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The Ancient World on Television            December 20-26, 2004
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All times Eastern

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Monday, December 20
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10.00 p.m. |HINT| The Twelve Apostles
Separately, they were nobodies--a handful of fishermen, an angry tax
collector. But united by a charismatic Jewish preacher, this ragtag
gang shaped into history's most famous revolutionaries. Meet Peter,
Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the
Lesser, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas in this 2-hour special.

10.00 p.m. |HISTU| Was Napoleon Murdered?
On May 5, 1821, when Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile on the island
of St. Helena, doctors weren't certain of the cause. Possibilities
included hepatitis, syphilis, scurvy, and cancer. They finally agreed
on stomach cancer. But more than 50 years ago, researchers suggested
that a servant working for the ruling power in France murdered
Napoleon. The poison theory is still debated by two hostile camps--
one believes in an elaborate conspiracy, the other thinks the truth
isn't nearly so complicated. Over the years, investigators from
prestigious scientific laboratories, including the FBI and Scotland
Yard, joined the search to solve the mystery. We sort through the
many theories--including recent investigations conducted by
toxicologists from the Paris Police Department and French medical
doctors that conclude death from conventional causes. We'll let
viewers decide: Was Napoleon murdered?
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Tuesday, December 21
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4.00 a.m. |HISTC| Line of Fire: Viking The Norse Raiders
dna

7.00 p.m. |HINT|  Noah and the Flood
Explores the story of the Great Flood and compares it with deluge
stories in other religions and cultures, including some American
Indian tribes.   

8.00 p.m. |HINT|  Hadrian's Wall
Why did the ancient Romans build a stone wall across England from
sea to sea? This look at Emperor Hadrian's Wall suggests that it had
to do with military necessity and the ego of Hadrian himself. 

9.00 p.m. |DCIVC| The Vikings: Trail of the Vikings
dna

9.00 p.m. |DISCU| Mummy Autopsy: Episode 3
Tiffiny and John obtain rare permission to work with local experts
to x-ray and unwrap a bundle of mummies. They find the partially
mummified remains of two bodies, soldiers in uniform from the 1879
War of the Pacific.
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Wednesday, December 22
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4.00 a.m. |HISTC| Line of Fire: The Revenge of Cortez
dna

7.00 p.m. |HINT| Guardian of the Ages: The Great Sphinx
A visit to the famed ancient monument that combines the body of a
cat and the head of an Egyptian pharaoh. Computers recreate the
statue's original appearance, while experts try to identify the
ruler.

7.00 p.m. |HISTU| Ancient Discoveries: Ancient Computer?
Journey back in time for an eye-opening look at the amazing ancient
roots of technologies we like to think of as modern. New research
suggests that many of the inventions of the last 200 years may, in
fact, have already been known to the ancients. In Part 1, we explore
the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient machine that was discovered
deep in the Aegean Sea. Could it perhaps have been an ancient
computer? Could Archimedes have had a hand in its creation? 
 
8.00 p.m. |DCIVC| The Language of the Mummies
dna

8.00 p.m. |HINT|Glorious Rome: Capitol of the Empire
Art, aesthetics, literature, theater, law, city planning: These are
just a few of the debts owed by Western civilization to Rome, the
glorious capital of the greatest and most powerful empire that the
world has ever known. Take a tour of this vast metropolis as it was
during its peak, and see it through the eyes of the Roman citizens of
the time. State-of-the-art technology, coupled with enhanced 3-D
graphics, allows viewers to explore the architectural treasures as
only the Romans could. 

8.00 p.m. |HISTU| Galen, Doctor to the Gladiators
In this fascinating series, we examine ancient inventions once
believed to have been created in modern times, and test the wits of
ancient inventors against some of the world's great modern inventors.
Part 2 uncovers the revolutionary work of Galen, the great Roman
doctor to the gladiators, who was performing brain surgery 2,000
years ahead of his time. We also explore the sophistication of Roman
medicine and compare it to modern techniques. 

