Intrigue Podcast
Ben Lewis unravels the tangled story of a Christian billionaire family, stolen relics, fake treasures and the scholar turned sleuth who exposed the scandal of biblical proportions
'Jaw dropping', 'gripping', 'bingeable,' 'thrilling' - dramatic true stories and investigations that reveal how the world really works.
Word of God: A billionaire family's mission to amass ancient biblical treasures leads to them getting caught up in an international web of looted artefacts, forgeries and criminal networks.
Art sleuth Ben Lewis uncovers how the Green family - owners of America's Hobby Lobby craft stores - spent millions racing to gather biblical manuscripts and artefacts. Their unprecedented collecting spree - 40,000 items in just three years - triggers a government investigation and alarms biblical scholars worldwide.
When papyrologist Roberta Mazza begins questioning the collection's origins, she finds herself drawn into an investigation stretching from the Vatican City through Istanbul to Oxford University's hallowed halls. Through exclusive access to key players, Lewis reveals how thousands of allegedly looted treasures were smuggled into America labelled as "ceramic tiles", whilst priceless items like ancient Babylonian tablets and early Christian manuscripts were acquired through suspicious means.
As investigators close in and scholars expose forgeries, the story expands beyond looted antiquities to raise profound questions about faith, power and cultural heritage. A respected Oxford professor stands accused of betrayal, federal agents demand the return of prized possessions, and the museum's ambitious mission becomes entangled in the dark world of international antiquities trafficking.
From Washington D.C. to the Vatican City, this is a story about what happens when religious certainty meets the dangerous world of ancient treasures.
Episodes to download
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Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 2—Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel
Fri 24 Feb 2017
Meet "the main man," as our tale of death, sex & politics moves to China鈥檚 national stage.
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Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 1—Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel
Fri 17 Feb 2017
A true story of death, sex and elite politics in China.
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Introducing... Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel—Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel
Wed 15 Feb 2017
The story of the mysterious murder that changed the course of Chinese politics.