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Welcome to the video about the man who travelled the world in ancient times and wrote a blog about it. His name was Herodotus, and he is considered the father of history and the first travel writer. In this video, we will follow his footsteps as he visited different lands and cultures, and learn how he recorded his observations and stories in his famous work, The Histories . Join us as we discover the amazing life and legacy of Herodotus, the ancient traveller. #brightside #brightsideglobal TIMESTAMPS: 0:01 2,500-year-old travel blog 08:26 What kind of blog should you start? 18:54 Ancient monoplane This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
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00:00The profession of a travel blogger is far more ancient than you can imagine.
00:04Yeah, the first ones appeared around 2,500 years ago.
00:08Meet Herodotus, historian, travel blogger, genius, billionaire, philanthropist.
00:15Just kidding.
00:16Herodotus had been all over the place, and by the time he hit 60, he had seen more spots than
00:21anyone else on Earth.
00:22But as Instagram wasn't around yet, he had to whip out his papyrus and wrote what we now know as
00:28the first ever travel guide, the history.
00:31In his book, he spilled the tea on people, places, animals, and plants.
00:36He was particularly fond of Egypt.
00:39By the way, most of the stuff Herodotus described is still there, so his guide is not that outdated even
00:45today.
00:46If you're ever in Egypt, you can actually check out the same monuments and sites Herodotus saw.
00:52One spot that Herodotus cruised to was Lake Morris down the Nile.
00:56This place was legit.
00:58A freshwater lake that got its water straight from the Nile.
01:01There was this city called Crocodopolis chilling on its shores.
01:06Yep, there were a lot of crocodiles there.
01:08That city is also still around today, just under a different name, Fayoum.
01:13Right in the middle of Lake Morris, there were two giant pyramids that took Herodotus' breath away.
01:19Here comes the mystery.
01:21At the moment, these two pyramids are gone.
01:24Seems like, according to the travel guide, we're missing two Egyptian pyramids.
01:29Herodotus claimed Lake Morris was man-made, like someone dug it up with their bare hands.
01:35He thought so because there were two pyramids smack dab in the middle of the lake.
01:39But let's face it, it would have been physically impossible to build something like that in a natural lake.
01:45I mean, the ancient Egyptians were pretty advanced, but they definitely didn't have scuba divers and all the essential equipment
01:51back then.
01:52The pyramids were 50 fathoms above the surface and another 50 fathoms below.
01:58Just to give you an idea, one fathom equals six feet, so those pyramids were around 600 feet tall.
02:04That's taller than the famous Pyramid of Giza.
02:08And while the Pyramid of Giza has a modest little capstone, these twin pyramids had statues of pharaohs chilling on
02:15top.
02:15That's why you've never heard of them and there are only a couple of drawings depicting them.
02:21So what happened?
02:23Well, time is ruthless.
02:25Take the great labyrinth Herodotus mentioned, for example.
02:28Nowadays, it's just a pile of rubble and cobwebs.
02:31Even the once-magnificent Lake Morris has changed.
02:34The water there has turned salty, and now it's just a fraction of its original size.
02:39Sure, change is inevitable.
02:41But you would think pyramids would stand strong against the test of time, right?
02:45Their unique designs make them super durable.
02:48So where are these pyramids now?
02:50Well, chances are they never actually existed.
02:55We all know that some travel bloggers tend to exaggerate, right?
03:00Herodotus was no exception.
03:01While some people call him the father of history, others call him the father of lies.
03:07Ouch!
03:08Yeah, his books have false or unverified information sometimes.
03:12For example, he totally blew up the size of the Pyramid of Giza in his guidebook.
03:17He doubled its size.
03:19But hey, cut the guy some slack.
03:21In the pre-Google era when our travel blogger lived, fact-checking was pretty complicated,
03:26especially for Herodotus who couldn't even read those funky Egyptian hieroglyphics.
03:31He had to rely on the locals for info.
03:33Those inconsistencies in Herodotus' book might be just one epic prank pulled by mischievous locals on a clueless tourist.
03:42Classic!
03:44However, there are actually some legit monuments at the site.
03:47The pedestals of Bayamu are the leftover bases of two ginormous statues built by the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Amenemat III.
03:56These ruins used to grace the shores of Lake Morris, but now they chill in the Fayum Oasis, about four
04:03miles north of Fayum City.
04:04The first time these statues were mentioned was by, you guessed it right, the Greek historian Herodotus, who was around
04:11in the 5th century BCE.
04:13Remember the description?
04:15Herodotus said there were two pyramids that soared 50 fathoms above the water's surface,
04:20and each pyramid had a massive statue sitting on the throne at the top.
