1 00:00:06,767 --> 00:00:08,567 (eerie dramatic music) 2 00:00:08,567 --> 00:00:10,000 - [Narrator] Across the globe, 3 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,300 ancient architectural marvels stand as testaments 4 00:00:13,300 --> 00:00:15,434 to human ingenuity. 5 00:00:15,434 --> 00:00:17,933 However, within the stunning craftsmanship 6 00:00:17,933 --> 00:00:21,934 of some of these structures, sinister whispers linger. 7 00:00:21,934 --> 00:00:24,933 - People see something that is so majestic, 8 00:00:24,933 --> 00:00:28,767 so perfect, so beautiful that they don't believe 9 00:00:28,767 --> 00:00:30,934 it could have been created by human hands. 10 00:00:32,067 --> 00:00:34,134 - [Narrator] In the Andean heights of Peru, 11 00:00:34,134 --> 00:00:38,100 a colossal stone complex defies explanation. 12 00:00:38,100 --> 00:00:40,567 Its seemingly impenetrable walls 13 00:00:40,567 --> 00:00:43,100 stunning 16th-century conquerors. 14 00:00:43,100 --> 00:00:45,800 - Why did the Spanish believe the Inca 15 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,934 called on dark forces to build their fortress? 16 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:52,201 - [Narrator] Deep in the arid landscape 17 00:00:52,201 --> 00:00:55,700 of Rajasthan, India, the mesmerizing geometry 18 00:00:55,700 --> 00:01:00,267 of an ancient stepwell plunges 13 stories into the earth. 19 00:01:00,267 --> 00:01:04,101 Its intricate design seems almost otherworldly. 20 00:01:04,101 --> 00:01:06,534 - King Chanda is trying to save his kingdom, 21 00:01:06,534 --> 00:01:08,367 so he turns to the dark arts. 22 00:01:08,367 --> 00:01:10,434 - [Narrator] Did a malevolent force perform 23 00:01:10,434 --> 00:01:12,167 this architectural feat? 24 00:01:13,267 --> 00:01:15,634 Rising above the streets of Paris, 25 00:01:15,634 --> 00:01:18,334 the Gothic spires of a famed cathedral 26 00:01:18,334 --> 00:01:21,834 have long echoed tales of demonic pacts. 27 00:01:21,834 --> 00:01:24,600 - This is a bastion of the Christian faith. 28 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:27,000 Demons will want to play with it. 29 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:28,667 - [Narrator] What secrets lie hidden 30 00:01:28,667 --> 00:01:30,967 in its elaborate designs? 31 00:01:30,967 --> 00:01:33,500 Exploring these architectural wonders 32 00:01:33,500 --> 00:01:37,367 uncovers the fine line between genius and the supernatural. 33 00:01:37,367 --> 00:01:38,800 - It seemed like magic, 34 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:40,800 and it's not that much of a leap to go, 35 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,534 "The devil was involved." 36 00:01:42,534 --> 00:01:43,934 - [Narrator] Could it be true? 37 00:01:43,934 --> 00:01:47,667 Or do the real answers lie in forgotten human knowledge? 38 00:01:47,667 --> 00:01:52,867 (dramatic music) (air whooshing) 39 00:02:07,833 --> 00:02:10,700 (playful music) 40 00:02:10,700 --> 00:02:12,900 High in the Andean mountains, 41 00:02:12,900 --> 00:02:15,834 perched above the Peruvian city of Cusco, 42 00:02:15,834 --> 00:02:19,867 lies Sacsayhuaman, a massive stone complex 43 00:02:19,867 --> 00:02:22,434 that has baffled experts for centuries. 44 00:02:22,434 --> 00:02:25,233 - The true purpose of this colossal structure 45 00:02:25,233 --> 00:02:29,267 remains one of the greatest mysteries of Inca archeology. 46 00:02:29,267 --> 00:02:32,734 Its layout hints at a level of sophistication 47 00:02:32,734 --> 00:02:35,567 that we're only beginning to understand. 48 00:02:35,567 --> 00:02:37,033 - [Narrator] With zigzagging walls 49 00:02:37,033 --> 00:02:39,500 that stretch for hundreds of meters, 50 00:02:39,500 --> 00:02:44,067 Sacsayhuaman's cryptic design speaks to a grand purpose. 51 00:02:44,067 --> 00:02:48,767 - Commonly, it was believed that this was a fortress, 52 00:02:48,767 --> 00:02:51,067 and that makes sense when you consider 53 00:02:51,067 --> 00:02:55,367 its defensive walls and strategic location. 54 00:02:55,367 --> 00:02:58,301 - [Narrator] But Sacsayhuaman's mysteries run deeper 55 00:02:58,301 --> 00:03:00,067 than its imposing walls. 56 00:03:00,067 --> 00:03:04,101 Below its foundation is a rumored labyrinth of tunnels, 57 00:03:04,101 --> 00:03:06,800 potentially guarding ancient secrets 58 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:09,833 and a haunted passage to the underworld. 59 00:03:09,833 --> 00:03:12,434 - Was this primarily a military fortress 60 00:03:12,434 --> 00:03:13,967 or a religious center, 61 00:03:13,967 --> 00:03:16,001 or something else entirely? 62 00:03:18,034 --> 00:03:20,100 - [Narrator] When Spanish conquistadors arrived in Cusco 63 00:03:20,100 --> 00:03:23,500 in the 16th century, they were bewildered 64 00:03:23,500 --> 00:03:25,967 by the sight of Sacsayhuaman. 65 00:03:25,967 --> 00:03:28,501 - It's hard to imagine what was going through the minds 66 00:03:28,501 --> 00:03:29,834 of the Spanish conquistadors 67 00:03:29,834 --> 00:03:32,733 the first time they set eyes on Sacsayhuaman. 68 00:03:32,733 --> 00:03:34,067 - Well, the first sight of the fortress 69 00:03:34,067 --> 00:03:37,134 must have been awe-inspiring, 70 00:03:37,134 --> 00:03:39,067 it must have been intimidating. 71 00:03:39,067 --> 00:03:40,800 - They had no frame of reference 72 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:41,967 for what they were seeing. 73 00:03:41,967 --> 00:03:43,867 In some ways, the engineering met 74 00:03:43,867 --> 00:03:46,501 or even exceeded what was possible back in Europe. 75 00:03:47,934 --> 00:03:51,267 - They can't believe that it was constructed by the Incas 76 00:03:51,267 --> 00:03:55,567 because they saw them as backward and uncivilized. 77 00:03:55,567 --> 00:03:56,767 So in their mind, 78 00:03:56,767 --> 00:03:58,301 they couldn't possibly build something 79 00:03:59,501 --> 00:04:04,367 as magnificent and sophisticated as this fortress. 80 00:04:05,367 --> 00:04:08,234 They swiftly attribute its construction 81 00:04:08,234 --> 00:04:09,534 to demonic forces. 82 00:04:09,534 --> 00:04:12,834 (eerie dramatic music) 83 00:04:17,467 --> 00:04:18,800 - [Narrator] Nearly a century 84 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,201 before the conquistadors' arrival in Cusco, 85 00:04:21,201 --> 00:04:25,201 Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, the ninth Sapa Inca, 86 00:04:25,201 --> 00:04:27,867 begins the transformation of the kingdom of Cusco 87 00:04:27,867 --> 00:04:30,301 into the mighty Inca Empire, 88 00:04:30,301 --> 00:04:33,901 the largest pre-Columbian empire in the Americas. 89 00:04:36,333 --> 00:04:39,233 Pachacuti is a brilliant strategist. 90 00:04:39,233 --> 00:04:43,900 During his reign, from 1438 to 1471 CE, 91 00:04:43,900 --> 00:04:47,700 he expands Inca territory across western South America 92 00:04:47,700 --> 00:04:50,201 through conquest and diplomacy, 93 00:04:50,201 --> 00:04:53,167 and oversees massive construction projects, 94 00:04:53,167 --> 00:04:56,567 including Machu Picchu and Sacsayhuaman, 95 00:04:56,567 --> 00:05:00,301 marking the beginning of the Inca Empire's Golden Age. 96 00:05:01,967 --> 00:05:04,733 Cusco serves as the capital of the Incan Empire 97 00:05:04,733 --> 00:05:08,934 until the Spanish conquistadors arrive in the 16th century, 98 00:05:08,934 --> 00:05:12,934 an event that would be the catalyst for a bloody battle. 99 00:05:12,934 --> 00:05:15,033 - It's November 1533, 100 00:05:15,033 --> 00:05:17,401 Francisco Pizarro and his conquistadors 101 00:05:17,401 --> 00:05:19,667 have arrived in Cusco. 102 00:05:19,667 --> 00:05:21,867 This moment marks the culmination 103 00:05:21,867 --> 00:05:25,634 of a decade of Spanish aggression in the Americas. 104 00:05:25,634 --> 00:05:28,767 In 1521, Hernan Cortes had conquered 105 00:05:28,767 --> 00:05:31,100 the Aztec Empire for Spain. 106 00:05:31,100 --> 00:05:33,467 Now, Francisco Pizarro seemed poised 107 00:05:33,467 --> 00:05:35,600 to do the same to the Incas. 108 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,767 - [Narrator] The Spanish are initially welcomed in Cusco. 109 00:05:38,767 --> 00:05:41,200 Earlier that year, Pizarro's forces 110 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:45,367 had captured and executed the Inca emperor, Atahualpa, 111 00:05:45,367 --> 00:05:49,134 and installed the young Manco Inca as a puppet ruler. 112 00:05:49,134 --> 00:05:51,901 - But things started to go bad shortly thereafter, 113 00:05:51,901 --> 00:05:53,734 and tensions began to rise. 114 00:05:53,734 --> 00:05:55,534 The Spanish began to strip the city 115 00:05:55,534 --> 00:05:57,200 of all of its gold and silver. 116 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,967 They looted the sacred buildings of the city, 117 00:05:59,967 --> 00:06:03,834 and all of this reached the breaking point. 118 00:06:03,834 --> 00:06:07,667 In 1536, Manco Inca led a rebellion 119 00:06:07,667 --> 00:06:09,333 against the Spanish conquistadors, 120 00:06:09,333 --> 00:06:12,267 culminating in the siege of Cusco. 121 00:06:12,267 --> 00:06:14,534 - [Narrator] Sacsayhuaman's role in the siege 122 00:06:14,534 --> 00:06:16,000 is a crucial one. 123 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,034 Its position overlooking Cusco 124 00:06:18,034 --> 00:06:20,701 makes it an ideal spot as the headquarters 125 00:06:20,701 --> 00:06:24,334 for the 200,000 warriors Manco has assembled. 126 00:06:24,334 --> 00:06:27,101 - For the Spanish, getting control of Sacsayhuaman 127 00:06:27,101 --> 00:06:29,533 is suddenly now a strategic objective. 128 00:06:29,533 --> 00:06:31,601 (dramatic music) 129 00:06:31,601 --> 00:06:33,501 - [Narrator] In May of 1536, 130 00:06:33,501 --> 00:06:35,834 a force of 50 cavalry 131 00:06:35,834 --> 00:06:40,434 and 120 Spanish infantry stormed the complex. 132 00:06:40,434 --> 00:06:42,833 A bloody battle ensues, 133 00:06:42,833 --> 00:06:44,667 but the Spanish eventually succeed 134 00:06:44,667 --> 00:06:47,000 in capturing Sacsayhuaman. 135 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,767 This victory serves as a pivotal moment 136 00:06:49,767 --> 00:06:52,534 in their efforts to break the siege of Cusco. 137 00:06:52,534 --> 00:06:54,001 - In the chaos that followed, 138 00:06:54,001 --> 00:06:57,201 many Inca warriors threw themselves from the walls, 139 00:06:57,201 --> 00:07:00,901 death being preferable to being captured by the Spanish. 