John Calvin joked that the fragments of the True Cross scattered across Europe could build a cargo ship. In 1870, Charles Rohault de Fleury actually did the math, and the result overturns the myth of a bloated relic economy. This episode traces the biography of the wood Jesus was crucified on, from invented origin stories to imperial warfare to a possible shipwreck in 2022.

We start with the Golden Legend's tale of Seth planting seeds in Adam's mouth, King Solomon's rebellious beam, and the Queen of Sheba's prophecy, then move to Constantine's excavation, Eusebius's suspicious silence, and the later invention of Empress Helena's discovery. From there we follow the relic through Persian capture, Heraclius's return, the Crusades, the Battle of Hattin, and the Fourth Crusade's carving up of Constantinople.

• The Eastern Orthodox versi ...