04:24We have the statues, but not the pyramids.
04:27Weird, right?
04:28There's an explanation, though.
04:30Some scientists believe that Herodotus probably wrote about these statues during a time when the area was flooded.
04:37But hey, it's not just Herodotus who spun this tale.
04:40Diodorus the Sicilian and Pliny the Elder also jumped on the bandwagon, repeating similar claims about these colossal statues.
04:48However, let's not forget that Herodotus might have been a bit lazy.
04:53He never actually got up close and personal with the statues.
04:56He just saw them from across the lake.
04:59So picture this.
05:00Hazy silhouettes in the distance, and Herodotus' imagination running wild with their grandeur.
05:05The description matches, except for the height.
05:12While Lake Morris pyramids seem to be a myth debunked, there's another mystery waiting to be unveiled.
05:18Some time ago, archaeology researcher Angela Mikkel dropped a crazy discovery.
05:23She claimed to have found not one, but two lost pyramid sites in Egypt.
05:28The craziest part is that she didn't even have to leave her couch to find them.
05:33She basically found those pyramids online.
05:36After spending 10 years studying Google Earth, Angela managed to pinpoint these two areas along the Nile Basin.
05:43They're about 90 miles apart, and both have some funky-shaped mounds.
05:47The first one is chilling by the Nile in Upper Egypt, just 12 miles away from Abu Saddam.
05:52The second one, 90 miles north, has a 140 feet wide, four-sided shape.
05:59The second site even has a massive triangular plateau that's a staggering 620 feet wide.
06:05Angela wrote on Google Earth Anomalies back in 2012, saying that the mound looked super flat on top and had
06:12a crazy symmetrical triangular shape that had been worn away over time.
06:17And a second site?
06:18It got this square center that's totally out of the ordinary for a mound this size.
06:23It almost looks like a pyramid when you see it from above.
06:26But not everyone is convinced.
06:29Some Egyptologists say these mounds are just geological features called buttes.
06:34Apparently, they're pretty common in the local Fayyum Desert.
06:37These buttes form when sediment piles up and there's a stubborn layer that doesn't want to erode.
06:43So when the surrounding sediment washes away, that tough layer stays put and makes the hill all flat.
06:50Still, this one's just a theory as of now.
06:55By the way, Egyptian archaeologists just made one more incredible discovery.
07:00This time, it's not a theory, but an actual site.
07:04In January 2023, they found a complete residential city from the Roman era right in the heart of Luxor, a
07:11southern city in Egypt.
07:13This ancient city, dating back 1800 years to the 2nd and 3rd centuries, is actually the oldest and most important
07:21city ever found on the eastern bank of Luxor.
07:24The archaeologists uncovered a bunch of awesome stuff during their excavations.
07:29They found several residential buildings, two pigeon towers that were used to house pigeons or doves, and even some metal
07:36workshops.
07:37Inside those workshops, they stumbled upon a treasure trove of pots, tools, and Roman coins made of bronze and copper.
07:45It's like a real-life time capsule.
07:47This kind of find is pretty rare in Egypt.
07:50Usually, they come across temples and tombs during excavations, especially on Luxor's West Bank, where the famous Valley of the
07:58Queens and Valley of the Kings are located.
08:01But this time, it's all about this amazing residential city.
08:05And get this, back in April 2021, they announced the discovery of a lost golden city on Luxor's West Bank
08:14that's 3,000 years old.
08:16The archaeological team called it the largest ancient city ever found in Egypt.
08:21It's like they're uncovering hidden treasures left and right.
08:25So, have you ever wanted to start a blog?
08:28Well, that's a sign.
08:29And this test will help you decide which type of blog will suit you best.
08:34Are you ready?
08:35Grab a piece of paper and a pen and record your answers.
08:38I'll let you know the results at the end of the video.
08:42Now let's start with your personality.
08:44Which three words would you say describe you best?
08:48A. Creative, resilient, perfectionist.
08:50B. Attractive, confident, creative.
08:53C. Active, adventurous, social.
08:56D. Kind, funny, sensitive.
08:59Or E. Smart, focused, determined.
09:08Do you have any hobbies?
09:09Pick it if it's on the list.
09:11If not, pick something that's closer to you and that you'd like to try.
09:16A. Cooking
09:17B. Music, photography
09:19C. Hiking
09:20D. Reading
09:22Or E. Computer programming
09:31Now, choose a color that best reflects your personality.
09:35A. White
09:36The color of peace and cleanliness.
09:38B. Royal purple is my choice.