140 00:07:01,533 --> 00:07:03,434 So it's interesting to ask 141 00:07:03,434 --> 00:07:05,067 what these events can tell us 142 00:07:05,067 --> 00:07:07,767 about the intended use of Sacsayhuaman. 143 00:07:07,767 --> 00:07:10,234 Was it actually intended to be a fortress, 144 00:07:10,234 --> 00:07:13,601 or was it just being used as one out of necessity? 145 00:07:13,601 --> 00:07:15,334 - New evidence suggests the structure 146 00:07:15,334 --> 00:07:18,967 may have served a much more practical purpose. 147 00:07:20,733 --> 00:07:23,434 - [Narrator] In 2008, archeologists made 148 00:07:23,434 --> 00:07:25,167 a groundbreaking discovery, 149 00:07:25,167 --> 00:07:28,500 suggesting a more complex role in Inca society, 150 00:07:28,500 --> 00:07:32,701 one that may transcend its use as a simple fortress. 151 00:07:32,701 --> 00:07:34,734 - They uncover the ruins of an ancient temple 152 00:07:34,734 --> 00:07:37,067 near the site of Sacsayhuaman. 153 00:07:38,067 --> 00:07:39,600 - [Narrator] The temple's interior 154 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,900 reveals a connection to the dead, 155 00:07:41,900 --> 00:07:43,834 a series of intriguing structures 156 00:07:43,834 --> 00:07:47,067 that point to sophisticated funerary practices. 157 00:07:47,067 --> 00:07:48,333 - Within this temple, 158 00:07:48,333 --> 00:07:51,901 they find 11 enclosures of varying sizes. 159 00:07:51,901 --> 00:07:54,201 The configuration and contents of these chambers 160 00:07:54,201 --> 00:07:57,967 strongly suggest its use for mummy burials. 161 00:07:57,967 --> 00:08:00,833 - These mummification rituals were very important, 162 00:08:00,833 --> 00:08:03,733 very significant in Inca culture. 163 00:08:03,733 --> 00:08:05,967 Clearly, they had an understanding 164 00:08:05,967 --> 00:08:08,567 that it was important to preserve the body 165 00:08:08,567 --> 00:08:10,967 for passage to the afterlife. 166 00:08:12,267 --> 00:08:14,634 - [Narrator] While the archeological evidence suggests 167 00:08:14,634 --> 00:08:16,467 that the site's origins may stretch back 168 00:08:16,467 --> 00:08:18,434 even further than the Incas, 169 00:08:18,434 --> 00:08:21,167 it is believed that the Inca significantly expanded 170 00:08:21,167 --> 00:08:23,134 and developed the structure. 171 00:08:23,134 --> 00:08:24,800 The presence of this temple 172 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,334 and its secret funerary enclosures 173 00:08:27,334 --> 00:08:30,667 may hint at its role in connecting the human realm 174 00:08:30,667 --> 00:08:32,934 to that which lies beyond. 175 00:08:32,934 --> 00:08:35,467 - Could other undiscovered structures in this area 176 00:08:35,467 --> 00:08:38,134 help further expand our knowledge of this site? 177 00:08:38,134 --> 00:08:40,000 Or does the truth lie somewhere 178 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,867 within the mysterious patterns of the walls? 179 00:08:44,134 --> 00:08:46,434 - [Narrator] The design of Sacsayhuaman 180 00:08:46,434 --> 00:08:47,667 seems to be heavily influenced 181 00:08:47,667 --> 00:08:49,767 by Incan religious beliefs, 182 00:08:49,767 --> 00:08:52,300 and their tether to other realms. 183 00:08:52,300 --> 00:08:56,901 - Inca religion was intimately tied to cosmology, 184 00:08:56,901 --> 00:09:01,801 with their belief system centering on celestial deities. 185 00:09:03,467 --> 00:09:05,901 - [Narrator] During his reign in the 15th century, 186 00:09:05,901 --> 00:09:08,501 Pachacuti elevates the sun god, Inti, 187 00:09:08,501 --> 00:09:12,700 to supreme status, reshaping the state religion. 188 00:09:12,700 --> 00:09:15,034 - When people can't explain what's happening around them, 189 00:09:15,034 --> 00:09:16,567 or they see the forces of nature, 190 00:09:16,567 --> 00:09:20,800 they often turn them into spiritual beings or entities. 191 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,967 And so within this mysticism, 192 00:09:22,967 --> 00:09:24,734 we find that there are sun gods 193 00:09:24,734 --> 00:09:26,567 repeated over and over and over again. 194 00:09:26,567 --> 00:09:29,634 The sun was the giver of life. 195 00:09:29,634 --> 00:09:32,567 It also marked the seasons. 196 00:09:32,567 --> 00:09:36,901 In the Incan culture, that was Inti. 197 00:09:38,834 --> 00:09:41,334 - [Narrator] It's been theorized that Sacsayhuaman 198 00:09:41,334 --> 00:09:44,667 was dedicated to the worship of this sun god. 199 00:09:44,667 --> 00:09:47,034 And many elements of its design hint 200 00:09:47,034 --> 00:09:49,034 at its mystical connections. 201 00:09:49,034 --> 00:09:52,733 - The walls form this very distinct zigzagging pattern. 202 00:09:52,733 --> 00:09:54,234 This angular shape creates 203 00:09:54,234 --> 00:09:57,367 a series of sharp turns and recesses. 204 00:09:57,367 --> 00:09:59,367 - [Narrator] Some suggest the design resembles 205 00:09:59,367 --> 00:10:00,867 the head of a puma, 206 00:10:00,867 --> 00:10:03,634 a sacred animal in Inca mythology, 207 00:10:03,634 --> 00:10:06,234 with the city of Cusco forming the body. 208 00:10:06,234 --> 00:10:10,567 - They had a complex understanding of the cosmos. 209 00:10:10,567 --> 00:10:12,334 They recognized three realms, 210 00:10:12,334 --> 00:10:16,900 and each of them were tied with significant creatures. 211 00:10:16,900 --> 00:10:19,200 The underworld was associated with the serpent, 212 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,534 the earthly realm with the puma, 213 00:10:21,534 --> 00:10:23,967 and the heavens with the condor. 214 00:10:23,967 --> 00:10:25,333 - [Narrator] These three realms 215 00:10:25,333 --> 00:10:28,100 and the cryptic language of the stars above 216 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:32,367 often govern the ancient Inca rituals and sacred sites. 217 00:10:32,367 --> 00:10:36,367 - Many ancient civilizations actually put spiritual values 218 00:10:36,367 --> 00:10:39,833 and powers into the animals that were around them. 219 00:10:39,833 --> 00:10:43,034 They've anthropomorphized the animals themselves 220 00:10:43,034 --> 00:10:47,367 to place a spiritual lead within that realm. 221 00:10:47,367 --> 00:10:50,367 - [Narrator] Sacsayhuaman's position as the puma's head 222 00:10:50,367 --> 00:10:52,134 emphasizes its importance 223 00:10:52,134 --> 00:10:55,700 in connecting the earthly and spiritual realms. 224 00:10:55,700 --> 00:10:57,734 But perhaps even more intriguing 225 00:10:57,734 --> 00:10:59,867 is the theory that its layout incorporates 226 00:10:59,867 --> 00:11:02,867 sophisticated astronomical alignments, 227 00:11:02,867 --> 00:11:05,967 potentially encoding ancient knowledge. 228 00:11:05,967 --> 00:11:08,867 Researchers have identified astronomical values 229 00:11:08,867 --> 00:11:11,267 in both the pattern of its zigzag walls 230 00:11:11,267 --> 00:11:14,734 and in the angles of the wall stones themselves, 231 00:11:14,734 --> 00:11:16,934 which could indicate the alignment of the moon, 232 00:11:16,934 --> 00:11:19,467 Earth, and sun at a given time, 233 00:11:19,467 --> 00:11:22,901 and help predict lunar and solar eclipses. 234 00:11:22,901 --> 00:11:26,367 Similar patterns found at ancient sites worldwide 235 00:11:26,367 --> 00:11:29,633 raise intriguing questions about a shared knowledge 236 00:11:29,633 --> 00:11:32,100 spanning continents and millennia. 237 00:11:32,100 --> 00:11:34,367 This discovery could revolutionize 238 00:11:34,367 --> 00:11:38,100 our understanding of ancient civilizations' capabilities. 239 00:11:38,100 --> 00:11:40,033 But would the Inca really have had 240 00:11:40,033 --> 00:11:41,534 the engineering foresight 241 00:11:41,534 --> 00:11:43,534 to build such a grand complex 242 00:11:43,534 --> 00:11:45,433 in the shape of a puma's head, 243 00:11:45,433 --> 00:11:47,967 or to build complex astronomical values 244 00:11:47,967 --> 00:11:50,101 into its very walls? 245 00:11:50,101 --> 00:11:53,233 - We often wonder how the ancients accomplished 246 00:11:53,233 --> 00:11:54,467 what they did. 247 00:11:54,467 --> 00:11:57,700 But they knew a lot more than we give them credit for. 248 00:11:57,700 --> 00:12:00,967 - The Inca people were amazing 249 00:12:00,967 --> 00:12:02,600 at developing technology. 250 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,967 They built incredible structures, 251 00:12:04,967 --> 00:12:08,634 they domesticated llamas and alpacas and guinea pigs. 252 00:12:08,634 --> 00:12:10,867 They had terraced agriculture. 253 00:12:10,867 --> 00:12:12,867 They had water control. 254 00:12:12,867 --> 00:12:15,667 This society was very, very innovative 255 00:12:15,667 --> 00:12:17,667 from a technological point of view. 256 00:12:17,667 --> 00:12:19,134 - [Narrator] While a conclusive answer 257 00:12:19,134 --> 00:12:22,134 to its original purpose may continue to evade us, 258 00:12:22,134 --> 00:12:24,601 the stones of Sacsayhuaman themselves 259 00:12:24,601 --> 00:12:26,634 hold their own secrets, 260 00:12:26,634 --> 00:12:28,967 hinting at a mastery of construction 261 00:12:28,967 --> 00:12:32,034 that continues to challenge mortal comprehension. 262 00:12:32,034 --> 00:12:34,734 - These walls are built with massive stones, 263 00:12:34,734 --> 00:12:37,900 some of them weighing up to 200 tons. 264 00:12:37,900 --> 00:12:40,100 - [Narrator] Believing that only demonic forces 265 00:12:40,100 --> 00:12:43,167 could have built Sacsayhuaman's amazing walls, 266 00:12:43,167 --> 00:12:46,467 the Spanish attempt to take down the entire structure, 267 00:12:46,467 --> 00:12:48,800 but reportedly find that the biggest stones 268 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,434 are simply too heavy to move. 269 00:12:51,434 --> 00:12:55,167 - If the heaviest stones were too large to take down, 270 00:12:55,167 --> 00:12:59,000 how on Earth were they erected in the first place? 271 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:00,367 - [Narrator] Could this have been the work 272 00:13:00,367 --> 00:13:02,167 of otherworldly forces? 273 00:13:04,367 --> 00:13:06,400 - We don't know how they built these walls, 274 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:07,900 but it's reasonable to say 275 00:13:07,900 --> 00:13:09,933 that they had a good understanding of physics, 276 00:13:09,933 --> 00:13:12,867 and they perhaps harnessed the power of levers 277 00:13:12,867 --> 00:13:15,001 to move these giant boulders. 