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the ancient world on television  december 29-january 4,2003/2004
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All times Eastern

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Monday, December 29
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8.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Mysteries of the Sphinx
dna
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Tuesday, December 30
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7.00 p.m. |HINT| The Bible's Greatest Secrets
"In the Holy Land, specialized archaeologists sift through the
living sands to uncover vanished civilizations. We'll trace
biblical archaeology's history and profile some of its prominent
figures like the eccentric professor who had his head preserved
for posterity, and a husband and wife team."

8.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Quest for the Lost Pharaoh
dna

8.00 p.m. |HISTC| Real Spartacus
"This historical detective program exposes the true story of the
soldier, robber, slave and gladiator who led the most memorable
slave uprising of the Roman Republic. Beneath the legend, there
lies the story of a man who was at times both a great leader and
a cruel one."

9.00 p.m. |HISTC| Spartacus (movie)
"Thracian Spartacus is sold as a slave to the Gladiator trainer
Batiatus. After being trained to kill in the arena, Spartacus
turns on his owners and leads the other slaves in rebellion.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence
Olivier, Jean Simmons and Charles Laughton."

11.00 p.m. |HINT| The Sunken City
"The ancient Roman city of Ostia was once a vital seaport. Yet
it died a slow, painful death. This documentary explores the
reasons for its demise and looks at the abandoned wasteland
today."
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Wednesday, December 31
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7.00 p.m. |HINT| Death Cult of the Incas
"The Catholic conquistadors who conquered the Incas received
many cultural shocks--particularly the Inca cult of the dead.
We'll journey back to discover why the Incas held lavish
banquets with mummified ancestors, sought their advice, and
built lavish estates in their honor."

8.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Vesuvius: Deadly Fury
dna

8.00 p.m. |HISTU|Ancient Civilizations
"In this hour, we study sex in the ancient world--from
Mesopotamians, who viewed adultery as a crime of theft, to
Romans, who believed that squatting and sneezing after sex was a
reliable method birth control. We also look at revealing
Egyptian and Greek practices--from the origins of dildos, to
intimate relations between Egyptian gods and goddesses, to the
use of crocodile dung as a contraceptive."

9.00 p.m. |HINT| Time Team: Thetford, Norfolk
"Time Team goes back to school when they are invited to
investigate a mystery at Thetford Grammar School in Norfolk,
England, where clues in the school grounds may lead to the
remains of a Norman cathedral and prove that the site might also
have been the ancient ecclesiastical center of East Anglia. They
are also assigned another task: to trace the origins of the
medieval walls in the school playground. Were they part of a
14th-century friary? Can they solve the mysteries in the three-
day time limit?"

10.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Ultimate Ten Specials: Mummies
dna
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Thursday, January 1
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2.00 p.m. |HISTU| Mount Vesuvius: The Fury Within
"Rising 4,000 feet above Italy's Campania region, Mount
Vesuvius is one of the world's most active volcanoes, unleashing
its lethal fire time and again. We examine the 79 AD eruption
that destroyed the city of Pompeii, sealing the volcano's place
in history; a 1631 eruption, at the height of the Black Plague,
when the fiery mountain killed around 18,000; and a 1944
eruption that killed 26 as WWII raged across Southern Italy. Is
Vesuvius in a resting period or gearing up for another
explosion?"

7.00 p.m. |HINT| The Greatest Pharaohs, Pt. 1
"A chronicle of the legendary rulers of ancient Egypt and the
immense monuments they built to their own greatness. Their
wonders include the Great Pyramid of Giza, the temples of Karnak
and Luxor, and the treasures of King Tut."

8.00 p.m. |HISTU| The Bible's Greatest Secrets
"In the Holy Land, specialized archaeologists sift through the
living sands of time to uncover vanished civilizations. We trace
biblical archaeology's history and profile some of its prominent
figures like the eccentric professor who had his head preserved
for posterity, and a husband and wife team who have spent their
lives digging the sands of Israel. We also explore the future of
biblical archaeology and examine the high-tech tools that will
someday make digging with pick and shovel obsolete."

8.00 p.m. |HINT| Arms in Action: Slings and Spears
"Produced in partnership with England's Royal Armouries located
in the Tower of London, this series action-tests weapons and
armor through the ages. We construct an ancient slingshot and
see why it survives as a street-fighting weapon in the Middle
East, and follow the unbroken history of the spear from mere
stick to Roman pilium to bayonet. "

8.00 p.m |DCIVC| Meet The Ancestors: The Tomb That Time Forgot
dna

8.30 p.m. |DCIVC| Meet The Ancestors: At the Sign of the Eagle

9.00 p.m. |HINT| Foot Soldier: The Medieval Soldier
"Saga of the simple men who fought in the feudal wars of the
Middle Ages. They lived by the rules of chivalry, fought hand-to-
hand, and died by the sword or arrow. Richard Karn hosts."