09:41It's the color of wealth and nobility.
09:43C. Green is the closest to me.
09:46It's the color of life and nature.
09:48D. My color is happy and joyful yellow.
09:51All the best things are yellow.
09:53Sunshine, autumn, dandelions, and bananas.
09:56Or is it E. Blue?
09:58This color symbolizes inspiration, freedom, and harmony.
10:02Maybe you can relate to that.
10:10What's your favorite way to spend a Friday night?
10:13A. I like to stay at home, cook dinner, and maybe bake something as a treat.
10:17B. I go out with my friends and we have fun.
10:21C. Go for a walk and wander around the city, preferably somewhere new.
10:26D. I like to stay in bed with a book or movie and some snacks.
10:30E. I meditate, do some self-care, and think of my plans and goals.
10:44Now tell me, what's your favorite social media?
10:48A. Reddit
10:48B. Instagram
10:50C. YouTube
10:51D. TikTok
10:53Or E. Twitter
11:03Think of your budget and the way you spend money.
11:06Aside from food and bills, what do you spend the most money on?
11:10A. Kitchen utensils
11:11B. Going out
11:13C. Traveling
11:15D. Books
11:16Or E. Online courses
11:26Now, pick your favorite food.
11:28Again, if it's not in the photos, just pick something that's more your style.
11:32A. Something fancy-looking like seafood
11:35B. Salads and healthy food
11:38C. Something creative from a different culture
11:40D. Pizza
11:42Or E. Coffee and croissant
11:53Now, just pick an outfit that represents your personality.
11:57Make your choice, and don't forget to write it down.
12:00A. Something comfortable and homey
12:02B. Something fancy, expensive-looking
12:05C. Outdoorsy
12:07D. Something neat and simple
12:09Or E. Office style
12:20Your birthday is approaching
12:22There's a choice of 5 gifts you can receive
12:24What will you pick?
12:26A. A set of new shiny pots
12:29B. A gift certificate to a mall
12:31C. A good and big backpack
12:34D. A new set of books from your book list
12:37Or E. Coffee machine
12:47Out of these famous fictional characters
12:50Who do you think is more like you?
12:53A. Monica Geller from Friends
12:55B. Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby
12:58C. Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit
13:01D. Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter franchise
13:04Or is it E. Lisa Simpson from The Simpsons
13:16What's your favorite vacation destination?
13:19A. A city life
13:20Staying in an Airbnb
13:22Going to local restaurants
13:24And getting to know the city
13:25B. A cruise
13:27Where I can fully relax
13:28And take good vacation photos
13:30C. Remote places
13:32Where tourists don't usually go
13:34D. A beach
13:35There's nothing better than spending time at the sea
13:38Or by the pool
13:39And watching a movie in the hotel at night
13:41Or E. The mountains
13:43Where I can be by myself with my thoughts
13:46And come up with new ideas
13:55When you travel to a different city or country
13:58What are you most excited about?
14:01A. Food
14:01I love trying different cuisines
14:04B. I love to dive into city life
14:06Visit restaurants and clubs
14:08And of course, take many photos and post them
14:11C. I enjoy the scenery and talking to the locals
14:14I love to immerse myself in new environments
14:17D. I love to wander around the city without maps
14:21And discover vintage stores and bookshops
14:24Or E. I look forward to visiting museums and exhibitions
14:36You're a traveler walking through the woods
14:38You can go anywhere you want
14:40And there are five roads waiting for you
14:42Which one do you choose?
14:45A. I'll go towards the river
14:46There's water and some fish I can catch
14:49B. Towards the road
14:51I don't want to get lost
14:52The road means there's a city somewhere out there
14:55C. I'll go towards the mountains
14:57There must be beautiful scenery
14:59And maybe there's a hiking trail
15:01D. I'll go further into the woods
15:04And enjoy the experience
15:05E. I'll just turn around and go back where I came from
15:09I don't have time for this
15:17You're on a vacation exploring old caves
15:20And you find a magic lamp
15:22You know what to do
15:23Rub it
15:24So you rub
15:25And a genie appears
15:26But what a bummer
15:28The genie says that you only have one wish
15:30Having three is a myth
15:56Now imagine you got access to a time machine
15:59A. Where would you travel?
16:01A. I would stay in my time
16:03I would rather travel across space, not time
16:05B. To the Victorian times
16:08With fancy balls and dinners
16:10C. I would go to ancient Egypt or Greece
16:13D. I would go a century into the future
16:17E. I would sell it or start giving tours
16:28Imagine that you already have a successful blog
16:31What would you be most pleased to hear about it and you from other people?