8.30 p.m. |HINT| Pyramids Designed for an Eternity
During the 4th Dynasty of the Pharaohs in Egypt, nearly 5,000 years
ago, a people emerged from the mists of pre-history to complete the
most ambitious and spectacular undertakings ever attempted by
mankind. An incredible feat characterized by ingenious design,
resourceful technique, and above all, the labor of tens of thousands
of men who contributed with their bare hands to creating these
colossal tombs for their Pharaohs. We put scientific structural
theories to the test in this computerized recreation of the building
of Khufu, the largest pyramid in the Nile Valley.
 
9.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Ancient Evidence: The Real Disciples of Jesus
dna

10.00 p.m. |HINT|   Time Team: Elveden, Suffolk
Time Team goes on a hunt for real-life Flintstones at one of
Britain's major Stone Age sites--a holiday camp at Elveden in
Suffolk. The site dates back 400,000 years when our early ancestors
shared the country with lions, rhinos, and elephants--but, contrary
to Hollywood, no dinosaurs! Time Team searches for evidence of early
humans--from flint axes to arrowheads and spears--and learns how to
make a Stone Age spear, and piece together what life might have been
like for our early ancestors.

11.00 p.m. |HISTU| Heron of Alexandria
In Part 3, we travel to Alexandria, Egypt--the home of inventors and
philosophers in ancient times. One of the greatest inventors was
Heron of Alexandria, a Greek mathematician, geometer, and worker in
mechanics, who taught at the famous Museum. His strange inventions,
such as automaton theaters--puppet theaters worked by strings, drums,
and weights--automatic doors, and coin-operated machines, were famous
throughout the ancient world.
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Thursday, December 23
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4.00 a.m. |HISTC| Line of Fire: The Spartan Wars
dna

1.00 p.m. |DISCC| Xtreme Mysteries: Egyptian Sphinx
Is it possible that the Sphinx stands guard over an undiscovered
chamber filled with untold knowledge from an ancient civilization, or
even from an alien one?

1.30 p.m. |DISCC| Xtreme Mysteries: King Tuts Tomb
Forensic scientists are still trying to explain the cause of the
death of King Tut, and the unexplained deaths of those who opened and
inspected the tomb; could they have stumbled on to the beginnings of
biological warfare?

7.00 p.m. |HINT| The First 1000 Years. Part 1
The story begins not with Jesus, but 50 days after his crucifixion,
when a rushing wind and tongues of fire descended upon his followers
"and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak
in other languages." When Saul of Tarsus turns into Paul and travels
to preach to the Gentiles, the religion spreads.

7.00 p.m. |HISTU| The History of Christmas
Fascinating story of how the bawdy Roman Saturnalia, a week-long
festival of food and drink that culminated on December 25, became the
centerpiece of the Christian year, and why the holiday is known as
much for shopping as the birth of Christ. Interviews with experts,
harried bargain hunters, and excited children round out the program.

8.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: Greece
dna

8.00 p.m. |TLC| Noah's Ark: The True Story
Search for the truth behind the story of Noah and his ark. Find out
how Noah could have built such a structure and whether or not a great
flood took place on the earth. The search for remains of the ark
continues today.

8.00 p.m. |HINT|  Ivan the Terrible
For 400 years, the name Ivan the Terrible has conjured up a legend
of senseless cruelty. In the West, he is the image of a mad tyrant;
but in the country that he ruled, he is remembered very differently.
We examine the bloody reign of the Tsar that Stalin called "my
teacher", and ask why was he so terrible? Historians and experts from
Russia and the West offer opinions, aided by clips from Sergei
Eisenstein's film Ivan the Terrible and stills of "Ivan's Chronicles"
from The Book of Chronicles.

