Bettany Hughes on the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World | Dan Snow's History Hit

People have always looked to the wonders of the ancient world for awe and inspiration. In the Ancient era, people embarked on dangerous pilgrimages to visit storied sites like the Pyramids of Giza, or the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. While only one of them remains, they still excite us thousands of years later.
Bettany Hughes, author of 'The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World', joins Dan to talk about what they were like when they were first built, and what remains of them today.
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#historyhit #podcast #sevenwondersoftheworld
00:00 Introduction
00:32 Where did the '7 Wonders' come from?
09:11 Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
10:43 The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
13:52 The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
17:50 The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
20:25 The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
23:49 The Colossus of Rhodes
27:36 The Lighthouse of Alexandria

[@edgarsnake2857]

It's great to see Bettany Hughes still playing her A game. Her enthusiasm for her subject is inspiring. Thanks, HH.

[@HistoryHit]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ndennant]

Bettany Hughes is always at the top of her game. Always a pleasure to hear her speak so passionately of history.

[@Emthe30something]

What a delightful conversation.

[@insulaarachnid]

Bettany Hughes is such a charismatic historian, I always enjoy her work.

[@Morgana0x]

I love Bettany Hughes. The way she describes and explain things is so engaging and informative.

[@user-je3to1lp4x]

I think the hanging garden is a favorite place because we all have an image of what it looks like. Imagination what a wonderful thing

[@GoblinFM]

2 for the price of 1 - literally priceless combination of Bettany Hughes and Dan Snow ! THANKS "GUYS"

[@Arkantos117]

The Colossus of Rhodes was definitely the one that caught my imagination as a kid, that and the lighthouse. I always imagined triremes sailing into port with these big structures looming over them and it just seemed much cooler than some landlocked monument.

[@haldorasgirson9463]

I have loved listening to Bettany since I first stumbled across her documentary on Crete.

[@annmoore6678]

When we were visiting Knossos, they had us wait to enter because the BBC was filming and it was actually Bettany Hughes filming "The Minotaur's Island." We saw her strolling about as the cameras recorded. We've been huge fans for many years.

[@Maya_Ruinz]

Love this woman, could listen to her for hours, the passion just pours out of her.

[@steveh111]

What a wonderful interview. Thank you to you both!

[@HistoryHit]

Thanks for listening

[@BustinRootz]

This lady helped me understand ancient history better than most teachers,documentaries, literature. she has a very exceptional way of grabbing a hold of the viewer, and explaining the information in a format that everyone can understand without being so exhausting

[@jome7382]

Fascinating, could listen to Bettany for hours, her knowledge of these things is infectious. Thank you.

[@falovalovaslist]

I always feel with watching Bettany, that we're watching her journey, not just telling one

[@garryt6356]

Prof Hughes…. What a charismatic, passionate and knowledgeable person about the Classic’s!

[@viorelpiscanu9425]

I love this Lady Bettany Hughes! Greetings from Bucarest ROMANIA 💐🍀🤗🌹

[@thomasberrey3774]

I wish,she could sit by my daughter and read history to her, brilliant voice, brings history alive!!

[@gavinsmith9564]

Bettany narrates her own Audio Books so this is almost possible 🙂

[@catofthecastle1681]

Do it yourself!

[@Bammer1520]

Luv Bettany Hughes

[@user-be1ef5ul2g]

Gosh, what a brillant conversation. I shall acquire Prof. Hugh's tome immediately! In my world as a student of Classics, Prof Bettany Hughes shines with the other suns, like Prof Mary Beard, Prof Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, Prof Edith Hall and Dan Snow, etc. What a marvellous erudite conversation; rather like a dinner party conversation with learned people.