16:35A. I love your aesthetic and everything you post is amazing
16:39B. You live an amazingly interesting life
16:43I wish I could be like you
16:44C. You have amazing content
16:47And you inspire me to try new experiences
16:50D. Your content is interesting and fresh
16:53I rely on you for your recommendations
16:55Or E. You inspire me to grow and be better every day
17:00I hope to be successful like you one day
17:10Now, count your answers
17:11Do you have more of A's, B's, C's, or D's?
17:15Then it's time for the results
17:17So what type of blog should you start?
17:20If you have more A's than anything else, then you should consider starting a cooking blog
17:25You probably like cooking or baking, and it's a great way to share your knowledge with the world and try
17:30something new
17:31The blog will motivate you to be better and learn more about your hobby
17:35If you got more B's than anything else, then you should start a lifestyle blog
17:40You're probably a very attractive and open person living a very interesting life
17:44You're sure to find many friends, admirers, or just people who will love watching you and learning about your life
17:51Did you get more C's?
17:53Fun fact, it resembles my report card
17:56Well, I guess you live moving around, and traveling is your true passion
18:01A travel blog is definitely a thing for you
18:04You're a well-traveled person, and you can tell people about it, sharing your experiences, and inspiring people to explore
18:11the world
18:11Was D your most common answer?
18:14Then you could try starting a blog about books and movies
18:17You could write reviews, post quotes, make recommendations, or just share interesting details about what you have noticed
18:24It's up to your creativity, and you'll find a lot of like-minded people
18:28Finally, if you pick most E's, then you should consider starting a professional blog on the topic you're qualified in
18:35or a productivity blog
18:37You're a hard-working and successful person, so you could share your secrets and inspire people
18:42It's always good to have someone to look up to, and you are a great role model
18:49It's 1898, and you're taking part in excavations in Saqqara
18:53This place, not far away from Cairo, is full of ancient tombs and pyramids
18:59You're in your Indiana Jones mood and hope to find something really phenomenal to become famous
19:05Gold, manuscripts, treasure maps, mummies of famous pharaohs
19:10Wait, a wooden bird?
19:13You're really disappointed, as it looks like a regular toy
19:16An old one, but still
19:18Little do you know that years later, someone would propose that your bird was actually an ancient monoplane
19:28So the artifact, nicknamed the Saqqara bird, is made of a sycamore tree
19:33The birdie has a wingspan of just 7 inches and weighs around 40 grams
19:38A perfect original souvenir from Egypt, I would say
19:42It's over 2,000 years old and looks pretty plain, without any carvings of feathers or other intricate ornaments
19:49It has a beak and eyes, though, which makes our find look like a hawk
19:53The emblem of the deity Horus
19:56It's tail is rather unusual, as it's squared, looks weirdly upright, and it seems like the sunken part of it
20:04was the place for a now missing piece
20:08Humans love solving a good mystery, so there have been several attempts to explain the use of the birdie
20:14First, quite simply, is that it was a ceremonial object
20:18The second idea is that it was a toy for a child from some well-off family
20:23It could have been some sort of boomerang, which was a popular concept in ancient Egypt
20:29Then, there was a theory that the bird had been used as a weather vane
20:33But this one has been debunked, as the figure doesn't have any holes or markings
20:38Except for the one made at the museum in Cairo to fix the exhibit on a stick
20:44So, there was no way to hang it in the past
20:47Almost a century after the bird was found, Egyptologist Dr. Khalil Masiha proposed a new theory that it could have
20:55been a model of a monoplane
20:57He believed the bird was missing a horizontal tailplane
21:01Otherwise, it had its wings set at a right angle, similar to that of modern planes
21:07It could have worked to generate the aerodynamic lift necessary for flights
21:11Dr. Masiha also claimed that it was common at that time
21:15To place miniature models of technological inventions in tombs
21:20So, did the ancient Egyptians really invent the plane in 200 BCE?