278 00:13:16,234 --> 00:13:17,934 - [Narrator] It's believed they used wooden rollers 279 00:13:17,934 --> 00:13:20,700 and levers to facilitate the movement of heavy stones 280 00:13:20,700 --> 00:13:22,934 over relatively flat terrain, 281 00:13:22,934 --> 00:13:25,567 and may have constructed ramps and inclined planes 282 00:13:25,567 --> 00:13:27,934 for transporting up steep slopes. 283 00:13:27,934 --> 00:13:29,501 - Where there's a will, there's a way, 284 00:13:29,501 --> 00:13:31,401 and they figured it out. 285 00:13:31,401 --> 00:13:34,067 - [Narrator] It's possible that over 20,000 workers 286 00:13:34,067 --> 00:13:37,367 were involved in building this colossal fortress, 287 00:13:37,367 --> 00:13:38,667 likely including laborers 288 00:13:38,667 --> 00:13:40,567 who carried out the Herculean task 289 00:13:40,567 --> 00:13:43,734 of transporting the stones from nearby quarries, 290 00:13:43,734 --> 00:13:46,234 as well as the workers who assembled the walls. 291 00:13:47,067 --> 00:13:48,633 But how did the Inca achieve 292 00:13:48,633 --> 00:13:50,567 the seemingly impossible precision 293 00:13:50,567 --> 00:13:52,401 in the stonework we still see today? 294 00:13:53,267 --> 00:13:55,634 (chisel clanging) 295 00:13:55,634 --> 00:13:58,267 - The Inca were master stonemasons, 296 00:13:58,267 --> 00:14:00,800 renowned for their remarkable ability 297 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,900 to construct monumental structures 298 00:14:03,900 --> 00:14:06,467 that have stood the test of time. 299 00:14:06,467 --> 00:14:07,900 The strength of their empire 300 00:14:07,900 --> 00:14:10,934 is often credited to this talent. 301 00:14:10,934 --> 00:14:12,801 - And they used multiple techniques 302 00:14:12,801 --> 00:14:16,067 in order to shape not only these massive stones, 303 00:14:16,067 --> 00:14:18,634 but also to create very polished, 304 00:14:18,634 --> 00:14:21,334 finely-decorated stones. 305 00:14:21,334 --> 00:14:23,800 So clearly this is signs 306 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,067 of a very sophisticated artisanal culture, 307 00:14:27,067 --> 00:14:29,834 but also a culture in which art and engineering 308 00:14:29,834 --> 00:14:31,401 went hand in hand. 309 00:14:31,401 --> 00:14:33,167 - [Narrator] Many stones still bear the marks 310 00:14:33,167 --> 00:14:35,167 of the tools used to shape them, 311 00:14:35,167 --> 00:14:38,834 suggesting the use of bronze chisels and stone hammers 312 00:14:38,834 --> 00:14:41,667 to achieve the desired shape and smoothness. 313 00:14:41,667 --> 00:14:43,733 The cutting and setting of the blocks 314 00:14:43,733 --> 00:14:47,467 were so exact that mortar was unnecessary. 315 00:14:47,467 --> 00:14:49,133 - Mortar is an important piece 316 00:14:49,133 --> 00:14:52,467 to the durability of a brick wall. 317 00:14:52,467 --> 00:14:54,800 If you were to build a wall without mortar, 318 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,533 you would likely have some gaps. 319 00:14:57,533 --> 00:14:58,801 - That's a bit problematic 320 00:14:58,801 --> 00:15:01,367 because you're going to get water flowing down 321 00:15:01,367 --> 00:15:02,401 in between the rocks. 322 00:15:02,401 --> 00:15:03,667 If you get freezing periods, 323 00:15:03,667 --> 00:15:06,000 it's going to cause ice to form, 324 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:07,833 and when ice forms, it creates pressure, 325 00:15:07,833 --> 00:15:10,200 and causes rocks to be pushed apart, 326 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:13,167 and basically destroys your construction 327 00:15:13,167 --> 00:15:15,867 through natural weathering processes. 328 00:15:15,867 --> 00:15:17,800 - Mortar would close those gaps 329 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:19,667 and allow for a more airtight structure. 330 00:15:19,667 --> 00:15:23,000 However, they didn't use mortar 331 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,867 and instead they just shaped everything so precisely 332 00:15:26,867 --> 00:15:29,200 that mortar wasn't needed. 333 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,967 Dry stone masonry is a really incredible way 334 00:15:32,967 --> 00:15:34,734 to construct buildings, 335 00:15:34,734 --> 00:15:37,067 and we're constructing basically a stone 336 00:15:37,067 --> 00:15:39,234 that fits like a puzzle piece 337 00:15:39,234 --> 00:15:41,134 into a larger part of a building, 338 00:15:41,134 --> 00:15:45,900 we're matching every stone to the stones around it. 339 00:15:45,900 --> 00:15:47,701 - [Narrator] Some believe they used methods similar 340 00:15:47,701 --> 00:15:50,834 to those used in the building of log cabins, 341 00:15:50,834 --> 00:15:53,034 called scribing and coping. 342 00:15:53,034 --> 00:15:56,367 - Scribing is the act of shaping those stones 343 00:15:56,367 --> 00:15:59,501 to match the profile of something else. 344 00:15:59,501 --> 00:16:01,967 And coping is a precise cut, 345 00:16:01,967 --> 00:16:04,401 sort of a carving out of something. 346 00:16:04,401 --> 00:16:07,734 - This is beneficial from so many points of view. 347 00:16:07,734 --> 00:16:09,800 It creates a very stable structure, 348 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,700 but it also resists weathering. 349 00:16:11,700 --> 00:16:13,934 If we're not getting water flowing down 350 00:16:13,934 --> 00:16:16,534 between our rocks 'cause they're so tight together, 351 00:16:16,534 --> 00:16:18,634 we have a much better chance 352 00:16:18,634 --> 00:16:20,300 of it enduring long periods of time 353 00:16:20,300 --> 00:16:23,967 and not failing due to normal weathering processes. 354 00:16:23,967 --> 00:16:27,700 - And they are just perfectly fit with no mortar. 355 00:16:27,700 --> 00:16:29,133 There is no gap between them. 356 00:16:29,133 --> 00:16:31,733 You can't even put a piece of paper in between there. 357 00:16:31,733 --> 00:16:33,101 That is incredible. 358 00:16:33,101 --> 00:16:35,301 They either coped, or carved, or cut out, 359 00:16:35,301 --> 00:16:38,234 or sanded, or rounded all of these rocks. 360 00:16:38,234 --> 00:16:40,767 Each one of these is a labor of love. 361 00:16:40,767 --> 00:16:42,101 - [Narrator] But the Inca engineers 362 00:16:42,101 --> 00:16:44,933 weren't just concerned with aesthetics. 363 00:16:44,933 --> 00:16:47,967 They built with an eye towards longevity. 364 00:16:47,967 --> 00:16:50,233 - The Incan Empire is built high in the Andes, 365 00:16:50,233 --> 00:16:53,633 and the Andes are a geologically active area. 366 00:16:53,633 --> 00:16:56,134 This area has massive earthquakes. 367 00:16:56,134 --> 00:17:00,267 It's not uncommon to have magnitude seven-plus earthquakes 368 00:17:00,267 --> 00:17:01,001 in this area. 369 00:17:01,001 --> 00:17:02,433 And to build structures 370 00:17:02,433 --> 00:17:05,467 that have been able to endure thousands of years 371 00:17:05,467 --> 00:17:07,367 in this environment is amazing. 372 00:17:07,367 --> 00:17:09,501 Where we use dry masonry, 373 00:17:09,501 --> 00:17:13,301 because the stones fit together and lock together, 374 00:17:13,301 --> 00:17:16,167 they don't want to tumble apart in an earthquake. 375 00:17:16,167 --> 00:17:19,201 - And so that interlock of all of these stones together 376 00:17:19,201 --> 00:17:22,800 can resist quite a bit of horizontal pressure on that wall, 377 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:26,000 be it from wind, from an impact from something, 378 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,867 or from soil consistently pressing on it. 379 00:17:28,867 --> 00:17:30,001 They also were thoughtful 380 00:17:30,001 --> 00:17:32,001 about the configuration of these walls, 381 00:17:32,001 --> 00:17:33,767 they're in a zigzag pattern. 382 00:17:33,767 --> 00:17:36,533 Each shift through that zigzag 383 00:17:36,533 --> 00:17:39,133 adds lateral stability into these walls as well. 384 00:17:39,133 --> 00:17:41,600 It acts as a unit to resist all of those forces 385 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:43,167 that it might experience. 386 00:17:43,167 --> 00:17:45,800 To recognize that the need for robustness 387 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,367 around lateral forces in these ancient times 388 00:17:48,367 --> 00:17:50,334 is pretty awesome. 389 00:17:50,334 --> 00:17:52,300 - [Narrator] But the mysteries of its construction 390 00:17:52,300 --> 00:17:55,467 don't end at its unshakable walls. 391 00:17:55,467 --> 00:17:58,334 - Legend speaks of vast underground networks 392 00:17:58,334 --> 00:18:02,534 connecting the fortress to other important Inca sites. 393 00:18:02,534 --> 00:18:04,367 Some even claim these tunnels 394 00:18:04,367 --> 00:18:07,901 stretch all the way to Cusco's Coricancha, 395 00:18:07,901 --> 00:18:10,834 the most sacred temple of the Inca Empire. 396 00:18:12,034 --> 00:18:13,334 - [Narrator] These tunnels could have served 397 00:18:13,334 --> 00:18:16,767 multiple purposes, from storage and shelter, 398 00:18:16,767 --> 00:18:19,501 to escape routes and ritualistic spaces. 399 00:18:20,934 --> 00:18:23,767 Legends persist of vast chambers filled with gold 400 00:18:23,767 --> 00:18:26,034 and precious artifacts hidden away 401 00:18:26,034 --> 00:18:28,434 from Spanish conquistadors, 402 00:18:28,434 --> 00:18:29,500 though no such treasures 403 00:18:29,500 --> 00:18:31,734 have been officially discovered. 404 00:18:31,734 --> 00:18:34,767 And for those who dare attempt to find it, 405 00:18:34,767 --> 00:18:39,801 grave danger awaits. (eerie dramatic music) 406 00:18:40,867 --> 00:18:43,434 In the 1920s, following the rumored disappearance 407 00:18:43,434 --> 00:18:45,733 of several tunnel explorers, 408 00:18:45,733 --> 00:18:48,567 all entryways were shuttered to the public, 409 00:18:48,567 --> 00:18:51,801 though many are still tempted to venture below today. 410 00:18:52,700 --> 00:18:54,767 According to some local tales, 411 00:18:54,767 --> 00:18:57,734 these cursed passages promise to kill anyone 412 00:18:57,734 --> 00:18:59,501 who steps foot inside. 413 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,267 Could this be otherworldly forces at work 414 00:19:03,267 --> 00:19:06,967 guarding a potential channel to the underworld? 415 00:19:06,967 --> 00:19:09,934 - Tunnels and passages come up again and again 416 00:19:09,934 --> 00:19:12,301 when we talk about ancient structures. 