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The Mystery of Machu Picchu: Lost for 400 Years | Smartest Year Ever (June 12, 2025)
How do you lose an entire city in the mountains—and then find it again centuries later? In this episode, Gordy explores Machu Picchu, the legendary Incan citadel perched high in the Andes Mountains, hidden from the outside world for over 400 years.
We’ll uncover how the Inca built this architectural wonder at 8,000 feet, without wheels, iron tools, or written records—and how a Yale professor accidentally brought it to global fame while looking for something else entirely.
From stonework that defies earthquakes to solar temples that still align with the solstice, this isn’t just a lost city—it’s a masterclass in ancient innovation, spiritual design, and altitude-fueled determination.
Gordy also shares personal stories from visiting the site—llamas, coca leaves, and old military helicopters included.
Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the world’s most breathtaking mysteries.
Sources:
Bingham, H. (1948). Lost City of the Incas. Phoenix Press.
Hemming, J. (1970). The Conquest of the Incas. Harcourt.
Protzen, J.-P. (1993). Inca architecture and construction at Ollantaytambo. Latin American Antiquity, 4(4), 287–318.
Reinhard, J. (2007). Machu Picchu: Exploring an Ancient Sacred Center. Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press.
Salazar, L. C., & Burger, R. L. (2004). The 1912 Yale Peruvian Scientific Expedition Collections from Machu Picchu. Yale Peabody Museum.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Machu Picchu. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/274
National Geographic. (n.d.). Machu Picchu. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/machu-picchu
#MachuPicchu #IncaCivilization #AncientEngineering #LostCity #SouthAmericanHistory #SmartestYearEver #dailyfacts #peru #didyouknow #wondersoftheworld #sevenwonders
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By GordyHow do you lose an entire city in the mountains—and then find it again centuries later? In this episode, Gordy explores Machu Picchu, the legendary Incan citadel perched high in the Andes Mountains, hidden from the outside world for over 400 years.
We’ll uncover how the Inca built this architectural wonder at 8,000 feet, without wheels, iron tools, or written records—and how a Yale professor accidentally brought it to global fame while looking for something else entirely.
From stonework that defies earthquakes to solar temples that still align with the solstice, this isn’t just a lost city—it’s a masterclass in ancient innovation, spiritual design, and altitude-fueled determination.
Gordy also shares personal stories from visiting the site—llamas, coca leaves, and old military helicopters included.
Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the world’s most breathtaking mysteries.
Sources:
Bingham, H. (1948). Lost City of the Incas. Phoenix Press.
Hemming, J. (1970). The Conquest of the Incas. Harcourt.
Protzen, J.-P. (1993). Inca architecture and construction at Ollantaytambo. Latin American Antiquity, 4(4), 287–318.
Reinhard, J. (2007). Machu Picchu: Exploring an Ancient Sacred Center. Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press.
Salazar, L. C., & Burger, R. L. (2004). The 1912 Yale Peruvian Scientific Expedition Collections from Machu Picchu. Yale Peabody Museum.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Machu Picchu. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/274
National Geographic. (n.d.). Machu Picchu. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/machu-picchu
#MachuPicchu #IncaCivilization #AncientEngineering #LostCity #SouthAmericanHistory #SmartestYearEver #dailyfacts #peru #didyouknow #wondersoftheworld #sevenwonders