[@DallingerM]

Erm ... don’t forget Dr Eleanor Janega

[@user-be1ef5ul2g]

@@DallingerM well, I was thinking of those who I know and whose lectures I’ve attended in university. Isn’t Dr Janega relatively new, and American? I was at university in the UK, so the UK scene is well know to me. I’ve seen some of Dr Janega’s KZbin stuff, but she’s a Mediaevalist, not a Classicist - mediaevals are rather ‘modern’ for us Classicists. 😄

[@DallingerM]

@@user-be1ef5ul2g She is American but I think she’s been teaching in London for a good few years now. She studied at UCL so she’s been in the UK for a little while. You’re very lucky to have attended so many lectures under such a variety of different academics! Agh her subjects are still relative to those who lived in the classical world ... I think she’s very good at what she does!

[@duncansonoryan]

OMG Bettany Hughes!

[@jeff4926]

National Treasure Bettany Hughes, and that's the thumbnail they go with...

[@tonyharpur8383]

Hooray!!!!😁

[@thelilbrans]

She's aging like a fine wine ❤

[@tonyharpur8383]

@@thelilbrans in vino veritas! 😎

[@cannyexplorer5357]

I love her shows. She makes history fun. History teachers could learn a lot from her, mine made history totally boring.

[@maitlen4021]

Marvelous conversation, a privilege to hear.

[@viorelpiscanu9425]

British history Scholl is probably One of the Best world wide! I am big fan ...I have learned so much about history... Thanks to You both too... Bucharest salutes You !

[@MO-go9oo]

An instant classic interview! Always love hearing Bethany Hughes, what a wonderful interview, thank you!

[@Diana-er6fi]

Very enjoyable. Her passion is inspiring. I watch her documentaries with my family. Can’t wait to read her book.😊

[@reet-ko9lg]

Fantastic. This is the type of content I’m subscribed for.

[@vickywitton1008]

I saw Bettany and I was in! I love her programmes!

[@garrymatthews4430]

Great one guy, what a conversation. Love Bettany have wathched all of her TV shows, keep them coming

[@davefellhoelter1343]

me too

[@viorelpiscanu9425]

I can never forget lady Bettany Hughes lessons... Due to her worm Voice.... Apart from knowledge She transmits to us...💐

[@bzgraphicartist]

I

[@mariacavanaugh1010]

Absolutely fascinating. Thank you for the interview and research to help us understand...🎉

[@kariannecrysler640]

Inspiration in video form! How wonderful. History definitely holds more wonders than we can imagine 🥰

[@AbAb-th5qe]

Humanity fears time; Time fears the Pyramids

[@reikimonde]

Love you, Bettany!❤❤❤❤

[@jennywarden2555]

Love Bettany, her documentaries are so good. Would love to see her more on historyhit! Ps. I wonder if Bettany meant to match her outfit to the book cover 🤔 gorgeous colour 🧡

[@jaysmith8199]

What a fascinating enjoyable conversation between 2 people who love history ❤

[@williamrobinson7435]

Brilliant! I really enjoyed this. 🌟👍

[@WiganPaddy]

Just love History - im happy to be the bag carrier and laborer on your next trips 😁

[@NinaHansen2008]

Yes, we do need art!

[@mgcocasal]

The earth without art is just 'eh'.

[@gavinsmith9564]

We need a Bettany & Dan TV show, come on TV Execs.

[@user-xp8nq8wy6l]

Just finished Bettany's book, great read and so informative. She is such a good storyteller of history.

[@Tarabuster]

I absolutely love ❤Bettany Hughes! She brings history alive so eloquently! She's an unapologetic badass too! 💪🏻 I'm a paying subscriber/early adopter of all HH content. Would love if Bettany could do a recurring series. (I would love if she did a series on early Roman history - from the Etruscans. It seems to me that there's far too little discussion on that period in Roman history. Bettany tackling it would be incredible. IMO :)

[@ProfessorM-he9rl]

Great post, thank you.

[@stevemull2002]

Great Vid, ive always liked Bettany, shes very animated in her Egyptian vids, Dan is cool as well,

[@katyoconnor5052]

Great interview. So inspiring.

[@viorelpiscanu9425]

Best regards to Mr. Dan Snow 👍✌️✨too😊

[@MysticChronicles712]

Absolutely mesmerizing! This video beautifully captures the grandeur and mystery of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Each wonder is presented with such detail and reverence, reminding us of the incredible achievements of ancient civilizations. Truly a breathtaking journey through history!

