Ancient Mysteries

Enigma of the Dead Sea Scrolls

The "Enigma of the Dead Sea Scrolls," which contain most of the books of the Old Testament. Included: the accidental dis

Rapa Nui

A look at the making of "Rapa Nui," which speculates on the native inhabitants of Easter Island, who built strange giant

The Odyssey of Troy

"The Odyssey of Troy" seeks evidence of historical accuracy in Homer's account of the Trojan War in the 13th century B.C

The Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin, long thought to be Jesus Christ's burial garment, has inspired the faithful for centuries. But one

Shreds of Evidence

A report on the mystery surrounding the Shroud of Turin, thought by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus. Scientists in

Shadow of the Templars

Tracing the rise and fall of Knights Templars, a religious-military order that fought for Christ during the 12th and 13t

Robot Journey Into the Past

Examining the Upuaut project, in which robotic cameras explored the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Included: comments from wri

Myth of the Spanish Inquisition

An examination of the Catholic Church's orthodoxy court asserts that it was a victim of a Protestant "propaganda campaig

The Loch Ness Monster

A report on the ongoing search for the Loch Ness monster examines eyewitness accounts and scientific evidence. Included:

Easter Island: The Secrets

"Easter Island: The Secrets" offers theories concerning the origin of the ancient stone statues that populate the island

The Hidden City of Petra

It remained hidden behind walls of sheer rock for more than 2,000 years. In 1812, Johann Burckhardt ventured into the Jo

Palenque: The Maya

Palenque was a Maya city state in southern Mexico that flourished in the 7th century.

Camelot

The court of King Arthur, Camelot was at the center of a world of magic and honor. But what lies behind this captivating

Vikings in North America

The exploits of Eric the Red. The legend of Leif Ericson. The struggle for power the bond of a family and the courage to

Machu Picchu: City in the Sky

The structure of Machu Picchu, originally built by the Incas, is one of the most archaeologically stunning mysteries of

Quest for the Fountain of Youth

It is one of the most puzzling tales to come out of the European Age of Discovery. And yet, the alleged search for the F

The Timber Castles of England

The history of the timber castles that once populated medieval England, but are only mounds of earth today.

Secret Mounds of Prehistoric America

Explore some of the most intriguing archaeological sites on earth - the puzzling pre-historic mounds built by the ancien

The Search for Shangri-La

A tale told through the centuries of a lost, hidden civilization that lives in an euphoric state of peace and harmony en

Who Built Stonehenge?

An investigation of the origins of Stonehenge, the prehistoric megaliths on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, b

Atlantis: The Lost Civilization

It was a myth first told by Plato in the late 4th century B.C. - a dramatic tale of a powerful civilization living on an

The Search for Alexander the Great

Efforts to locate the remains of Alexander the Great. Included: the discovery of treasures in northern Greece that appea

The Riddle of the Maya

The Maya temple city of Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico, abandoned by the Mayans around 835 A.D., is explored. Included: the

The Lost Canyon of the Pueblos

Examination of the sophisticated system of housing built by the Pueblo Indians in New Mexico's Chaco Canyon over 1,000 y

Naked Warriors of Europe

An examination of the Celts, whose culture reached its zenith in Europe between the 5th and 1st centuries B.C. Included:

Life and Death in Britian's Ancient Theaters

A look at British theater in the Elizabethan age.

The Quest for the Holy Lance

A Roman soldier takes his spear and pierces the side of Christ as he hangs on a crucifix. Thus, the legend of the Holy L

Blood and Honor at the First Olympics

A look at the first Olympic competitions in Greece, circa 776 B.C.

The Sunken City

The ancient city of Ostia, Italy, used at one time as the port of Rome, from its founding by Ancus Marcius (641-616 B.C.

The Miraculous Canals of Venice

"The Miraculous Canals of Venice" looks into why - and how - Venetians built their city on 120 islands in the Adriatic.

Blood and Treasure in Peru

“Blood and Treasure in Peru” chronicles the discovery - by grave robbers - of the royal tombs of Sipan, a treasure t

Pompeii: Buried Alive

Two-thousand years ago, Rome was an all-powerful empire and Pompeii was one of its prosperous provincial towns - until M

Hadrian's Wall

Speculation on why the Roman emperor Hadrian constructed a wall along the empire's British frontier in the 2nd century.

Secrets of the Pueblo

An examination of the 19 Pueblo towns located in New Mexico's Chaco Canyon, believed to be some of the earliest dwelling

The Puzzling Pyramids of Mexico

An examination of the pyramids in the Mexican city of Teotihuacan. Also: the Temple of the Feathered Spirit and the Aven

The Rosetta Stone

For thousands of years, the rich history of ancient Egypt was sealed off from the world, a mystery obscured by the picto

China's Wall of Doom

The mysterious gravesite of an ancient Chinese emperor, who had an "army" of 7000 terra cotta statues built around the t

Astrology: Secrets in the Stars

Are the secrets truly written in the heavens, or is the ancient practice of astrology further evidence of mankind's need

The Queen Pharaoh

A profile of Egypt's Queen Hatshepsut attempts to explain why the male rulers who followed her tried to erase her name f

Secrets of Sex: The Kama Sutra

An examination of the Kamasutra, the Hindu text that details "the delights of the human sexual experience," focuses on i

The Forbidden City: The Dynasty and Destiny

For 500 years, China's Forbidden City was a sacred site of power, passion, and perversity. Conceived in a dream and doom

Incredible Monuments of Rome

They stand today as testaments to the glory and grandeur of ancient Rome. But what brutal and murderous price was paid t

Lost Spirits of Cambodia

A visit to the ruins of the imperial city of Angkor in Cambodia, built over 75 square miles between the 9th and 12th cen

Lost Legions of Rome

“Lost Legions of Rome” explores the efficacy and the legacy of Rome's military machine, which was sometimes more pow

Voodoo!