417 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,134 And a lot of this comes to the idea that, 418 00:19:15,134 --> 00:19:17,233 you know, a tunnel is a passageway, 419 00:19:17,233 --> 00:19:19,300 and it has a mystical significance to it 420 00:19:19,300 --> 00:19:21,000 because you don't know what's on the other end. 421 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,433 And you can imagine that if you travel down this tunnel, 422 00:19:23,433 --> 00:19:26,501 you will leave one realm and enter another. 423 00:19:26,501 --> 00:19:28,834 - [Narrator] Could the Spanish have seen these tunnels 424 00:19:28,834 --> 00:19:30,900 as the source of the demonic forces 425 00:19:30,900 --> 00:19:33,334 they believed built Sacsayhuaman? 426 00:19:33,334 --> 00:19:36,434 - It's interesting to reflect, as a modern person, 427 00:19:36,434 --> 00:19:39,834 that descriptions of demons 428 00:19:39,834 --> 00:19:42,401 creating the structure seems foreign, 429 00:19:42,401 --> 00:19:44,933 it seems unreasonable to us. 430 00:19:44,933 --> 00:19:47,834 But in fact, that would have been perfectly natural, 431 00:19:47,834 --> 00:19:50,367 it would have been a rational interpretation 432 00:19:50,367 --> 00:19:51,834 for someone like Pizarro. 433 00:19:52,934 --> 00:19:56,234 - There's a tendency on the part of many conquerors 434 00:19:56,234 --> 00:19:58,800 to see the people that they were conquering 435 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,867 as inferior and incapable, 436 00:20:01,867 --> 00:20:06,001 and being bound by the powers of darkness. 437 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:09,834 - When we're faced with something 438 00:20:09,834 --> 00:20:12,067 we don't know how it happened, how it was built, 439 00:20:12,067 --> 00:20:15,167 or it just looks beyond normal abilities of man, 440 00:20:15,167 --> 00:20:17,300 we put it into the supernatural. 441 00:20:17,300 --> 00:20:19,501 we put it onto the side of the divine, 442 00:20:19,501 --> 00:20:22,667 if it's something that matches with our religion. 443 00:20:22,667 --> 00:20:24,233 But the primitives, the heathens, 444 00:20:24,233 --> 00:20:25,734 they're the ones that are supporting 445 00:20:25,734 --> 00:20:28,667 the negative side of the spirituality, 446 00:20:28,667 --> 00:20:31,134 devils, demons, the underworld. 447 00:20:31,134 --> 00:20:33,000 - Early modern people understood 448 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,833 that the devil was real, the devil was present, 449 00:20:35,833 --> 00:20:37,833 that the devil's function 450 00:20:37,833 --> 00:20:41,634 was to create chaos, havoc, destruction. 451 00:20:41,634 --> 00:20:44,001 And so for someone like Pizarro, 452 00:20:44,001 --> 00:20:47,134 encountering the Incas would have reminded him 453 00:20:47,134 --> 00:20:50,167 of the ever-present reality of the demonic. 454 00:20:51,801 --> 00:20:54,501 - So when we consider how the Spanish minimized 455 00:20:54,501 --> 00:20:56,634 and underestimated the Inca, 456 00:20:56,634 --> 00:20:57,967 it's worth asking ourselves 457 00:20:57,967 --> 00:20:59,901 if we don't do the same thing sometimes 458 00:20:59,901 --> 00:21:01,534 when we look at the accomplishments 459 00:21:01,534 --> 00:21:03,367 of other ancient civilizations. 460 00:21:03,367 --> 00:21:06,800 (dramatic music) 461 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:08,700 - [Narrator] Halfway across the world 462 00:21:08,700 --> 00:21:12,000 lies another architectural enigma. 463 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:16,367 Like Sacsayhuaman, its geometry and impossible scale 464 00:21:16,367 --> 00:21:19,834 whisper of origins beyond mortal comprehension. 465 00:21:22,733 --> 00:21:27,534 India, a land of ancient wonders and rich cultural heritage, 466 00:21:27,534 --> 00:21:31,034 boasts a remarkable array of architectural marvels 467 00:21:31,034 --> 00:21:33,201 that have stood the test of time. 468 00:21:33,201 --> 00:21:35,700 While iconic sites like the Taj Mahal 469 00:21:35,700 --> 00:21:37,867 often steal the spotlight, 470 00:21:37,867 --> 00:21:40,367 some of India's most tantalizing structures 471 00:21:40,367 --> 00:21:43,233 continue to perplex historians today. 472 00:21:43,233 --> 00:21:46,033 (dramatic music) 473 00:21:46,033 --> 00:21:48,967 Hidden in the arid landscape of Rajasthan, 474 00:21:48,967 --> 00:21:51,533 a descent into the depths awaits, 475 00:21:51,533 --> 00:21:54,033 the Chand Baori stepwell. 476 00:21:54,033 --> 00:21:57,867 - This is one of the largest and deepest stepwells in India, 477 00:21:57,867 --> 00:22:00,533 reaching 13 storeys into the earth. 478 00:22:00,533 --> 00:22:03,734 - [Narrator] Chand Baori is one of many stepwells in India 479 00:22:03,734 --> 00:22:05,200 intended as a reservoir 480 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:07,433 during the region's dry spells. 481 00:22:07,433 --> 00:22:09,601 But the intricate carvings and sculptures 482 00:22:09,601 --> 00:22:11,933 that adorn its walls hint at a purpose 483 00:22:11,933 --> 00:22:14,067 beyond mere water storage. 484 00:22:14,067 --> 00:22:16,967 - It is not only beautiful, 485 00:22:16,967 --> 00:22:20,767 but it must have required extraordinary precision 486 00:22:20,767 --> 00:22:25,567 in its design and execution. (dramatic music) 487 00:22:25,567 --> 00:22:28,901 - There's 3,500 steps in this. 488 00:22:28,901 --> 00:22:31,634 You immediately recognize the geometry in this, 489 00:22:31,634 --> 00:22:33,734 the thoughtful planning of these steps. 490 00:22:33,734 --> 00:22:36,601 - These perfectly carved steps 491 00:22:36,601 --> 00:22:41,000 form a mesmerizing geometric pattern. 492 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,100 - Why did they choose this specific geometric design? 493 00:22:44,100 --> 00:22:47,967 Does it encode ancient knowledge or religious beliefs? 494 00:22:49,101 --> 00:22:50,933 - [Narrator] The stepwell's precise construction 495 00:22:50,933 --> 00:22:54,000 and vast scale raise intriguing questions 496 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,601 about the capabilities of its 9th century builders. 497 00:22:57,601 --> 00:23:01,500 - How did these ancient architects achieve such precision 498 00:23:01,500 --> 00:23:03,667 without modern surveying tools? 499 00:23:03,667 --> 00:23:08,834 - It almost seems to defy the limits of ancient engineering. 500 00:23:10,033 --> 00:23:12,734 - [Narrator] The hands that carved this subterranean stone 501 00:23:12,734 --> 00:23:17,133 did so in worship of water. (water sloshing) 502 00:23:17,133 --> 00:23:20,501 - So much of ancient cultures focuses around water. 503 00:23:20,501 --> 00:23:22,700 For civilizations to thrive, 504 00:23:22,700 --> 00:23:24,701 they need continuous access to it. 505 00:23:24,701 --> 00:23:26,934 You have to have water. 506 00:23:26,934 --> 00:23:29,333 - Nowadays, we have great access to water. 507 00:23:29,333 --> 00:23:31,834 It's considered a basic necessity, 508 00:23:31,834 --> 00:23:33,800 and it's always provided to us. 509 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,534 But back then, in places like India, 510 00:23:36,534 --> 00:23:37,867 you had to collect the water 511 00:23:37,867 --> 00:23:39,801 so there was enough for the community. 512 00:23:39,801 --> 00:23:41,834 - In particular, in India, there are years 513 00:23:41,834 --> 00:23:43,667 where you have monsoons 514 00:23:43,667 --> 00:23:46,367 and you have immense amounts of water, 515 00:23:46,367 --> 00:23:49,900 and then you'll have periods where there isn't a monsoon 516 00:23:49,900 --> 00:23:54,000 and the water table will literally change by meters. 517 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,267 If we're not changing our technology 518 00:23:56,267 --> 00:23:58,800 to address the changing water table, 519 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:00,900 our civilization is going to collapse. 520 00:24:00,900 --> 00:24:03,400 So the most successful ancient civilizations 521 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,933 had ways to ensure continuous access to water. 522 00:24:06,933 --> 00:24:09,934 And that's kind of where stepwells come in. 523 00:24:11,567 --> 00:24:16,001 - The stepwells were a fascinating and ingenious structure 524 00:24:16,001 --> 00:24:19,700 designed to serve as water reservoirs. 525 00:24:19,700 --> 00:24:21,567 - The rainwater falls from the sky 526 00:24:21,567 --> 00:24:23,101 and collects in the huge opening. 527 00:24:23,101 --> 00:24:25,067 The rain then trickles down the steps 528 00:24:25,067 --> 00:24:26,700 and collects in the bottom well. 529 00:24:26,700 --> 00:24:28,934 The water then seeps through porous rock, 530 00:24:28,934 --> 00:24:31,401 which replenishes the underground water table. 531 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,734 - Thirst and hunger are some of the strongest drives 532 00:24:37,734 --> 00:24:39,434 that motivate people. 533 00:24:39,434 --> 00:24:42,434 These are really basic drives, 534 00:24:42,434 --> 00:24:44,433 and they're in some structures of the brain 535 00:24:44,433 --> 00:24:47,700 that are the oldest ones conserved across evolution. 536 00:24:47,700 --> 00:24:49,767 It's going to be a major driver 537 00:24:49,767 --> 00:24:51,567 of how that society is formed 538 00:24:51,567 --> 00:24:53,401 and how decisions are made. 539 00:24:53,401 --> 00:24:55,234 And in this arid land, 540 00:24:55,234 --> 00:24:57,767 it should be very easy to get a large community together 541 00:24:57,767 --> 00:24:59,367 to build a stepwell 542 00:24:59,367 --> 00:25:02,101 because it's something everybody can see that they, 543 00:25:02,101 --> 00:25:04,967 their families, and their descendants are going to need. 544 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:07,501 - [Narrator] While ancient stepwells 545 00:25:07,501 --> 00:25:10,734 were vital water sources in the arid regions of India, 546 00:25:10,734 --> 00:25:13,234 their role transcended mere necessity. 547 00:25:15,067 --> 00:25:18,900 - People gathered here not only to draw water, 548 00:25:18,900 --> 00:25:22,567 but to socialize, exchange news, 549 00:25:22,567 --> 00:25:24,934 and even for religious purposes. 550 00:25:26,867 --> 00:25:28,701 - [Narrator] The intricately carved walls, 551 00:25:28,701 --> 00:25:31,801 niches, and pavilions served as a backdrop 552 00:25:31,801 --> 00:25:34,801 for storytelling and artistic performances, 553 00:25:34,801 --> 00:25:37,667 transforming the stepwells into vibrant hubs 554 00:25:37,667 --> 00:25:40,167 of daily life and cultural activity. 