[@saraaranel]

Oh, the enthusiasm! How could you not love it!? 😀

[@kathycochran9232]

7 is the average number of items that people can remember. There was a psychologist who published a paper called “The magic number seven, plus or minus two”.

[@stevebosun7410]

Hello Dan, fascinating insight. Thank you. However, some images/sketches of these wonders would have made it even better.

[@viorelpiscanu9425]

Can anyone imagine that Light House in Alexandria../ so tall.. how they manage to "feed" every single day the fire in Order to keep that working!? And how many trees cut... Mind blowing....😮

[@atar212]

Fantastic!!!! Bettany Huges....my hero!

[@ceanothus_bluemoon]

Delightful!

[@andythomson3379]

Seven: The biggest prime number (aka indivisible) most people can remember as a list of things

[@cleverusername9369]

I've read that that's why most phone numbers (at least in the US) are 7 digits, without the area code.

[@theekatspajamas]

There's at least 20 prime numbers just under 100, let alone all the prime numbers over 100. In fact, at this point in mathematics, we know that there's an infinite number of prime numbers.

[@andythomson3379]

@@theekatspajamas And if you make a list of things, people can generally recall the first 3-4 and last 3-4 items, so 7 is the lucky number.

[@strumitt]

Wow! Excellent!

[@robertn2]

I remember Bettany Hughes history documentaries on PBS. A couple I recalled: First is the search of Helen of Troy and the second I think were Minos. Dan, you show go with her on her adventures.

[@paulw6550]

Positively Enjoyable! Had the pleasure of being at the Palace of Knossos On October 31 2023 and Mr. Snow was there filming. Hopefully we did not get in any of the shots. (-:

[@pendragonsxskywalkers9518]

I love Bettany - she is souch lovely person 😍😍😍💜💜💜 I highly reccomend every documenatry she is in, as well her amazing book about Helen of Troy! 💗💗💗

[@lynnedelacy2841]

Love Bettany and particularly her outfit

[@grahamcarver6836]

What a great video. Love watching Bettany's documentry's on History channel here in Australia. Where can we buy a signed copy of her book.......................... 🏛

[@sunflowerbadger]

A Hellenistic tier list! ❤❤❤ As for 7, it is just outside of the range that we can instantly count without trying, which might be relevant.

[@sirenknight8007]

Anyone remember this on the old view master disk we had in the 70s? It was one of my favorites. I saw the title and immediately started rattling them off, lol, but I’d forgotten a few. I always remember the pyramids, the colossus of Rhodes, and the hanging gardens of Babylon first. Then I remember the lighthouse of Alexandria and can never remember the rest. Haha.

[@yensid4294]

I love the idea of travel guides & tourism in the Helenistic World

[@PercivalC]

15:13 "I'm really fertile and fecund, it's all happening here." - Bettany Hughes, 2024 Jokes aside, Bettany is still today just as remarkable of a beauty as she is a talented presenter. Great video.

[@jasonpowley4913]

When your daily life is traumatic yet normalised, it takes a wonder or extreme situations to feel grounded and connected to the world, you need ways to pull yourself out of your inner world and feel truly part of the world instead of simply subject to it. Swimming in the ocean at night in a storm makes me feel EXQUISITE. That's my guess. ❤

[@RachaelPop92]

I see Bettany Hughes and Dan Snow together... I click immediately

[@markg454]

First time I watched her was on Time Team. Her episodes were aces.

[@Joker-yw9hl]

Good stuff

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

Following in the tradition of the classical list, modern people and organisations have made their own lists of wonderful things, both ancient and modern, natural and artificial.

[@viorelpiscanu9425]

Mr. Dan PLEASE send my regards also to your father Mr. Peter Snow... I have admired both of You... We have this old Say in Romania: Aschia nu sare departe de trunchiul unui copac! I leave you to get the translation into ENGLISH... 🍀👍🤝

[@audioTales1974]

She’s still lovely!