A survey of voodoo, an amalgam of African religions and Christianity, which is still practiced in the Caribbean, South A

The Lost Cities of Rome

Beneath the former capital of the Roman Empire hides a maze of secret passages and chambers. It is the underground cemet

Rites of Death

A look at burial customs throughout history. Cultures examined include India, Tibet and ancient Egypt.

Lost Castles of England

Along with chivalry, romance, and royalty, the image of the great stone castle with lofty towers, a drawbridge, and a de

Secrets of Delphi

One of the holiest sites of ancient Greece, Delphi was the pre-eminent shrine of Apollo. Cradled by Mount Parnassos and

The Secret Life of King Ramses II

Explore the life of the last great pharaoh of Egypt, and uncover mysteries behind the life of the legendary ruler. King

The Powerful Gods of Mt. Olympus

Twelve great gods, overlooking classical Greece from atop Mount Olympus. Their anger was capable of boiling the oceans,

Apocalypse: The Puzzle of Revelation

Curse of the Goddess Pele

Hawaii emerged steaming from the sea millennia ago, the product of thousands of years of continual volcanic eruptions th

Headhunters of the Amazon

Private Lives of the Emperors

Sacred Places

When the pyramids were being built and Stonehenge was new, the world was a magical and mysterious place. Throughout the

Sacred Rites and Rituals

Samurai!

Secrets of the Aztecs

Temples of Eternity

The Unknown Jesus

The Vatican Revealed

UFOs: The First Encounters

Although experts today have been able to decipher artifacts and ruins from once flourishing ancient civilizations, quest

Ancient Altered States

If you thought the drug culture peaked in the 1960s, you're only off by a few millennia. In fact, since the beginning of

Ancient Prophecy

From Central African tribes to American Indians, prophecy has held an esteemed place in various cultures throughout the

Witches

Known varyingly as a sorceress, an enchantress, and a devil's consort, the witch has haunted the human consciousness and

Mystical Monuments of Ancient Greece

The glorious temples of Athens's Acropolis bear silent witness to the high point of Ancient Greece's legendary civilizat

Tombs of the Gods: The Great Pyramids of Giza

The Great Pyramids of Giza are recognizable throughout the world and are tangible links to powerful secrets from the pre

The Curse of the Hope Diamond

It is the largest, most famous, and most valuable gemstone in the world. It has been the plaything of kings and sultans

Secrets of the Romanovs

Legends of the Arabian Nights

Few modern authors have not been influenced by THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. But what is the origin of THE ARABIAN NIGHTS stories?

The Fate of the Neandertals

More than 70 thousand years ago, a clan of cave dwellers roamed the cliffs of Le Conte in Southwestern France. They were

Human Sacrifice

Human blood. In the ancient world, this precious substance was believed to be the ultimate gift that could be offered up

The Lost City of Pirates

Roam the high seas in search of adventure and booty with Blackbeard the pirate and women buccaneers like Annie Boney. Vi

Samurai

Explore an exotic world of shimmering beauty and sudden death: the world of the old Japan and their ruthless and honorab

Guardian of the Ages: The Great Sphinx

It is one of ancient Egypt's most recognizable and enduring icons. Situated on the west bank of the Nile River, this gre

Dragons: Myths and Legends

They appear in countless myths and stories from around the world. Could dragons have actually existed, and could they st

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Documentary explores the seven wonders of the ancient world: The Great Pyramid of Giza, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus,

The Black Death

"Black Death" looks at the plague that, beginning in the 6th century, killed millions on three continents.

The Curse of the Borgias

In this episode of Ancient Mysteries, Leonard Nimoy narrates the story of the Borgias family. The legendary Italian Rena

Tattooing

For thousands of years, people of almost every culture have decorated their bodies with elaborate tattoos - but few real

The Sacred Waters of Lourdes

It has been called the city of miracles - where the blind are made to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk. Could

The Magic of Alchemy

Did masters of alchemy possess secret wisdom? What were they really seeking? These are but a few ANCIENT MYSTERIES. Nea

The Search for the Abominable Snowman

Quest for the Holy Grail

It is one of the holiest relics of Christianity and has inspired many a knightly adventure. But does this fabled chalice

Knights Templar

Nine hundred years ago, Muslims fighting Christians were suddenly assaulted by a strange and terrifying force...a legion

Reincarnation

Can the soul transcend death to inhabit another body? Can one person be born again as another? Numerous cultures and rel

Lost Mummies of the Inca

The Incas held lavish banquets for their mummified chiefs, where corpses were dressed in fine clothes, exquisite jewelry

Dreamtime of the Aborigines

Take a mesmerizing journey into the ancient, enigmatic culture of Australia's Aborigines, the oldest on earth. They are