555 00:25:41,467 --> 00:25:44,633 But the complexity of Chand Baori's construction, 556 00:25:44,633 --> 00:25:47,467 its sheer scale and intricate design 557 00:25:47,467 --> 00:25:50,967 has led to persistent questions about how it was built. 558 00:25:50,967 --> 00:25:53,467 And, in the absence of clear answers, 559 00:25:53,467 --> 00:25:56,934 local legends and folklore have flourished. 560 00:25:56,934 --> 00:25:58,701 - When we think of a structure 561 00:25:58,701 --> 00:26:01,001 that is essential to the survival of people, 562 00:26:01,001 --> 00:26:05,967 that is also an extraordinary work of art in and of itself, 563 00:26:07,134 --> 00:26:09,167 it was so beautiful that stories developed 564 00:26:09,167 --> 00:26:12,867 around it being a supernatural creation. 565 00:26:13,567 --> 00:26:15,367 - Legend has it that King Chanda 566 00:26:15,367 --> 00:26:18,134 is trying to save his kingdom from drought. 567 00:26:18,134 --> 00:26:21,867 - This king is driven to desperation. 568 00:26:21,867 --> 00:26:24,801 He turned to the dark arts. 569 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:28,033 - [Narrator] In his darkest hour, 570 00:26:28,033 --> 00:26:30,834 the king calls upon the help of a djinn, 571 00:26:30,834 --> 00:26:34,734 a supernatural entity with malevolent powers. 572 00:26:34,734 --> 00:26:37,067 The djinn agrees to build a stepwell. 573 00:26:37,067 --> 00:26:38,567 But this offer of salvation 574 00:26:38,567 --> 00:26:41,033 will come at a terrible price, 575 00:26:41,033 --> 00:26:43,633 the surrender of the kingdom itself. 576 00:26:43,633 --> 00:26:45,733 (dramatic music) 577 00:26:45,733 --> 00:26:47,534 - Faced with an impossible choice, 578 00:26:47,534 --> 00:26:49,201 the king accepts the terms, 579 00:26:49,201 --> 00:26:52,534 prioritizing his people's survival over his own rule. 580 00:26:53,701 --> 00:26:56,134 According to the tale, this supernatural being 581 00:26:56,134 --> 00:26:59,967 constructs the entire stepwell in a single night. 582 00:26:59,967 --> 00:27:02,133 - [Narrator] Then King Chanda experienced 583 00:27:02,133 --> 00:27:04,433 a fortunate twist of fate. 584 00:27:04,433 --> 00:27:06,867 - In recognizing the king's selfless act, 585 00:27:06,867 --> 00:27:09,967 a saint intervenes and basically traps the djinn 586 00:27:09,967 --> 00:27:11,867 in the bowels of the stepwell, 587 00:27:11,867 --> 00:27:14,134 and the kingdom is restored. 588 00:27:14,134 --> 00:27:16,134 - [Narrator] Imprisoned in the depths of this structure 589 00:27:16,134 --> 00:27:19,267 for eternity, the legend of the djinn lingers 590 00:27:19,267 --> 00:27:21,767 for centuries more. 591 00:27:21,767 --> 00:27:24,434 Chand Baori's intricate design seems to defy 592 00:27:24,434 --> 00:27:26,434 the limitations of its time, 593 00:27:26,434 --> 00:27:29,101 leaving many to consider the haunting possibility 594 00:27:29,101 --> 00:27:32,967 that such an entity may indeed be responsible. 595 00:27:34,267 --> 00:27:37,567 However, modern archeology has revealed hints 596 00:27:37,567 --> 00:27:39,434 about its true design. 597 00:27:40,967 --> 00:27:43,100 While detailed records of Chand Baori's construction 598 00:27:43,100 --> 00:27:45,101 have been lost to history, 599 00:27:45,101 --> 00:27:48,601 careful examination of the structure and others like it 600 00:27:48,601 --> 00:27:50,567 can offer some insights. 601 00:27:50,567 --> 00:27:51,767 - We often think about structures 602 00:27:51,767 --> 00:27:53,800 that are coming up from the ground, 603 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:55,267 that we're creating space above ground. 604 00:27:55,267 --> 00:27:58,467 This is actually creating a space below grade. 605 00:27:58,467 --> 00:27:59,601 And that's really interesting, 606 00:27:59,601 --> 00:28:00,767 it's like inverting my whole world. 607 00:28:00,767 --> 00:28:02,333 It's really cool. 608 00:28:02,333 --> 00:28:03,834 - [Narrator] Excavation likely began 609 00:28:03,834 --> 00:28:06,800 with digging the central well to reach water level. 610 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,300 This would have required precise surveying 611 00:28:09,300 --> 00:28:11,834 to ensure the correct depth and width. 612 00:28:12,667 --> 00:28:14,667 As the foundation was secured, 613 00:28:14,667 --> 00:28:18,367 the greatest task still loomed overhead, 614 00:28:18,367 --> 00:28:21,600 carving 3,500 narrow steps 615 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:24,267 up thirteen floors to ground level. 616 00:28:24,267 --> 00:28:27,300 - This is a big structure where people are taking 617 00:28:27,300 --> 00:28:30,433 not only a lot of time to carve those steps out, 618 00:28:30,433 --> 00:28:32,867 but a lot of time to make sure that they're exactly 619 00:28:32,867 --> 00:28:34,334 the size they need to be. 620 00:28:35,500 --> 00:28:38,300 - [Narrator] The perfect symmetry of Chand Baori 621 00:28:38,300 --> 00:28:41,033 implies a mastery of mathematics, 622 00:28:41,033 --> 00:28:43,834 and potentially, a grasp of geometry 623 00:28:43,834 --> 00:28:46,434 that surpasses the known knowledge of this era. 624 00:28:47,534 --> 00:28:48,834 - When you're trying to build, 625 00:28:48,834 --> 00:28:51,200 essentially, an inverted pyramid in the ground, 626 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,267 you need to know exactly what your pyramid 627 00:28:54,267 --> 00:28:57,500 is going to look like before you start building it. 628 00:28:57,500 --> 00:29:00,167 If you start changing angles, 629 00:29:00,167 --> 00:29:01,867 you don't end up with a pyramid. 630 00:29:01,867 --> 00:29:04,834 You end up with something that's very skewed 631 00:29:04,834 --> 00:29:08,567 and would look aesthetically extremely unpleasing. 632 00:29:08,567 --> 00:29:09,900 - [Narrator] The uniform size 633 00:29:09,900 --> 00:29:12,000 and precise angles of the steps 634 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,534 suggest the use of standardized measurements 635 00:29:14,534 --> 00:29:16,367 and possibly, templates. 636 00:29:16,367 --> 00:29:20,500 - It takes a lot of precision in each step that you go down 637 00:29:20,500 --> 00:29:24,000 to make sure you're going to end up where you need to be. 638 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,367 So you're literally measuring 639 00:29:26,367 --> 00:29:29,534 within a few millimeters in each layer. 640 00:29:29,534 --> 00:29:30,867 - Everything is meticulous, 641 00:29:30,867 --> 00:29:33,434 the angles, the carving, the steps, 642 00:29:33,434 --> 00:29:34,867 the pathways through. 643 00:29:34,867 --> 00:29:38,567 There's just so much thought put into the circulation 644 00:29:38,567 --> 00:29:42,400 of this system and how one would move through it. 645 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:45,100 - [Narrator] Could this seemingly impossible perfection 646 00:29:45,100 --> 00:29:48,901 be a clue that the mysterious tale of the djinn is true? 647 00:29:50,867 --> 00:29:52,733 Beyond practical function, 648 00:29:52,733 --> 00:29:54,900 the design elements of Chand Baori 649 00:29:54,900 --> 00:29:57,400 also play with its visitors' minds, 650 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:01,934 stirring a sense of awe, and perhaps a subtle unease. 651 00:30:01,934 --> 00:30:04,401 - The stepwell is really interesting in its design 652 00:30:04,401 --> 00:30:07,700 because of how it makes you feel when you look at it. 653 00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:09,734 And that's because in nature, 654 00:30:09,734 --> 00:30:11,700 yes, we have rough symmetry, right? 655 00:30:11,700 --> 00:30:13,900 We've got two arms, two legs, two eyes, 656 00:30:13,900 --> 00:30:18,967 but yet things aren't perfect in the natural world. 657 00:30:18,967 --> 00:30:23,867 Here we see something that is balanced out and symmetric, 658 00:30:25,100 --> 00:30:28,167 but it's all sharp corners, it's steps, it's lines. 659 00:30:28,167 --> 00:30:29,701 The only place we normally see lines 660 00:30:29,701 --> 00:30:31,367 are off on the horizon. 661 00:30:31,367 --> 00:30:32,900 We don't see them in straight lines 662 00:30:32,900 --> 00:30:34,834 in most any other places. 663 00:30:34,834 --> 00:30:38,534 And because of it, it gives this sense of awe. 664 00:30:38,534 --> 00:30:40,967 It's not something that is natural. 665 00:30:40,967 --> 00:30:44,400 And therefore, we add extra meaning to the space, 666 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:45,901 to the place itself. 667 00:30:47,367 --> 00:30:49,234 - [Narrator] Incorporated into the engineering design 668 00:30:49,234 --> 00:30:52,901 of Chand Baori is an apparent secret of ancient wisdom, 669 00:30:53,934 --> 00:30:55,767 one that suggests a strategy 670 00:30:55,767 --> 00:30:58,833 for mitigating the desert's intense heat. 671 00:30:58,833 --> 00:31:01,667 As you descend the steps of Chand Baori, 672 00:31:01,667 --> 00:31:03,800 you would feel the temperature dropping, 673 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:06,134 defying the scorching heat above. 674 00:31:08,634 --> 00:31:11,800 The cooling properties of the stepwell reveal themselves 675 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,267 when examining the layers of its design. 676 00:31:14,267 --> 00:31:16,834 At first glance, the thick stone walls 677 00:31:16,834 --> 00:31:19,933 appear only to serve as structural support, 678 00:31:19,933 --> 00:31:21,833 but they are actually the first clue 679 00:31:21,833 --> 00:31:24,001 to the stepwell's cooling mechanism. 680 00:31:25,300 --> 00:31:28,134 The builders chose materials with high thermal mass, 681 00:31:28,134 --> 00:31:29,967 creating a natural heat sink 682 00:31:29,967 --> 00:31:32,134 that absorbs daytime heat, 683 00:31:32,134 --> 00:31:34,467 and releases it slowly at night. 684 00:31:35,934 --> 00:31:39,967 Further down, a noticeable chill permeates the air. 685 00:31:39,967 --> 00:31:43,800 - The stepwell maintains a temperature of 5 to 6 degrees 686 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:46,901 cooler at its base than at its surface. 687 00:31:46,901 --> 00:31:49,901 Was this an intentional design feature, 688 00:31:49,901 --> 00:31:53,301 and if so, how did they calculate it? 689 00:31:53,301 --> 00:31:55,801 - [Narrator] The ancient engineers seem to have tapped 690 00:31:55,801 --> 00:31:58,434 into the Earth's natural cooling properties, 691 00:31:58,434 --> 00:31:59,967 using the subterranean design 692 00:31:59,967 --> 00:32:02,534 to access cooler underground layers. 