8.00 p.m. |HISTU|  Seven Wonders of the World
The Great Pyramid of Giza, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Statue of
Zeus at Olympia, Colossus of Rhodes, Temple of Artemis, Hanging
Gardens of Babylon, and the Pharos of Alexandria. Of the Seven
Wonders, only the Great Pyramid remains. Why did ancient scholars
select these sites? What can the crumbled remains say about those who
built them?

9.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Conquerors: Peter the Great
dna

9.00 p.m. |TLC| The Three Kings
The identity of the Magi who visited the Christ child in Bethlehem
is a biblical mystery. Trace their journey from Persia to Jerusalem
to their confrontation with Herod. Find out why they brought their
signature gifts, and how they vanished from history.

10.00 p.m. |TLC| Murder of a Pharaoh
In 1167 BC the Pharaoh was murdered in his harem. The plot was led
by ladies of the harem with the support of senior courtiers. Follow
the trial on 3,000-year-old papyrus and uncover the secrets of the
mummy of Pentawere, the would-be pharaoh.

11.00 p.m. |HINT| Mansions of the Spirits
First we watch restoration on one of the greatest monuments to the
dead ever created, Queen Hatshepsut's exquisite Deir el Bahari, and
her Red Chapel, a smaller temple near Karnak. Then, our host Peter
Woodward leads us into the inner sanctuaries of the Great Temple of
Karnak to explain the sacred duties of the temple priests, and
epigrapher William Murnane shows how the art and decoration
contributed to the temple's holy power and political prestige.
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Friday, December 24
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4.00 a.m. |HISTC| Line of Fire: Disasters of Athens
dna

7.00 p.m. |DTC| Princess and the Pauper
The discovery of thousands of skeletons in the heart of London
astonished archaeologists. It looks like hundreds of people were
struck down by something deadly and dumped in a mass pauper's grave,
along with the body of a young Roman in a sarcophagus.

7.00 p.m. |HISTU| The Real King Herod
One of the most fascinating and appalling biblical figures, King
Herod remains an enigma--the cruel king portrayed in countless
Christmas plays as the monster that slaughtered hundreds of babies in
an effort to kill the infant Jesus. But who was Herod? We draw
physical evidence from current excavation of Herod's magnificent port
Caesarea, written accounts of Josephus, and scrolls newly unearthed
at Petra. In a startling development, a reexamination of historical
texts shows that in old age, Herod suffered from chronic kidney
disease. Was his "evil" life a physical manifestation of the illness
that tormented his body? Did he order the murder of children in a
paranoid attack? And why did the Romans create the title "King of the
Jews" specifically for him?

7.00 p.m. |HINT| Julius Caesar: Master of the Roman World
Profile of one of the world's greatest military minds, ancient
Rome's Julius Caesar, who romanced Cleopatra, invented the 12-month
calendar, and expanded the boundaries of the empire, before being
assassinated by senators fearful of his growing power. 

8.00 p.m. |HISTU|  The Lost Youth of Jesus
Thousands of Christians make pilgrimages to the Holy Land yearly to
visit sites connected to Jesus. But are they authentic? The search
for the historical Jesus began with the first pilgrim--Constantine
the Great's mother Helena Augusta. Scholars have been trying to prove-
-or disprove--her amazing claims ever since. Traveling to Bethlehem,
Nazareth, and Sepphoris in the footsteps of Jesus, we run into heated
debate about where he was born, baptized, and grew up, and reveal
startling new discoveries. 

9.00 p.m. |HISTU|  From Galilee to Jerusalem
Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we dig for the truth behind
"accepted" Holy Land sites and review archaeological controversy
about these important religious places. We examine: an Israeli
scholar's 1987 discovery of the lost city of Bethsaida, where Jesus
called his first disciples, healed a blind man, and fed the
multitudes; a boat on the Galilee's shoreline dating to the time of
Jesus; a house in Capernaum that may have belonged to St. Peter; and
the possible grave of Lazarus. 

