================================================================
The Ancient World on Television          September 13 - 19, 2004
================================================================
All times Eastern

Please visit our blog:

http://www.atrium-media.com/rogueclassicism/

If you're using an (ahem) old or clunky browser, try accessing
it via Bloglines:

http://www.bloglines.com/preview?siteid=21809

n.b. official descriptions are provided by the respective
networks' websites
================================================================
Monday, September 13
================================================================
4.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Moments in Time: Letter from the Roman Front
dna

6.00 p.m. |HINT|  Pompeii: Buried Alive
Exploration of the archaeological site of the city that was encrusted by incendiary ash when deadly Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Archaeological director Baldasarre Conticello takes viewers on a tour of Pompeii's ruins, and visits Herculaneum, which was destroyed by Vesuvius at the same time.
 
8.00 p.m. |HINT| Kings and Beasts   
For over 600 years, England's Kings and Queens held lions and tigers and bears (oh my!), as well as other wild beasts, captive in the Tower of London. Enter the lions' den as we excavate the Royal Menagerie, Britain's longest-running zoo.
 
11.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Legend Hunters: Noah's Ark
dna
================================================================
Tuesday, September 14
================================================================
3.00 p.m. |DISCC| Mummies Frozen In Time
Mummies, ancient and modern, are the real-world remnants of the immortal time travellers who have gone before us.

7.00 p.m. |HINT| King David: Poet Warrior
Did David really slay Goliath? What happened to Israel's archenemy, the Philistines? Explores these and other fascinating questions about King David. Includes a visit to Bethlehem, the city he founded, and Ein Gedi, the desert oasis to which he fled to escape Saul's wrath.
 
8.00 p.m. |HINT| Monumental Statues
What inspires societies to create sculptures on a superhuman scale? We'll examine gigantic statues and the monumental commitment of time, money, and talent needed to complete them. We'll study the Sphinx, Colossus of Rhodes, Statue of Liberty, Mt. Rushmore, Brazil's Christ the Redeemer, Russia's Motherland, and the Crazy Horse Memorial.
 
8.00 p.m. |PBS| Infinite Secrets
Christie's, New York, 1998: In a blaze of publicity, an extraordinary item was put up for sale. To the untrained eye, it was nothing more than a small and unassuming Byzantine prayer book, yet it sold for over $2 million. Its real value lay not in the prayers, but in a much earlier, spidery script that lay hidden almost invisibly beneath them. This turned out to be the oldest and most authentic copy of a compendium of works by the ancient Greek scholar Archimedes, lost for more than a thousand years. Scientists are now using cutting-edge imaging techniques to unlock the secrets of this time capsule and gain a unique insight into one of the greatest minds the world has ever known. [check local listings]

9.00 p.m. |DCIVC| The Mystery of the Miami Circle
dna
================================================================
Wednesday, September 15
================================================================
7.00 p.m. |HINT| Ancient Altered States   
An examination of the frightening and even deadly substances that people have used to alter their consciousness over the centuries.
 
8.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Journey Through the Valley of the Kings
dna

8.00 p.m. |PBS| Dawn of the Maya
Thanks to more than 100 years of research, much more is now known about the classic Maya period, an era of great cities ruled by powerful kings. Now, a revolution in Maya studies is pushing back the clock as scientists discover the dawn of the Maya. In the jungles of Guatemala, National Geographic archeologist Richard Hansen has discovered a previously unknown dynasty — kings who built the biggest pyramid on earth hundreds of years before the Spaniards arrived. Not far away, another National Geographic archeologist, Bill Saturno, has found a mural that dates from the pre-classic Maya period as well. The first such mural found in 50 years, it is also the oldest ever discovered. It shows that the elaborate Maya mythology so familiar from the classic period was likely in place hundreds of years earlier than previously thought. And in yet another National Geographic-funded Guatemalan archaeological site, extraordinary carvings at a newly excavated temple show that the early Maya made significant artistic achievements. These and other finds covered in this new National Geographic Special are showing that the great Maya civilization was already flourishing around the time of Christ, suffered a collapse and went through a great resurgence, all before the Europeans arrived. [check local listings]

9.00 p.m. |HISTC| King Of Stonehenge
Follows the investigation of a Bronze Age burial site —found within a mile of Stonehenge—containing more than 100 objects, including ancient copper knives and gold jewelry. Investigating the contents of the grave proves to be as dramatic as the excavation.