693 00:32:03,867 --> 00:32:07,434 The collected water itself isn't just for drinking. 694 00:32:07,434 --> 00:32:08,700 It plays a crucial role 695 00:32:08,700 --> 00:32:11,134 in a natural air conditioning system. 696 00:32:12,367 --> 00:32:15,967 As water evaporates, it cools the surrounding air, 697 00:32:15,967 --> 00:32:18,967 much like our own body's perspiration. 698 00:32:18,967 --> 00:32:21,733 This natural cooling system is amplified 699 00:32:21,733 --> 00:32:24,067 by the well's unique vertical structure, 700 00:32:24,067 --> 00:32:26,167 which creates a chimney effect, 701 00:32:26,167 --> 00:32:28,701 encouraging air circulation. 702 00:32:28,701 --> 00:32:30,867 - By having that cooler water source flow down 703 00:32:30,867 --> 00:32:33,300 and having wind that would blow on top, 704 00:32:33,300 --> 00:32:35,734 it creates an interesting thermodynamic 705 00:32:35,734 --> 00:32:37,934 where it will stay cooler down there. 706 00:32:38,967 --> 00:32:40,534 - [Narrator] Warm air rises, 707 00:32:40,534 --> 00:32:43,801 drawing cooler air from the water surface upwards, 708 00:32:43,801 --> 00:32:46,667 resulting in a constant flow of breeze, 709 00:32:46,667 --> 00:32:48,867 a certain shiver from the depths. 710 00:32:50,367 --> 00:32:52,701 - Ancient engineers were able to create 711 00:32:52,701 --> 00:32:55,367 a sophisticated climate control system, 712 00:32:55,367 --> 00:32:59,234 transforming a water source into a cool oasis 713 00:32:59,234 --> 00:33:01,767 in one of the world's hottest regions. 714 00:33:01,767 --> 00:33:04,267 - In an arid, dry land, 715 00:33:04,267 --> 00:33:08,767 cold water is not something most people get to experience. 716 00:33:08,767 --> 00:33:10,934 Even the rains in the monsoons are warm, 717 00:33:12,101 --> 00:33:16,767 so it adds another level of awe or mysticism 718 00:33:16,767 --> 00:33:19,433 to the whole endeavor and the whole structure, 719 00:33:19,433 --> 00:33:22,267 that they're experiencing something special here 720 00:33:22,267 --> 00:33:24,367 that they cannot get anywhere else. 721 00:33:24,367 --> 00:33:26,600 - [Narrator] While its design creates an oasis 722 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:27,967 in the desert heat, 723 00:33:27,967 --> 00:33:31,767 its purpose extends beyond mere physical comfort, 724 00:33:31,767 --> 00:33:34,067 as evidenced by a nearby temple 725 00:33:34,067 --> 00:33:37,901 that hints at the site's deeper spiritual significance. 726 00:33:38,901 --> 00:33:41,701 Just 100 meters west of Chand Baori 727 00:33:41,701 --> 00:33:45,134 stands a temple dedicated to Harshat Mata, 728 00:33:45,134 --> 00:33:47,933 the goddess of joy and happiness. 729 00:33:47,933 --> 00:33:50,800 Built between the 7th and 7th centuries, 730 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:53,267 it's believed that this temple formed a complex 731 00:33:53,267 --> 00:33:54,934 with Chand Baori. 732 00:33:54,934 --> 00:33:57,401 Pilgrims would typically purify themselves 733 00:33:57,401 --> 00:33:58,934 in the stepwell's waters 734 00:33:58,934 --> 00:34:01,834 before entering the sacred temple ground. 735 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:06,867 - Water is sacred across many traditions, 736 00:34:06,867 --> 00:34:09,767 and in Hindu, it has a particularly special role, 737 00:34:09,767 --> 00:34:12,000 not only in ritual purification, 738 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:15,034 but water was part of the cosmos. 739 00:34:15,034 --> 00:34:17,133 It was actually binding the earthly 740 00:34:17,133 --> 00:34:19,801 and the celestial realms together. 741 00:34:19,801 --> 00:34:23,734 So it was essential to their understanding, 742 00:34:23,734 --> 00:34:25,834 not only of their lived experience, 743 00:34:25,834 --> 00:34:29,300 their present life, but the afterlife. 744 00:34:29,300 --> 00:34:31,167 - [Narrator] This connection also reveals 745 00:34:31,167 --> 00:34:34,167 the stepwell's deep spiritual significance, 746 00:34:34,167 --> 00:34:38,167 further emphasized by its intricate architectural details. 747 00:34:38,167 --> 00:34:40,867 Many of the carvings adorning Chand Baori 748 00:34:40,867 --> 00:34:44,001 depict Hindu deities and mythological scenes 749 00:34:44,001 --> 00:34:46,301 and narrate sacred stories. 750 00:34:46,301 --> 00:34:49,267 - These carvings transform the stepwell 751 00:34:49,267 --> 00:34:52,767 into a three-dimensional religious text. 752 00:34:52,767 --> 00:34:54,533 - [Narrator] Chand Baori was likely used 753 00:34:54,533 --> 00:34:57,901 in conjunction with the nearby temple for centuries, 754 00:34:57,901 --> 00:35:00,867 embodying the Hindu concept of finding divinity 755 00:35:00,867 --> 00:35:03,600 in the most essential elements of life, 756 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:06,834 a tradition that has endured for over a millennium. 757 00:35:10,167 --> 00:35:13,600 While the specifics of its construction remain elusive 758 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:15,934 and the legends of the djinn endure, 759 00:35:15,934 --> 00:35:18,233 Chand Baori's ancient ingenuity 760 00:35:18,233 --> 00:35:21,200 continues to stand the test of time. 761 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:26,234 - Today, India is turning back to its ancient wisdom 762 00:35:27,401 --> 00:35:31,434 in order to tackle the modern water crisis. 763 00:35:31,434 --> 00:35:35,000 - I think it is a testimony to the ingenuity 764 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:37,933 of the early designers of these stepwells 765 00:35:37,933 --> 00:35:41,667 that they are now finding purpose again today. 766 00:35:41,667 --> 00:35:43,367 In this period of climate change, 767 00:35:43,367 --> 00:35:47,067 when we have increasing drought conditions locally, 768 00:35:47,067 --> 00:35:49,833 stepwells are now being put back to work 769 00:35:49,833 --> 00:35:53,034 because they are one of the most efficient means 770 00:35:53,034 --> 00:35:56,234 of ensuring the survival of the local population. 771 00:35:57,600 --> 00:36:00,434 - This revival of ancient wisdom 772 00:36:00,434 --> 00:36:02,434 is testament to the fact 773 00:36:02,434 --> 00:36:04,634 that these ancient stepwells 774 00:36:04,634 --> 00:36:07,634 are not only relics of the past, 775 00:36:07,634 --> 00:36:10,334 but potential answers for the future. 776 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:14,300 - [Narrator] As with Chand Baori, 777 00:36:14,300 --> 00:36:16,800 the line between the mystical and the physical 778 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:20,467 blurs at a grand cathedral in Paris. 779 00:36:20,467 --> 00:36:22,433 Legends whisper of gargoyles 780 00:36:22,433 --> 00:36:25,667 that protect the cathedral from unseen threats, 781 00:36:25,667 --> 00:36:28,067 and tales of diabolical pacts 782 00:36:28,067 --> 00:36:30,801 that may have shaped its very doors. 783 00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:34,834 Standing majestically in the heart of Paris, 784 00:36:34,834 --> 00:36:36,600 Notre Dame Cathedral, 785 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:38,901 completed in the mid-13th century, 786 00:36:38,901 --> 00:36:42,300 has captivated visitors for hundreds of years. 787 00:36:42,300 --> 00:36:44,667 - It stands as one of the world's oldest 788 00:36:44,667 --> 00:36:47,067 and most renowned Gothic cathedrals. 789 00:36:48,867 --> 00:36:52,000 - Notre Dame has witnessed pivotal moments 790 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:53,801 in French history, 791 00:36:53,801 --> 00:36:57,767 from the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, 792 00:36:57,767 --> 00:37:01,167 to the beatification of Joan of Arc. 793 00:37:01,167 --> 00:37:03,701 - [Narrator] The cathedral's impressive dimensions, 794 00:37:03,701 --> 00:37:07,200 with towers reaching 69 meters into the sky, 795 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,201 speak to the ambition of its builders. 796 00:37:10,201 --> 00:37:14,033 - This was a cathedral built through the financial 797 00:37:14,033 --> 00:37:18,200 and artisanal contributions of the local population. 798 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:22,167 It was intended to be the largest, 799 00:37:22,167 --> 00:37:25,867 the most sophisticated cathedral of its time. 800 00:37:25,867 --> 00:37:29,367 So it was to be a mark of the greatness of Paris, 801 00:37:29,367 --> 00:37:31,233 as one of the largest 802 00:37:31,233 --> 00:37:34,301 and most economically successful cities 803 00:37:34,301 --> 00:37:35,867 in Europe at the time. 804 00:37:35,867 --> 00:37:38,000 - [Narrator] But beneath its Gothic splendor 805 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:40,700 lie deep mysteries of its construction. 806 00:37:40,700 --> 00:37:43,200 - It's not only the scale that amazes, 807 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:44,734 but the innovative techniques 808 00:37:44,734 --> 00:37:47,300 used to achieve such heights. 809 00:37:47,300 --> 00:37:48,901 - [Narrator] And the structural mysteries 810 00:37:48,901 --> 00:37:50,300 are just the beginning. 811 00:37:50,300 --> 00:37:51,834 - Legend has it that the gargoyles 812 00:37:51,834 --> 00:37:53,333 are the protectors of the church. 813 00:37:53,333 --> 00:37:55,067 But are they protecting the church 814 00:37:55,067 --> 00:37:58,834 against supernatural forces or against earthly threats? 815 00:38:01,434 --> 00:38:04,134 - [Narrator] Beneath the soaring arches of Notre Dame 816 00:38:04,134 --> 00:38:05,933 lies a secret that stretches back 817 00:38:05,933 --> 00:38:08,201 to the very foundations of Paris. 818 00:38:09,300 --> 00:38:12,967 - For generations, pilgrims and tourists 819 00:38:12,967 --> 00:38:16,700 have marveled at the Christian masterpiece 820 00:38:16,700 --> 00:38:19,567 that is the Notre Dame today. 821 00:38:19,567 --> 00:38:21,734 But few realize that the ground 822 00:38:21,734 --> 00:38:25,234 that touches their feet holds clues 823 00:38:25,234 --> 00:38:30,267 to a much older, grander, mysterious past. 824 00:38:31,600 --> 00:38:33,634 - They find stone structures underneath Notre Dame 825 00:38:33,634 --> 00:38:36,233 that would predate it by centuries. 