10.00 p.m. |HISTU| The Way of the Cross
The search for evidence of Jesus's life moves to Jerusalem and the
traditional sites associated with his final days. Deep beneath the
city, we explore the buried remains of Herod's temple and tread a
pavement where Jesus may have walked. Delving into the mysterious
histories of the Cenacle Room, Gethsemane, and the Roman Praetorium,
we investigate the latest archaeological theories concerning probable
sites of Jesus's last supper, arrest, and trial. Does science support
or refute biblical accounts?
 
11.00 p.m. |HISTU| The Mysteries of Golgotha
Recounting the final footsteps in the life of Jesus, we explore the
traditional sites of his crucifixion and burial. Does the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher truly contain the Rock of Calvary and the tomb of
Jesus, or could the Garden Tomb be the authentic site? We investigate
the most recent archaeological evidence and learn how it may finally
answer this fascinating question.
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Saturday, December 25
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6.00 p.m. |HINT| Mansions of the Spirits
First we watch restoration on one of the greatest monuments to the
dead ever created, Queen Hatshepsut's exquisite Deir el Bahari, and
her Red Chapel, a smaller temple near Karnak. Then, our host Peter
Woodward leads us into the inner sanctuaries of the Great Temple of
Karnak to explain the sacred duties of the temple priests, and
epigrapher William Murnane shows how the art and decoration
contributed to the temple's holy power and political prestige.

6.00 p.m. |DTC| Secrets of the Great Wall
The greatest defensive structure ever built by man, China's Great
Wall has remained a mystery. For 3,000 years, it dominated China's
landscape and culture. With unprecedented access, discover the
secrets of the Wall's design and construction.

7.00 p.m. |HISTU|  The Holy Grail
The Holy Grail...Christ's cup from the Last Supper. Medieval poets
sang its praises, and King Arthur's knights chased it to the ends of
the earth. Did Joseph of Arimathea really claim the cup after the
Last Supper and collect Jesus's blood in it at the Crucifixion? Why
are there so many Grail tales, no two of which fully agree? And why
does the scent of heresy linger about the sacred cup? Many treasures
are bigger, but none more precious or elusive as we discover in this
quest for the venerable vessel. 

8.00 p.m. |HISTU| A History of God
A fascinating look at how God has manifested himself to people from
Abraham's days to the present. We explore fertility rites of the
ancient Middle East; the awesome revelations at Mt. Sinai; the
jealous yet compassionate God of the Hebrews; Jesus and the mystery
of the Trinity; and Allah, the Muslim God of Unity. Here is the story
of thousands of years of wrenching and revolutionary encounters with
God that prophets, saints, and mystics have experienced, and
mankind's quest for comfort and meaning. 

11.00 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.
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Sunday, December 26
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1.30 p.m. |HISTU| 480 BC: The Battle of Salamis
In 480 BC, the Golden Age began when the Greeks expelled the
invading Persians at Salamis Bay, sinking 200 Persian ships while
losing only 40 of their own. But as sphinxlike Greek politics go, the
naval commander Themistocles is not only not rewarded for his
victory, but is removed as Athens' leader for accepting bribes and
hubris--or in other words, for being too arrogant and tempting the
Gods. Step back in time and live amongst the ancient Greeks as we
recreate this momentous point in history. Featuring exclusive in situ
dramatizations and the latest in historical research.   TVPG  cc

2.00 p.m. |HISTU| Search for Troy
When Heinrich Schliemann finds the site of ancient Troy, the
mythical past becomes scientific fact. Schliemann, a German grocer's
son, made a fortune in California's gold fields before becoming an
archaeologist. He dug for three years in modern Turkey, determined to
prove that Hissarlik was the site of the Troy of the Homer's ancient
epic The Iliad. In 1873, he discovered a glorious horde of treasure
and opened the world's eyes to the wonders of the ancient past. The
mythical world of the heroes of The Iliad had suddenly become
reality. Travel back in time to the Trojan War, as we reconstruct the
great city's glory with exclusive in situ dramatizations, the latest
historical research, and recent location photography