9.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Ancient Evidence: Who Killed Jesus?
dna

10.00 p.m. |HINT| Time Team: Papcastle, Cumbria
When Ray and Helen Buckingham started building work on an extension to their Cumbrian house in Papcastle, England, they found what looked like Roman pottery and building-stone fragments. Puzzled, they contacted Time Team--actor Tony Robinson (Baldrick in "Blackadder") and his team of archaeologists, historians and other experts. Was the couple's garden part of a Roman settlement or military staging post? Time Team has just three days to piece together the surprising story.
 
10.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Secrets of Ancient Empires: First Cities
dna

2.00 a.m. |PBS| Tomb of Christ
At the very center of Christianity, in one of the holiest cities on Earth, a mystery as old as the Christian faith is closer to being solved. An archaeological team from Oxford University has been hard at work attempting to prove that Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the actual location of Christ's burial. After a decade of delicate probing -- using a careful balance of diplomacy, intelligence, traditional archaeological and architectural techniques, and state-of-the-art equipment -- Martin Biddle and his wife, Birthe Kjølbye-Biddle, have unearthed some astonishing evidence. [check local listings]
================================================================
Thursday, September 16
================================================================
6.00 p.m. |HISTU| Raise the Hunley
On February 17, 1864, off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, history was made when nine Confederate sailors hand-cranked the iron submarine H.L. Hunley out to Union forces blockading the city and sank the USS Housatonic. It was the first time that a sub was successfully used in battle. But the Hunley disappeared beneath the waves shortly after achieving its goal. In August 2000, the sub was finally brought home when it was lifted off the ocean bottom and placed in a conservation facility
 
7.00 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. [say what?]
 
8.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: The Celts
dna

9.00 p.m. |DCIVC| THE NILE - RIVER OF THE GODS
dna 

10.00 p.m. |NGU| Lost Ships of the Mediterranean
dna

11.00 p.m. |HISTU| Battle of Marathon
After providing defensive aid to neighboring Ionia, the Athenians must defend their city against Persian invasion. But Persia, with its archers and cavalry, has a clear advantage. After an 8-day stand off in 490 BC, with Persian reinforcements on the way, the Athenians, led by Callimachus and Militiades, decide to take the offensive. Part documentary, part interactive game, viewers join the forces of King Darius as 6,000 are slaughtered by the Athenians, who depend on speed to gain the advantage. 
 
11.30 p.m. |HISTU| The Gothic Invasion of Rome 
378 AD. The crumbling Roman Empire, split in two, literally faces the barbarians at the gates. Ravaged by Hunnic invasions, the Visigoths beg Rome to let them cross the Danube. Corruption drives this hungry horde to rebellion, and pride drives Emperor Valens to take them on near Constantinople without waiting for support from Gratian, the Emperor in the West. On a blisteringly hot day, the Goths met Roman forces in a battle that St. Ambrose called "the end of all humanity, the end of the world."  
================================================================
Friday, September 17
================================================================
6.00 p.m. |HISTU| The True Story of Rasputin 
A Siberian peasant rises to power in Tsarist Russia, becomes the close confidante and reputed lover of Empress Alexandra, scandalizes the country with his drinking and womanizing, and after being poisoned, shot several times, and submerged in the Neva River's freezing waters, finally dies from drowning! We reveal the truth about the rise of the "Mad Monk" with the hypnotic gaze, using information from the newly uncovered "Rasputin File", a report originally prepared by the Russian secret police.
 
7.00 p.m. |HISTU| The Colosseum
Nothing symbolizes the Roman Empire at its height or Rome in magnificent ruins more than the Colosseum. Built in 70 AD, it seated 80,000 people, boasted a retractable roof, underground staging devices, marble seating, and lavish decorations. It still serves as the prototype for the modern stadium. The complexity of its construction, the beauty of its architecture, and the functionality of its design made it the perfect place for massive crowds to congregate for the bloody spectacles it contained.
 
7.00 p.m. |HINT| Joan of Arc: Soul on Fire
A teenage girl so dangerous, she was burnt at the stake? Why did her executioners believe she was a witch? How did an illiterate peasant girl take command of an army and seat a king on the throne of France? We'll explore the remarkable story of the woman warrior that became a saint. 
 
