The Lost Cities Podcast

Enter the breathtaking canyons of ancient Jordan with The Lost Cities Podcast as we explore Petra, the legendary "Rose City." Discover the ingenious Nabataean civilization who carved an entire metropolis directly into vibrant sandstone cliffs, mastering desert hydrology to become a powerhouse on the ancient incense and spice trade routes. We'll recount its dramatic decline, its long centuries hidden from the Western world, and the thrilling tale of its "rediscovery" in 1812, revealing why this UNESCO World Heritage site truly feels "half as old as time."

During its golden age, the Silk Road city of Merv was known across Asia as the "Queen of the World"—a massive, opulent center of learning, science, and trade in modern-day Turkmenistan. This week on The Lost Cities Podcast, we uncover the history of its repeated cycles of destruction and rebirth, focusing on its ultimate, devastating demise. Learn how this magnificent metropolis was utterly extinguished by the Mongol horde in 1221 AD and how the systematic destruction of its vital irrigation system ensured its glory was lost to the desert sands forever.

Step into the ancient sands of Egypt as The Lost Cities Podcast unearths Tanis, the powerful capital of Pharaohs during the 21st and 22nd Dynasties. Discover how French archaeologist Pierre Montet's incredible 1939-1940 excavation unveiled a royal necropolis filled with virtually untouched tombs and breathtaking golden treasures, rivalling even Tutankhamun's. We also unravel the sensational Hollywood myths surrounding Tanis, famously (and inaccurately!) depicted in Indiana Jones, separating the cinematic fiction from the astonishing historical truth.

Did the legend of Atlantis begin with a real city? Explore the dramatic fate of Helike, an ancient Greek metropolis that was swallowed by a devastating earthquake and tsunami in 373 BC, inspiring one of history's most enduring myths. This week, we uncover the historical accounts of Helike's destruction and the modern archaeological quest to find its submerged ruins, revealing the incredible truth behind the Atlantis legend.

For centuries, the dense, virtually impassable Honduran jungle protected the legendary Ciudad Blanca, or the White City. This week, we explore the incredible 2012 expedition that used LiDAR technology to pierce the canopy and reveal a massive, unknown civilization. We detail the stunning discovery of the untouched Jaguar Cache—52 priceless artifacts left in place—and investigate the chilling truth behind the ancient warnings: a deadly tropical disease contracted by the research team that proved the legend of the curse was real.

What was El Dorado? An impossibly rich city, a hidden temple, or a single man covered in gold?For centuries, the legend of El Dorado has seduced and destroyed explorers, transforming a sacred ritual into one of history's most tragic quests. This episode separates the gold dust from the greed to find the origin of the myth.We journey to the frigid high plains of the Colombian Andes, home to the ancient Muisca people. Learn about the sacred "Golden Man" (El Dorado), the chief who would cover himself in gold dust and make offerings into the sacred Lake Guatavita—a tradition that inspired centuries of conquest.Then, we trace the legend's explosive transformation: how the Spanish Conquistadors like Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisco de Orellana, fueled by gold fever, chased this legend across the continent and into the deadly Amazon rainforest, leading not to a city of gold, but to disaster, betrayal, and the accidental discovery of the Amazon River itself.Tune in to discover the true, powerful legacy of the legend that defined the conquest of South America.