21:26That would make the Wright brothers, who are considered the inventors of aviation
21:31Really, really upset
21:34They made one of their first flights only in 1903
21:40There's just one way to know for sure
21:43And that is to test the model
21:45But, you know, the ancient museum in Cairo would unlikely let one of their cherished exhibits fly around like a
21:51toy
21:53That's why glider designer Martin Gregory built a similar model
21:57This time, a balsa wood
21:59And concluded that even with the missing tailplane, the plane wasn't much of a flyer
22:04Case solved? Not really
22:06This didn't sound convincing enough to the History Channel
22:10So, they invited an aerodynamics expert to build another replica of the bird
22:16He tested it in weather conditions similar to those in Egypt
22:20And was impressed with the little plane's abilities
22:24So, if they did invent the prototype of a plane back in the times of pharaohs
22:29It would be a good example of an upart
22:31That's an out-of-place artifact
22:34An object that's way ahead of its time in terms of technology or history
22:39And the Saqqara bird isn't the only example of such a revolutionary concept
22:45In 1901, a group of divers retrieved the Antikythera mechanism from an underwater shipwreck
22:51Near the Greek island of Antikythera
22:54It's been dubbed the world's first analog computer
22:57And it's currently dated around 100 BCE
23:00The bronze mechanism could tell the position of the sun, moon, planets, and stars
23:06As well as the lunar phase, the dates of upcoming solar eclipses
23:10And even the speed at which the moon moves through the sky
23:15No one's sure who used it and how or where it was made
23:19But it's obvious that it's extremely precise
23:23And way too advanced for its time
23:26The first flushing toilets in the world were invented in the middle of the 20th century
23:31Just kidding
23:32The ancient Minoans on the Mediterranean island of Crete
23:36And the Indus Valley civilization
23:38Both came up with this brilliant invention at the same time
23:42Around 4,000 years ago
23:43The plumbing and sanitation were so well done
23:47That no one managed to design anything better
23:50Until 2,000 years later
23:52One ancient Minoan lavatory was discovered at the Palace of Knossos
23:58It looks like it had a wooden seat set over a tunnel
24:02That directed water from a rooftop reservoir to an underground sewer
24:06Other varieties got water from jugs
24:09Only the super-rich people could afford all this glory
24:14So if you wanted to shop for real estate back then
24:17The flushing toilet would be a tell-tale sign
24:20You were in the rich neighborhood
24:23Automated doors became a cool, seemingly new invention back in 1931
24:29But the technology behind them is actually much older
24:33Think the 1st century CE old
24:38Mathematician and engineer
24:40Heron of Alexandria
24:41Came up with a hydraulic system to open and close temple doors
24:46To bring it into action
24:48You need to light a fire to produce heat
24:51There was a brass pot under the fire
24:53Half filled with water
24:55The inventor connected the brass pot to containers that acted as weights
25:00When the fire was burning
25:02The water moved into the containers
25:04They went down and pulled the ropes
25:07It was nothing like a supermarket door
25:10That opens in front of you before you even have time to think
25:14Heron's door took hours to open
25:16And there was no way to stop the process
25:19That's why they only opened the doors once a day
25:22Before people entered the temple
25:24To add some mysticism at the temple during ceremonies
25:28Spooky
25:30Looks like the first ever battery was invented in Baghdad around 2,000 years ago
25:36A German archaeologist found this oval-shaped clay jar in 1938
25:42Scientists are still not sure what purpose it served and who exactly invented it
25:48There is a theory that it was used for electroplating objects with precious metals
25:53When they filled it with a weak acid like vinegar
25:56The battery produced around 1 volt of electricity
26:00Another theory says it was a vessel for sacred scrolls
26:04Would you like to buy contact lenses designed by Leonardo da Vinci himself?
26:09In 1508, he invented a glass lens with a funnel on one side
26:14You were supposed to wear it with water inside to improve your vision
26:18Sounds a bit uncomfortable, doesn't it?
26:22So, around a century later
26:24French scientist René Descartes
26:27Decided to improve the idea and make the cornea contact the future lenses
26:32Contacts because they contact your eyes, get it?
26:35The glass tube with liquid did help improve vision
26:39But blinking was sadly impossible
26:41Two and a half centuries later
26:43New technologies in the glass industry
26:46Let scientists design contacts that would fit in the eye
26:49And even let the wearer blink
26:51Thanks guys
26:52Still, those lenses were made of heavy blown glass
26:56And didn't let the eye breathe
26:58About 50 years later
27:00Contacts became plastic
27:01Lightweight, unbreakable, and scratch resistant
27:05But still covering the entire eye
27:07And then, in 1948
27:09An English optical technician accidentally sanded down a plastic lens
27:14And figured out they'd still be in place
27:16Even if they covered only the cornea
27:19Imagine you're living in 19th century London
27:22And need to send a message to New York
27:24It would have taken about 10 days to get there by ship
27:27So, when delivery time went from days to hours in 1858
27:32It was a true sensation
27:33The first message was sent by Queen Victoria herself
27:37It was all made possible
27:39Thanks to the transatlantic telegraph cable
27:42Running under the ocean
27:44Sadly, the new cool invention only lasted a few weeks
27:48It took years to bring it back to life
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