10.00 p.m. |HISTU| Love and Sex in the Hebrew Bible
"On the sixth day of Creation, God pronounced the sexual union
between husband and wife "very good." The Hebrew Bible is rich
in tales of love and marriage, as well as rape, prostitution,
adultery, and polygamy. Sometimes the Bible reads more like a
tabloid than a holy book. What are the messages in these
stories? Are there lessons to be learned from Solomon's excesses
and David's adultery? We turn back the pages of time to see if
these lusty yarns of the ancients are relevant to today's
society."
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Friday, January 2
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7.00 p.m. |HINT| Augustus: First of the Emperors
"Story of the bloodthirsty leader who was also one of the most
able statesmen in world history. His rule launched the "Pax
Romana" (Roman Peace) that marked the high point of the empire."

8.00 p.m. |HINT| The Great Empire: Rome: The Republic of Rome
"A sweeping chronicle of one of history's most dynamic empires.
Part 1 features the city's founding by Romulus and Remus;
overthrow of the Etruscan monarchy; and the republic's formation
and ultimate undoing with the rise of Imperial Rome. Host Joe
Mantegna introduces Rome's great faces--Pompey, Cicero, Caesar,
Antony, and Cleopatra."

8.00 p.m. |DTC| The Maya Collapse
"Journey into the heart of the Belize jungle to uncover clues
to the demise of an extraordinarily advanced civilization. Could
a devastating drought be the cause of the sudden death of
millions? Examine the archaeological evidence."

8.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Secrets of Ancient Empires: First Beliefs
dna

9.00 p.m. |HINT| The Great Empire: Rome: Age of Emperors
"After Caesar's murder, his great-nephew Augustus was
victorious in the civil wars that followed, becoming the first
emperor. Host Joe Mantegna explores this sensational, scandalous
age when the proliferation of palace plots, hostile takeovers,
and imperial family intrigues became humdrum. Features Augustus,
Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, among others."

9.00 p.m. |DTC| Secrets of the Colosseum
"Visit the ruins of this massive triumph of Roman building and
engineering for clues to its ingenious design. Built in a
remarkably short span of 10 years, the structure combined
travertine stone, iron, concrete, brick and lava rocks from
nearby Vesuvius."

10.00 p.m. |HINT| The Great Empire: Rome: Building an Empire
"Host Joe Mantegna visits the vast territories conquered by the
imperial army--by the 2nd century AD, the empire spanned three
continents. The over-4,000 Roman cities were cultural melting
pots, where diverse customs and beliefs blended. Features life
in Pompeii, the flamboyant Emperor Hadrian, and religious
revolts in Judea."

10.00 p.m. |DTC| Vesuvius: Deadly Fury
"In 79 AD, eruptions from Mount Vesuvius buried the city of
Pompeii. A burning wave of gas shot out from the side of
Vesuvius killing the inhabitants of neighboring Herculaneum in
just four minutes. Archaeologists look to these bodies for
historical clues."

10.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Ultimate Ten Specials: Archaeological
Discoveries
dna

11.00 p.m. |HINT|The Great Empire: Rome: The Enduring Legacy
"The final episode reveals the birth of Christianity and how
this religion that the emperors initially tried to destroy
ultimately passed on the empire's legacy. Highlights include:
the crucifixion of Jesus; religious persecutions; rise of
Constantine, the first emperor to embrace Christianity; and
Justinian, Rome's last emperor."
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Saturday, January 3
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3.00 p.m. |DTC| The Maya Collapse
"Journey into the heart of the Belize jungle to uncover clues
to the demise of an extraordinarily advanced civilization. Could
a devastating drought be the cause of the sudden death of
millions? Examine the archaeological evidence."

4.00 p.m. |DTC| Secrets of the Colosseum
"Visit the ruins of this massive triumph of Roman building and
engineering for clues to its ingenious design. Built in a
remarkably short span of 10 years, the structure combined
travertine stone, iron, concrete, brick and lava rocks from
nearby Vesuvius."

5.00 p.m. |DTC| Vesuvius: Deadly Fury
"In 79 AD, eruptions from Mount Vesuvius buried the city of
Pompeii. A burning wave of gas shot out from the side of
Vesuvius killing the inhabitants of neighboring Herculaneum in
just four minutes. Archaeologists look to these bodies for
historical clues."

7.00 p.m. |HISTU| The Knight/The Monk
"Former Monty Python member Terry Jones possesses a passion for
the Middle Ages, and tackles--occasionally tumbling--iconic
characters from medieval England. First, Jones looks at the role
of Knights and asks--Were they noble heroes or murdering,
looting, underpaid mercenary rapists? From France, Jones
investigates the Monk. A peaceful life of prayer in service to
God? Not for many medieval monks, who were devoted to making
lots of money. Afterall, the merchandising opportunities were
endless."