[@gordonlawrence1448]

Genesis chapter 1 has been around for a long while and pre-dates many of the cultures mentioned. 1440 BC is often mentioned but there is some evidence the oral tradition is a lot older. RG the burial plot for Sarah bought from the Hittites around 1750BC. The earliest might even pre-date the Assyrians.

[@sliceofheaven3026]

10 commands, 7 wonders. We humans love to attach certain specific numbers to things. Also i am in awe of bacon.

[@yensid4294]

I had always heard that 7 was an important number because of the Pleiades Constellation aka The 7 Sisters. It has 7 prominent visible stars.

[@catebligh]

Cannot wait to see Bettany and Dan discover the Hanging Gardens of Babylon! There, now you have to do it 😆

[@dforbes8783]

Are we going to see them?

[@DallingerM]

I could spend hours listening to Bettany Hughes ramble about history ... this video was far too short!

[@rosemaryamundson4542]

Have any pieces of the Colossus of Rhodes ever been found ?

[@geeay6028]

What is the oldest list found called? I couldn't quite make it out

[@mindmedic9435]

Lucky number 7

[@glynprice3815]

6 x 7 = 42

[@theekatspajamas]

60 x 7 = 420

[@kaloarepo288]

One has to keep in mind that these celebrated structures were built in that part of the world that Hellenistic Greeks (Those after Alexander the Great) were familiar with - there might have been even more wondrous buildings in India, China or indeed the Americas but Greeks didn't know about them.

[@Sabatta]

i think these convos are cool but I really think they'd benefit from some graphics punctuating it. For instance when describing the Colossus and it's positioning, some cut aways would have illustrated the point being made I feel. Just a small suggestion.

[@matthewjay660]

🤔 I never realized that the Seven Wonders were at one time ALL GREEK 🇬🇷 in Alexander the Great's world. 😲🫢 I was thinking the Pyramids were Egyptian, (and they were and are), but the Pyramids were also Ptolemaic Greek too. Heeeey, get it, Greek people. 🇺🇸🤝🇬🇷 I've always wanted to see the Colossus of Rhodes, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Great Statue of Zeus at Olympia.

[@mike9512]

I love this so much. It's so wonderful to see a common thread of humanity running throughout history.

[@karlsenula9495]

So Zeus at Olympia is like a larger Lincoln Memorial?

[@persephoneparr6471]

Awwwww Bettany Hughes 😊 Love her!

[@ryhildo]

has Bettany asked you to change the thumbnail yet? :)

[@boydgrandy5769]

I have often heard of the list as being the 8 wonders of the ancient world. That list includes the Great Wall, of course, so in the modern age, Roman domination of the Greeks has reduced the value of Greek wonder lists.

[@davefellhoelter1343]

Original TOUR guids! any ancient or modern list "wounders of?" or artifacts that? is a tourist trap power generation device.

[@Oldleftiehere]

ARTEMIS!

[@willemfraser267]

To this day I still have the biggest crush on Bettany....even though Im half her age 😂

[@PercivalC]

Join the club brother!

[@markmorris7123]

Bettany Hughes...I use to have a mega crush on her

[@PercivalC]

I used to have a mega crush on Bettany Hughes too. I still do, but I used to too.

[@cweefy]

Oh noooo

[@DogWalkerBill]

There are questions about where the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were. The obvious is Babylon. My understanding is that no sign of the gardens have been found there. Some archeologists think they were in Nineveh. Both are in modern Iraq, not a real friendly place for Westerners.

[@djscottdog1]

Who decided the 7, maybe no one , maybe there were no other buildings that deserve to make the list

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

I know the answer! I was born on 7 May…a long time ago. That’s why 😂

[@fernalicious]

37 is everywhere.

[@glynprice3815]

What about 42?

[@knine1652]

Bettany's chest is a wonder of the world.

[@dennisfarris4729]

YOUR HEAD HAS SEVEN ENTRANCES?