826 00:38:36,233 --> 00:38:40,900 - In the 1700s, they discovered that the church 827 00:38:40,900 --> 00:38:44,934 was built on the ruins of an old Gallo-Roman temple 828 00:38:44,934 --> 00:38:49,767 to Jupiter, the king of the Roman pantheon. 829 00:38:49,767 --> 00:38:51,101 - What does that tell us? 830 00:38:51,101 --> 00:38:52,400 Well, first of all, that you have a temple 831 00:38:52,400 --> 00:38:54,600 to the most powerful of the Roman gods, 832 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:56,600 suggests that this place, 833 00:38:56,600 --> 00:38:58,134 the place where it's located, 834 00:38:58,134 --> 00:39:00,667 has long been a site of cultic worship, 835 00:39:00,667 --> 00:39:03,334 and in particular, a very sacred site. 836 00:39:03,334 --> 00:39:06,334 - This is evidence of the site's long history 837 00:39:06,334 --> 00:39:07,934 as a place of worship. 838 00:39:07,934 --> 00:39:09,900 How did a pagan temple become 839 00:39:09,900 --> 00:39:12,834 one of Christianity's most revered cathedrals? 840 00:39:14,134 --> 00:39:16,334 - [Narrator] The transformation from pagan temple 841 00:39:16,334 --> 00:39:20,367 to Christian cathedral was a centuries-long process. 842 00:39:20,367 --> 00:39:24,367 - As Christianity spreads throughout Europe, 843 00:39:24,367 --> 00:39:28,867 the site undergoes a radical metamorphosis. 844 00:39:29,834 --> 00:39:32,867 - Sacred sites tended to remain sacred sites 845 00:39:32,867 --> 00:39:34,934 even when there was a change in religion, 846 00:39:34,934 --> 00:39:37,767 and so the Christians didn't seem to have a problem 847 00:39:37,767 --> 00:39:40,834 rededicating pagan holy sites 848 00:39:40,834 --> 00:39:43,501 and making them Christian holy sites. 849 00:39:44,500 --> 00:39:46,600 - So we go from the pagan temple 850 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:48,033 to an early Christian church, 851 00:39:48,033 --> 00:39:50,634 and that gets replaced by another Christian church, 852 00:39:50,634 --> 00:39:52,834 but it stays in a line of descent 853 00:39:52,834 --> 00:39:55,667 that eventually brings us to Notre Dame. 854 00:39:55,667 --> 00:39:56,834 - [Narrator] Emerging from the shadows 855 00:39:56,834 --> 00:39:58,700 of its pagan origins, 856 00:39:58,700 --> 00:40:01,100 Notre Dame Cathedral has defied centuries 857 00:40:01,100 --> 00:40:03,834 of challenges and natural disasters. 858 00:40:03,834 --> 00:40:05,933 What architectural secrets lie 859 00:40:05,933 --> 00:40:07,667 within its hallowed walls, 860 00:40:07,667 --> 00:40:09,301 enabling the Gothic structure 861 00:40:09,301 --> 00:40:12,834 to withstand the ravages of time and nature? 862 00:40:13,667 --> 00:40:15,767 For centuries, Notre Dame Cathedral 863 00:40:15,767 --> 00:40:18,967 has stood as a testament to Gothic architecture. 864 00:40:18,967 --> 00:40:23,701 But in 2019, a devastating fire engulfed the cathedral, 865 00:40:23,701 --> 00:40:27,134 destroying its roof and iconic spire. 866 00:40:27,134 --> 00:40:31,501 - To see a structure like this be impacted by the fire, 867 00:40:31,501 --> 00:40:34,700 it's a little heartbreaking for a structural engineer. 868 00:40:34,700 --> 00:40:38,267 I remember we turned it on at our office and watched it. 869 00:40:40,100 --> 00:40:41,767 - [Narrator] As the smoke clears, 870 00:40:41,767 --> 00:40:43,800 archeologists and historians 871 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:46,034 are given an unprecedented opportunity 872 00:40:46,034 --> 00:40:49,101 to study the inner workings of Notre Dame's structure. 873 00:40:50,500 --> 00:40:54,334 - What hidden resilience did medieval builders embed 874 00:40:54,334 --> 00:40:57,501 within the very bones of Notre Dame Cathedral? 875 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:01,267 - [Narrator] One of the keys to the cathedral's longevity 876 00:41:01,267 --> 00:41:03,567 could be the 30 flying buttresses 877 00:41:03,567 --> 00:41:06,434 that form its stone exoskeleton. 878 00:41:06,434 --> 00:41:09,167 - When we start building big structures like Notre Dame 879 00:41:09,167 --> 00:41:12,100 with large, open indoor spaces, 880 00:41:12,100 --> 00:41:15,367 we end up with immense roof structures that are very heavy. 881 00:41:15,367 --> 00:41:18,100 And the result forces from those roof structures 882 00:41:18,100 --> 00:41:22,033 invariably want to cause our walls to buckle outward. 883 00:41:22,033 --> 00:41:26,901 So we need to design systems that support our walls. 884 00:41:27,567 --> 00:41:28,767 And with Notre Dame, 885 00:41:28,767 --> 00:41:30,167 that technology is the flying buttress. 886 00:41:31,534 --> 00:41:33,067 - The walls are quite tall, 887 00:41:33,067 --> 00:41:34,701 so they're a little wobbly. 888 00:41:34,701 --> 00:41:36,700 You can imagine building a wall out of Lego. 889 00:41:36,700 --> 00:41:38,167 At some point, it's not very stable, 890 00:41:38,167 --> 00:41:40,333 you can't put another brick on top of there. 891 00:41:40,333 --> 00:41:42,933 And so you need to brace it horizontally. 892 00:41:42,933 --> 00:41:45,867 And that's where the flying buttresses come in. 893 00:41:45,867 --> 00:41:48,700 They are lateral supports at high up points 894 00:41:48,700 --> 00:41:50,700 that then take those lateral forces out, 895 00:41:50,700 --> 00:41:53,167 and all the way down into the ground. 896 00:41:53,167 --> 00:41:55,367 Also, when you have an arched roof, 897 00:41:55,367 --> 00:41:59,033 that arch wants to thrust out at its haunches. 898 00:41:59,033 --> 00:42:02,334 And so the arch itself is imposing a horizontal force. 899 00:42:02,334 --> 00:42:04,334 That force goes into the flying buttresses. 900 00:42:04,334 --> 00:42:06,933 So all these things are tied together 901 00:42:06,933 --> 00:42:10,167 and they are integral to that building. 902 00:42:10,167 --> 00:42:12,134 If you do not have the flying buttresses, 903 00:42:12,134 --> 00:42:13,834 that building will collapse. 904 00:42:14,834 --> 00:42:18,167 It's amazing to see this ancient engineering, 905 00:42:18,167 --> 00:42:20,301 and how they knew this, and used arches, 906 00:42:20,301 --> 00:42:21,967 which are another really strong shape 907 00:42:21,967 --> 00:42:23,701 in these flying buttresses 908 00:42:23,701 --> 00:42:27,167 to make them lighter and functional. 909 00:42:27,167 --> 00:42:28,467 - [Narrator] As restoration work 910 00:42:28,467 --> 00:42:30,500 on the burned cathedral begins, 911 00:42:30,500 --> 00:42:33,934 a remarkable discovery is made within its stonework, 912 00:42:33,934 --> 00:42:36,633 large iron staples are revealed, 913 00:42:36,633 --> 00:42:39,301 measuring up to 50 centimeters long. 914 00:42:39,301 --> 00:42:41,900 These staples found throughout the cathedral 915 00:42:41,900 --> 00:42:45,267 bind stones together, providing reinforcement 916 00:42:45,267 --> 00:42:49,300 that allows it to achieve its impressive 35 meter height 917 00:42:49,300 --> 00:42:52,567 while maintaining a light, slender appearance. 918 00:42:52,567 --> 00:42:54,100 But the true breakthrough comes 919 00:42:54,100 --> 00:42:57,067 when these iron reinforcements are dated. 920 00:42:58,634 --> 00:43:03,067 Radiocarbon dating reveals they originate from the 1160s, 921 00:43:03,067 --> 00:43:06,234 making Notre Dame the first known Gothic cathedral 922 00:43:06,234 --> 00:43:09,367 to use iron extensively throughout its structure, 923 00:43:09,367 --> 00:43:13,134 a feat not repeated for about four decades. 924 00:43:13,134 --> 00:43:15,167 But these iron reinforcements 925 00:43:15,167 --> 00:43:17,534 aren't the only metalwork hiding secrets 926 00:43:17,534 --> 00:43:20,000 in Notre Dame's walls. 927 00:43:20,000 --> 00:43:23,034 Adorning the massive western doors of the cathedral 928 00:43:23,034 --> 00:43:25,200 is intricate ironwork, 929 00:43:25,200 --> 00:43:28,833 and with it, comes a legend of devilish intrigue. 930 00:43:28,833 --> 00:43:30,567 - There's so many legends 931 00:43:30,567 --> 00:43:32,167 about the building of Notre Dame, 932 00:43:32,167 --> 00:43:34,201 but there's one from the 13th century 933 00:43:34,201 --> 00:43:37,800 about a young blacksmith named Biscornet. 934 00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:40,400 According to legend, he had been commissioned 935 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:42,567 to complete the elaborate, 936 00:43:42,567 --> 00:43:45,134 ornate iron doors for the cathedral. 937 00:43:45,134 --> 00:43:48,034 - [Narrator] But when the completed doors are unveiled, 938 00:43:48,034 --> 00:43:50,033 people are astounded. 939 00:43:50,033 --> 00:43:53,034 - The level of craftsmanship was unprecedented. 940 00:43:53,034 --> 00:43:56,700 The intricate details and artistry are so advanced 941 00:43:56,700 --> 00:43:58,801 that it leaves people in disbelief. 942 00:43:58,801 --> 00:44:01,567 - No one believes it could be the work 943 00:44:01,567 --> 00:44:03,934 of a 13th-century blacksmith. 944 00:44:03,934 --> 00:44:07,034 - [Narrator] This leads to wild speculation. 945 00:44:07,034 --> 00:44:09,434 Biscornet's work must have been the result 946 00:44:09,434 --> 00:44:11,100 of a deal made with the devil. 947 00:44:11,100 --> 00:44:14,067 - Rumors begin to circulate that Biscornet 948 00:44:14,067 --> 00:44:17,067 had been found in his workshop unconscious, 949 00:44:17,067 --> 00:44:18,767 and that the iron doors 950 00:44:18,767 --> 00:44:21,467 had miraculously been completed overnight. 951 00:44:23,100 --> 00:44:26,367 When it came time to open up the doors, they were stuck. 952 00:44:26,367 --> 00:44:27,967 According to legend, 953 00:44:27,967 --> 00:44:30,867 it was only after the application of holy water 954 00:44:30,867 --> 00:44:32,867 that they were able to be opened. 955 00:44:32,867 --> 00:44:36,667 - Adding to the mystery, Biscornet reportedly dies 956 00:44:36,667 --> 00:44:38,700 shortly after completing the project. 957 00:44:38,700 --> 00:44:41,534 (dramatic music) 958 00:44:43,933 --> 00:44:45,467 - For people at the time, 959 00:44:45,467 --> 00:44:48,400 the battle between good and evil 960 00:44:48,400 --> 00:44:51,234 was a real live one. 961 00:44:51,234 --> 00:44:54,867 So actually, it wasn't a huge leap of the imagination 962 00:44:54,867 --> 00:44:58,501 to believe that these beautiful iron doors 963 00:44:58,501 --> 00:45:01,533 were inspired by the devil. 964 00:45:01,533 --> 00:45:02,834 The story comes out 965 00:45:02,834 --> 00:45:05,134 that it's supernatural powers that did it. 966 00:45:05,134 --> 00:45:09,333 And yet the minds of the people around 967 00:45:09,333 --> 00:45:12,833 turn to it not being divine intervention, 968 00:45:12,833 --> 00:45:15,434 but instead to it being the devil. 