2.30 p.m. |HISTU|  31 BC: The Battle of Actium
If Antony and Cleopatra had won the Battle of Actium, there would
have been no Roman Empire. Yet Octavius Caesar's victory in 31 BC led
to an absolute dictatorship that sparked one of the greatest imperial
and cultural expansions the world has ever known. Each turning point
in history is backed by a set of principal characters whose dilemmas
and conflicts form its dramatic core, and whose unique personalities
influenced the outcome of events. Join us for a trip through time as
we recreate the Battle of Actium, featuring exclusive dramatizations
and the latest historical research. 

3.00 p.m. |HISTU|  Spartacus
Movie. By 72 BC, the Roman Empire had swept across the European
continent, conquering countries and selling the people into slavery.
But one slave dared to take a stand. This is the story of Spartacus
(Goran Visnjic), from the country of Thrace, who, after witnessing
his father's brutal death and enduring being sold into slavery,
swears to one day live again as a free man. Based on Howard Fast's
acclaimed novel, the miniseries was filmed in Bulgaria and directed
by Robert Dornhelm. The cast includes Alan Bates, Assen Blatechki,
Ben Cross, Henry Simmons, Angus MacFadyen, and Rhona Mitra. (2004) 

4.00 p.m. |DISCU| Ancient Plastic Surgery
Recent archaeological discoveries reveal that cosmetic surgery is
not a modern phenomena. Follow the bizarre, painful and the down-
right dangerous ordeals of twisting, stretching and bone breaking
that went on to make the ancient body 'just right'.

5.00 p.m. |TLC| The Three Kings
The identity of the Magi who visited the Christ child in Bethlehem
is a biblical mystery. Trace their journey from Persia to Jerusalem
to their confrontation with Herod. Find out why they brought their
signature gifts, and how they vanished from history.

6.00 p.m. |TLC| Murder of a Pharaoh
In 1167 BC the Pharaoh was murdered in his harem. The plot was led
by ladies of the harem with the support of senior courtiers. Follow
the trial on 3,000-year-old papyrus and uncover the secrets of the
mummy of Pentawere, the would-be pharaoh.

7.00 p.m. |HINT|  Time Team: Elveden, Suffolk
Time Team goes on a hunt for real-life Flintstones at one of
Britain's major Stone Age sites--a holiday camp at Elveden in
Suffolk. The site dates back 400,000 years when our early ancestors
shared the country with lions, rhinos, and elephants--but, contrary
to Hollywood, no dinosaurs! Time Team searches for evidence of early
humans--from flint axes to arrowheads and spears--and learns how to
make a Stone Age spear, and piece together what life might have been
like for our early ancestors.

7.00 p.m. |HISTU| The Real Spartacus
Long before Stanley Kubrick's film starring Kirk Douglas, Spartacus
had unwittingly become a mythological icon of resistance against
oppression worldwide. We'll look at the real Spartacus, focusing on
his struggle against Roman forces, his time as a gladiator, and his
role in the infamous slave revolt against Rome in 73 BC, which
convulsed the great empire for 2 years before the uprising was put
down and 6,000 slave rebels were crucified along 150 miles of the
Appian Way
 
9.00 p.m. |HINT|  Line of Fire: Genghis Khan
The story of the "Universal Ruler"--the man who succeeded his
chieftain father at age 13 and had to struggle to overcome hostile
tribes. Who then could have predicted the glories to come? His
military victories included the conquest of China and lands
stretching from the Black Sea to the Pacific. A remarkable
administrator and ruler, Genghis Khan's system of "khanites"--the
mean by which he ruled conquered countries--lasted for more than 400
years after his death. 
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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) 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!
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::Sunday, December 19, 2004 10:03:07 AM::