. Had Mount Vesuvius not blown up, who knows,
23:35perhaps Pompeii would have become a modern European bucket list destination.
23:39Nature, though, had other plans for this prosperous city by the bay, and today,
23:43it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Italy's most visited tourist
23:47destinations. So even though this ancient city was lost to a volcano, its legacy
23:51still lives.
23:53Number 1. Babylon
23:55Babylon was once a magnificent city nestled along the banks of the Euphrates
24:00River in ancient Mesopotamia. It holds a special place in history as one of the
24:04most iconic and mysterious lost cities. Flourishing around 2300 B.C., Babylon
24:11became a symbol of wealth, culture, and architecture. Today, the ancient lost
24:15city of Babylon intrigues historians and adventurers, not just for its grandeur,
24:19but for the mysteries that surround its decline. It reached its heyday under the
24:24reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II. He transformed the city into a dazzling
24:28metropolis. The city was famed for its towering ziggurat, its legendary hanging
24:34gardens. These gardens, if they really existed, were said to feature lush
24:38terraces of exotic plants that cascaded from high stone structures. Babylon was
24:43also celebrated for its grand walls and gates, especially the stunning Ishtar
24:47Gate, which was adorned with vibrant blue tiles and depictions of dragons and
24:52bulls. After a series of conquests, though, the city fell into decline. By the
24:562nd century CE, Babylon was largely abandoned, and its once-bustling streets
25:01were deserted.
25:02Babylon is particularly fascinating as a lost city because it blends myth and
25:07reality. For example, ancient texts and biblical stories, like the Tower of
25:11Babel, tell the story of a city that aspired to touch the heavens, only to be
25:16brought low by divine intervention. It did exist, though, and its rediscovery in
25:20the 19th century by European archaeologists unearthed some of its hidden
25:24treasures. Archaeologists found remnants of Babylon's glorious past, including
25:29parts of the Ishtar Gate and the foundations of the Grand Ziggurat. These
25:33discoveries have confirmed some of the ancient accounts and the stories. The
25:37Hanging Garden, though, has not been confirmed yet, so it just goes to show
25:41that it's hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to this ancient
25:44city. In any case, today the ruins of Babylon are a UNESCO World Heritage
25:48Site. Efforts to preserve and study the ruins continue, revealing more about the
25:52daily life, benefits, and innovations of the Babylonians. But the mystery of
25:57Babylon continues to capture our imaginations, and stories of lost gardens
26:02and colossal towers still swirl around the ancient ruins of Babylon.