969 00:45:16,667 --> 00:45:19,034 - It's not surprising, in a way, 970 00:45:19,034 --> 00:45:21,134 that a church of this grandeur 971 00:45:21,934 --> 00:45:24,501 would attract demonic tales. 972 00:45:24,501 --> 00:45:28,967 It is constructed as a bastion of the Christian faith, 973 00:45:28,967 --> 00:45:30,533 which means, of course, 974 00:45:30,533 --> 00:45:32,667 demons will want to play with it, 975 00:45:32,667 --> 00:45:34,167 they will want to haunt it, 976 00:45:34,167 --> 00:45:36,867 they will want to torment those who go there. 977 00:45:36,867 --> 00:45:38,133 So in that sense, 978 00:45:38,133 --> 00:45:40,334 the fact that it's spiritually significant 979 00:45:40,334 --> 00:45:45,434 means that it will be a obvious target of the demonic. 980 00:45:46,633 --> 00:45:47,867 - [Narrator] To this day, 981 00:45:47,867 --> 00:45:50,800 the legend of the devil doors persists. 982 00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:54,167 - And interestingly, modern blacksmiths 983 00:45:54,167 --> 00:45:59,167 can't actually explain how those doors were constructed. 984 00:46:00,334 --> 00:46:01,867 - [Narrator] Whether crafted by human hands 985 00:46:01,867 --> 00:46:03,933 or through more sinister means, 986 00:46:03,933 --> 00:46:06,867 the devil doors continue to hold their secrets tight 987 00:46:06,867 --> 00:46:08,334 at ground level. 988 00:46:08,334 --> 00:46:10,234 But perched up above, 989 00:46:10,234 --> 00:46:14,234 Notre Dame's silent sentinels stand watch. 990 00:46:14,234 --> 00:46:18,800 What ancient mysteries do these grotesque figures conceal? 991 00:46:18,800 --> 00:46:21,767 - The gargoyles of Notre Dame are iconic. 992 00:46:21,767 --> 00:46:23,100 They are monstrous, 993 00:46:23,100 --> 00:46:26,067 with bulging eyes and sharp teeth. 994 00:46:26,067 --> 00:46:28,267 - As a visitor, you arrive and you look up 995 00:46:28,267 --> 00:46:32,433 and you see these enormous winged creatures perched, 996 00:46:32,433 --> 00:46:33,933 looking down at you, 997 00:46:33,933 --> 00:46:36,934 each with its own individual personality and movement. 998 00:46:38,067 --> 00:46:40,367 - What's striking about these gargoyles 999 00:46:40,367 --> 00:46:45,401 is the wide variety of design in which they were made. 1000 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:48,100 And yet, what unifies them 1001 00:46:48,100 --> 00:46:51,567 is their whimsical, fiendish, 1002 00:46:51,567 --> 00:46:53,867 almost devilish nature. 1003 00:46:53,867 --> 00:46:55,567 - These aren't just decorations. 1004 00:46:55,567 --> 00:46:57,700 These gargoyles have stood watch 1005 00:46:57,700 --> 00:46:59,434 over the cathedral for centuries. 1006 00:47:01,500 --> 00:47:03,234 - There are a number of theories 1007 00:47:03,234 --> 00:47:05,667 about what they might have been intended to do. 1008 00:47:05,667 --> 00:47:08,801 Perhaps the most popular one is that they were protective, 1009 00:47:08,801 --> 00:47:11,934 that they were looking over Notre Dame, 1010 00:47:11,934 --> 00:47:14,867 and its parishioners with an eye out 1011 00:47:14,867 --> 00:47:18,867 to defeating any demons that might be circling. 1012 00:47:18,867 --> 00:47:23,067 - Others see them as representations of sin and vice, 1013 00:47:23,067 --> 00:47:26,801 lurking outside the sanctity of the church. 1014 00:47:27,901 --> 00:47:29,133 - If you look beautiful, 1015 00:47:29,133 --> 00:47:31,767 people think you can do no wrong, 1016 00:47:31,767 --> 00:47:33,000 that you are good, 1017 00:47:33,000 --> 00:47:34,767 that you're special just by that looks. 1018 00:47:34,767 --> 00:47:37,300 And, therefore, the flip side is also there. 1019 00:47:37,300 --> 00:47:39,900 If you look ugly, if you look grotesque, 1020 00:47:39,900 --> 00:47:41,334 then you're a monster and you're evil. 1021 00:47:41,334 --> 00:47:44,067 And that's why when we look at these gargoyles now, 1022 00:47:44,067 --> 00:47:45,801 we see them as evil creatures. 1023 00:47:46,967 --> 00:47:50,067 - And there are so many folklore and stories 1024 00:47:50,067 --> 00:47:51,900 associated with them. 1025 00:47:51,900 --> 00:47:55,434 One story goes that the gargoyles come alive at night 1026 00:47:55,434 --> 00:47:57,134 and patrol the streets of Paris, 1027 00:47:57,134 --> 00:47:59,301 keeping us all safe from harm. 1028 00:48:00,334 --> 00:48:01,867 - Another tale suggests 1029 00:48:01,867 --> 00:48:05,967 that these gargoyles aren't sculptures at all, 1030 00:48:05,967 --> 00:48:11,034 but monsters turned to stone by the power of the church. 1031 00:48:12,367 --> 00:48:15,034 - [Narrator] The gargoyles adorning Notre Dame today 1032 00:48:15,034 --> 00:48:19,834 are not medieval originals, but 19th-century additions. 1033 00:48:19,834 --> 00:48:21,534 Many of the original gargoyles 1034 00:48:21,534 --> 00:48:24,300 fell victim to the French Revolution's destruction 1035 00:48:24,300 --> 00:48:26,701 in the late 1700s. 1036 00:48:26,701 --> 00:48:29,201 Over the decades following the Revolution, 1037 00:48:29,201 --> 00:48:31,900 the cathedral falls into disrepair. 1038 00:48:31,900 --> 00:48:34,534 But it would receive a new lease on life 1039 00:48:34,534 --> 00:48:35,867 thanks to French author, 1040 00:48:35,867 --> 00:48:40,134 Victor Hugo's 1831 novel "Notre-Dame de Paris", 1041 00:48:40,134 --> 00:48:42,834 whose 1833 English translation 1042 00:48:42,834 --> 00:48:46,167 was known as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". 1043 00:48:46,167 --> 00:48:50,667 - Victor Hugo's novel really raised the cathedral 1044 00:48:50,667 --> 00:48:52,700 in popular consciousness, 1045 00:48:52,700 --> 00:48:54,867 and led to a surge of interest 1046 00:48:54,867 --> 00:48:58,401 in restoring the cathedral to its former glory. 1047 00:48:59,900 --> 00:49:01,367 - [Narrator] A renovation under the guidance 1048 00:49:01,367 --> 00:49:04,300 of architect, Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, 1049 00:49:04,300 --> 00:49:06,434 began in the 1840s, 1050 00:49:06,434 --> 00:49:08,534 and new gargoyles were crafted, 1051 00:49:08,534 --> 00:49:11,933 cementing Notre Dame's status as a cultural icon, 1052 00:49:11,933 --> 00:49:14,467 and popularizing the notion of gargoyles 1053 00:49:14,467 --> 00:49:16,633 as the cathedral's guardians. 1054 00:49:16,633 --> 00:49:18,633 But the true purpose of these figures 1055 00:49:18,633 --> 00:49:22,633 is actually crucial to the cathedral's structural integrity. 1056 00:49:22,633 --> 00:49:26,101 - In reality, their function is much more practical. 1057 00:49:26,101 --> 00:49:28,133 They serve as water spouts, 1058 00:49:28,133 --> 00:49:31,600 channeling rainwater away from the building's walls 1059 00:49:31,600 --> 00:49:33,301 to prevent erosion. 1060 00:49:34,367 --> 00:49:36,100 - [Narrator] Following the tragic fire 1061 00:49:36,100 --> 00:49:39,801 that swept through Notre Dame Cathedral in April, 2019, 1062 00:49:39,801 --> 00:49:42,367 the gargoyles and grotesques have come to embody 1063 00:49:42,367 --> 00:49:45,934 the enduring spirit of this beloved landmark. 1064 00:49:46,967 --> 00:49:48,934 - When we think about Notre Dame now, 1065 00:49:48,934 --> 00:49:51,267 and the fact that it's now rebuilt, 1066 00:49:51,267 --> 00:49:55,467 it makes us realize that monuments are not static. 1067 00:49:55,467 --> 00:49:58,467 They are constantly being remade 1068 00:49:58,467 --> 00:50:00,367 and repurposed and reused 1069 00:50:00,367 --> 00:50:02,767 by the cultures because they cherish them, 1070 00:50:02,767 --> 00:50:05,801 because of their ties to their historic past, 1071 00:50:05,801 --> 00:50:07,934 but also because they're living spaces, 1072 00:50:07,934 --> 00:50:10,401 living histories, that are still meaningful to them. 1073 00:50:13,434 --> 00:50:16,934 - [Narrator] The cathedral reopened in December of 2024 1074 00:50:16,934 --> 00:50:19,634 after a nearly five-year restoration, 1075 00:50:19,634 --> 00:50:21,867 that was not without its challenges. 1076 00:50:21,867 --> 00:50:23,767 - Structures that have caught on fire, 1077 00:50:23,767 --> 00:50:25,434 some of them aren't salvageable. 1078 00:50:25,434 --> 00:50:26,801 This one, though, being stone, 1079 00:50:26,801 --> 00:50:28,800 is far more salvageable 1080 00:50:28,800 --> 00:50:30,901 than a wood structure would have been. 1081 00:50:30,901 --> 00:50:33,100 But in terms of the tools and the know-how 1082 00:50:33,100 --> 00:50:34,700 and the knowledge, and the ability 1083 00:50:34,700 --> 00:50:36,100 to rebuild something like this, 1084 00:50:36,100 --> 00:50:37,434 and not everybody can do that, 1085 00:50:37,434 --> 00:50:38,934 there's less and less people 1086 00:50:38,934 --> 00:50:41,901 who could build these structures in a similar way, 1087 00:50:41,901 --> 00:50:44,200 with the expertise and with the knowledge. 1088 00:50:44,200 --> 00:50:47,134 - While some have attributed the marvels of Notre Dame 1089 00:50:47,134 --> 00:50:49,901 to supernatural evil forces, 1090 00:50:49,901 --> 00:50:52,600 the reality is that Notre Dame represents 1091 00:50:52,600 --> 00:50:56,767 the pinnacle of human ingenuity, skill, craftsmanship, 1092 00:50:56,767 --> 00:50:59,834 and the determination of a people in their time. 1093 00:51:00,634 --> 00:51:02,701 The real magic of Notre Dame 1094 00:51:02,701 --> 00:51:04,867 is the medieval craftsmen that made it. 1095 00:51:04,867 --> 00:51:07,867 (dramatic music) 1096 00:51:07,867 --> 00:51:10,100 - [Narrator] From the whispers of otherworldly forces 1097 00:51:10,100 --> 00:51:14,467 at Sacsayhuaman, to the tales of djinns at Chand Baori, 1098 00:51:14,467 --> 00:51:17,334 and the ominous devil doors at Notre Dame, 1099 00:51:17,334 --> 00:51:19,833 the stories of these architectural wonders 1100 00:51:19,833 --> 00:51:22,501 blur the line between human achievement 1101 00:51:22,501 --> 00:51:24,267 and the supernatural. 1102 00:51:24,267 --> 00:51:27,333 While standing testament to remarkable engineering, 1103 00:51:27,333 --> 00:51:31,000 they hint at forces beyond our understanding. 1104 00:51:31,000 --> 00:51:32,367 What hidden truths 1105 00:51:32,367 --> 00:51:35,334 might these ancient structures still hold, 1106 00:51:35,334 --> 00:51:38,600 waiting to be uncovered by future generations? 1107 00:51:38,600 --> 00:51:41,367 (dramatic music) 1108 00:51:57,367 --> 00:52:00,901 (dramatic music continues)