7.00 p.m. |DTC| Sodom and Gomorrah
Examine geological clues to a natural disaster responsible for one of the most dramatic apocalyptic events in history. Search for evidence of earthquakes and landslides that sparked the fires that consumed the Biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

8.00 p.m. |HINT| Foot Soldier: The Egyptians
Host Richard Karn looks at history's first organized fighting force. The ancient Egyptians marched across the Middle East, brought home booty to the pharaohs, and fought a great battle against the dreaded Sea People.

8.00 p.m. |DTC|The Grasp of Empire
Rome's legacy of trade, roads and architectural and psychological infrastructure relied on a fragile alliance of slaves, peasants and the provincial. The glory years of the Roman conquest led to the longest period of peace the world has ever known.

9.00 p.m. |DTC| The Cult of Order
Roman culture still weaves influence through western art, architecture, medicine, and urban planning. This enormous empire was a reflection of the multicultural world it encompassed, as excellence gave way to excess and decline.

9.00 p.m. |HINT| Foot Soldier: The Romans
Host Richard Karn looks at the Roman legionnaires, who conquered and dominated most of the known world for 500 years, and left behind a legacy of language, culture, architecture, and government.

10.00 p.m. |DTC|The Fall
From the reign of Diocletian to the sack of the Eternal City in 410 A.D., abusive political elite, complacent military, and an eroding cultural identity placed the Roman empire in an inexorable decline.
================================================================
Saturday, September 18
================================================================
11.00 a.m. |DTC| Sodom and Gomorrah
Examine geological clues to a natural disaster responsible for one of the most dramatic apocalyptic events in history. Search for evidence of earthquakes and landslides that sparked the fires that consumed the Biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

12.00 p.m. |DTC|The Grasp of Empire
Rome's legacy of trade, roads and architectural and psychological infrastructure relied on a fragile alliance of slaves, peasants and the provincial. The glory years of the Roman conquest led to the longest period of peace the world has ever known.

1.00 p.m. |DTC| The Cult of Order
Roman culture still weaves influence through western art, architecture, medicine, and urban planning. This enormous empire was a reflection of the multicultural world it encompassed, as excellence gave way to excess and decline.

2.00 p.m. |DTC|The Fall
From the reign of Diocletian to the sack of the Eternal City in 410 A.D., abusive political elite, complacent military, and an eroding cultural identity placed the Roman empire in an inexorable decline.

4.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Meet The Ancestors: Princess of the City
dna

7.00 p.m. |DISCC| Ultimate Ten: Archaeological Discoveries
From the ancient cities of Peru to the crypts of Egypt, archaeologists uncover clues that lead to a better understanding of the civilizations and events of the past; examine 10 outstanding discoveries of the 20th century that helped define our history.

8.00 p.m. |HINT| Mail and Plate Armor
Produced with the Royal Armouries in the Tower of London, this episode draws heavily on its superb collection of European chain mail and Asian leather armor. In slow-motion experiments, mail and plate are tested, and a knight shows that armor was more comfortable than it seemed.
================================================================
Sunday, September 19
================================================================
7.00 p.m. |DISCU| The Helike: Real Atlantis
In 373 BC, the Greek city of Helike was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami and disappeared into the sea. Modern archaeologists have spent decades searching for the lost underwater city until crucial clues finally came from geology.

7.00 p.m. |HINT| Time Team: Papcastle, Cumbria
When Ray and Helen Buckingham started building work on an extension to their Cumbrian house in Papcastle, England, they found what looked like Roman pottery and building-stone fragments. Puzzled, they contacted Time Team--actor Tony Robinson (Baldrick in "Blackadder") and his team of archaeologists, historians and other experts. Was the couple's garden part of a Roman settlement or military staging post? Time Team has just three days to piece together the surprising story. 
================================================================
                        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.
================================================================
Useful Addresses
================================================================
AWOTV on the www:
http://www.atrium-media.com/rogueclassicism/categories/awotv/

To subscribe, send a blank message to:
mailto:awotv-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To unsubscribe, send a blank message to:
mailto:awotv-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
        
To contact the editor:
reply to this message

================================================================
Copyright (c) 2004 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!
================================================================

::Sunday, September 12, 2004 12:18:03 PM::