9.00 p.m. |PBS|The Dead Sea
"This program focuses on the geology, archaeology and history of
the Dead Sea region, a place of lost cities and fabled
civilizations, destructive forces and human conflict. For
thousands of years its shores were believed to be cursed, its
gaping cliffs the gateway to hell. Whether environmental,
geological, historical or political, the history of the Dead Sea
continues to be marked by cataclysmic events. Today, the
dwindling resources of this unique sea could prove yet another
political flashpoint. Analysts predict that the next war in the
Middle East will be fought not over oil but water."
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Sunday, January 4
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3.00 p.m. |HINT| The Great Empire: Rome: The Republic of Rome
"A sweeping chronicle of one of history's most dynamic empires.
Part 1 features the city's founding by Romulus and Remus;
overthrow of the Etruscan monarchy; and the republic's formation
and ultimate undoing with the rise of Imperial Rome. Host Joe
Mantegna introduces Rome's great faces--Pompey, Cicero, Caesar,
Antony, and Cleopatra."

4.00 p.m. |HINT| The Great Empire: Rome: Age of Emperors
"After Caesar's murder, his great-nephew Augustus was
victorious in the civil wars that followed, becoming the first
emperor. Host Joe Mantegna explores this sensational, scandalous
age when the proliferation of palace plots, hostile takeovers,
and imperial family intrigues became humdrum. Features Augustus,
Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, among others."

5.00 p.m. |HINT| The Great Empire: Rome: Building an Empire
"Host Joe Mantegna visits the vast territories conquered by the
imperial army--by the 2nd century AD, the empire spanned three
continents. The over-4,000 Roman cities were cultural melting
pots, where diverse customs and beliefs blended. Features life
in Pompeii, the flamboyant Emperor Hadrian, and religious
revolts in Judea."

6.00 p.m. |HINT|The Great Empire: Rome: The Enduring Legacy
"The final episode reveals the birth of Christianity and how
this religion that the emperors initially tried to destroy
ultimately passed on the empire's legacy. Highlights include:
the crucifixion of Jesus; religious persecutions; rise of
Constantine, the first emperor to embrace Christianity; and
Justinian, Rome's last emperor."

7.00 p.m. |DISCU| The Real Mary Magdalene
"As a reformed prostitute, Mary Magdalene has become an icon
for the virtues of forgiveness. Experts peel away the layers of
mistaken identity and explore the role of women in Mary's
lifetime to show that she may not have been a prostitute at all."

7.00 p.m. |HINT| Time Team: Thetford, Norfolk
"Time Team goes back to school when they are invited to
investigate a mystery at Thetford Grammar School in Norfolk,
England, where clues in the school grounds may lead to the
remains of a Norman cathedral and prove that the site might also
have been the ancient ecclesiastical center of East Anglia. They
are also assigned another task: to trace the origins of the
medieval walls in the school playground. Were they part of a
14th-century friary? Can they solve the mysteries in the three-
day time limit?"

8.00 p.m. |HINT| Saints and Sinners: Upon This Rock
"From Christianity's birth to today, popes have influenced
nearly all aspects of Western civilization--the profound and the
profane, the spiritual and secular. This hour in our history of
the world's oldest surviving institution begins with St. Peter
and ends with the papacy of Leo the Erect, one of only two popes
called "Great". "

9.00 p.m. |HINT| Saints and Sinners: Between Two Empires
"In the Dark Ages, when learning advanced very little, popes
enjoyed spiritual domination over Western Europe. Yet little
changed--an 8th-century monk reincarnated into the 14th century
would feel quite at home. In this hour of a sweeping history of
the Papacy, we watch popes play politics with secular leaders as
the Church grows ever greedier."

10.00 p.m. |HINT| Saints and Sinners: Protest and Division
"This hour in our history of the Papacy begins in front of St.
Peter's Basilica, commissioned by Julius II who fathered three
daughters while a cardinal. To meet its massive cost, the pope
sold indulgences. As corruption reared its ugly head, the
Protestant Reformation split the unity of Western Christendom."
[the final episode in the series follows, focussing on 20th
century popes]

10.00 p.m. |DISCC| Building the Great Pyramid
"Of the many myths surrounding the Great Pyramid none is more
difficult to eradicate than the belief it was built by slaves;
find out the truth about how and why this extraordinary human
monument was made. "

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                        Channel Guide

A&E     The Arts and Entertainment Channel (cable)
DTC     Discovery Times Channel (U.S. Cable)*
DCIVC   Discovery Civilization (Canadian Cable)
DISCC   Discovery Channel (Canadian Cable)
DISCU   Discovery Channel (U.S. Cable)
HINT    History International (U.S. Cable)
HISTU   The History Channel (U.S. Cable)
HISTC   History Television (Canadian Cable)
NGU     National Geographic Channel (U.S. Cable)*
PBS     Public Broadcasting System (U.S. National Schedule)
TLC     The Learning Channel (cable)

*n.b. Canadian versions of these two channels have recently
been made available although the Canadian versions don't seem
to be making their schedules available yet. For what it's worth,
the Canadian version does seem to 'match up' in regards to
ancient programming most of the time.
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Copyright (c) 2003 David Meadows. Feel free to distribute these
listings via email to your pals, students, teachers, etc., but
please include the title and this copyright notice. These
listings are not to be posted to any website other than my own.
Thanks!
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7:39:06 AM