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The Ancient World on Television      December 27-January 2, 2005
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All times Eastern

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n.b. official descriptions are provided by the respective
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Monday, December 27
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5.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Who Killed Tchaikovsky?
dna
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Tuesday, December 28
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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 civilizations that succumbed to time. 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.

9.00 p.m. |DISCU| Mummy Autopsy: Episode 4
In 2003, a mummy was discovered sitting in a cave in the Andean foothills of southern Peru. Items found with it suggest it could be from the Inca period. What was the cause of death? And could this be a rare example of adult human sacrifice?

10.00 p.m. |DTC| Stolen Treasures
Looting archaeological sites hoping to find antiquities to sell in the lucrative market of ancient art is illegal, but big business. Hear the story of how a piece of ancient Egyptian art was looted and smuggled from Egypt and eventually sold in the U.S.

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 29
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5.00 p.m. |DTC| Stolen Treasures
Looting archaeological sites hoping to find antiquities to sell in the lucrative market of ancient art is illegal, but big business. Hear the story of how a piece of ancient Egyptian art was looted and smuggled from Egypt and eventually sold in the U.S.

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| Mystery of the Persian Mummy
dna

8.00 p.m. |HINT| Athens: Western Splendor
Discover why Athens became the preeminent city during the Golden Age of Greece on this virtual tour of the cradle of Western civilization. Travel back to the time of Pericles, the noble statesman who led the revolution that touched all fields of knowledge. We visit the amphitheaters that were home to the famous tragedies of the day, tour the site of the ancient Olympic Games, and see the ornate temples of the Gods, including a bird's eye view of the architectural masterpiece of its day--the Acropolis. 

8.00 p.m. |HISTU| UFOs in the Bible
Journey back through time into the mysterious history of UFOs as revealed through ancient biblical texts. Through intensive reinterpretation of early religious documents, researchers believe that they have found evidence of ancient UFO activity. From Elijah's flying "chariots of fire" and Ezekiel's "wheels within wheels in the sky" to the enigmatic aerial phenomenon that lead Moses during the Exodus, we apply a modern perspective to the writings of the Bible in the context of UFOs.

8.30 p.m. |HINT| A Place to Call Eturia
Go on a journey to the ancient cities Volterra, Populonia, and Cervetari, and see why Etruscan civilization was famous for its extravagant wealth, fine ceramics, handicrafts, and bustling trade, and how it was all lost in battles with the Greek colonies in southern Italy. Experience the cutting edge of archaeological exploration as we take viewers on a virtual tour of these ancient sites.
 
9.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Ancient Evidence: Peter: Jesus' Fisherman
dna
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Thursday, December 30
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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. |DCIVC| The Roman Empire in North Africa
dna

8.00 p.m. |HINT| Who Wrote the New Testament: What is Truth?
This is the story of a book, which at first sight is not very impressive--a collection of 27 compositions; and 21 of them letters. All were originally written in Greek. We do not have a single page or even the smallest scrap of any of the original writings. All we have are copies of copies written many years afterwards. And yet the impact of this book on the world is hard to exaggerate; impossible to measure. Christians have confidently revered the New Testament as authoritative--the word of God. But ours is a questioning age, and this series examines the truth behind the writings of the New Testament. Part 1 looks at the most famous quartet in history--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Were they the men who wrote the four gospels? Who were they? Why did they write them and when? 

9.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Conquerors: Suleyman the Magnificent
dna
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Friday, December 31
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6.00 p.m. |BIO|  Cities of Evil: Sodom and Gomorrah
Are the twin cities of Bab Edh-Dhra and Numeira the cities of sin destroyed by God? The program probes the archaeological evidence, and also studies the view, held by some scholars, that the cities were destroyed in wars between rival kingdoms.

7.00 p.m. |DTC| Death on the Nile
The Egyptian Empire tottered as the monsoon failed and the desert moved in. Journey to the Giza pyramids in the remote deserts of southern Egypt and visit the archaeological excavation where newly discovered skeletons show that people here died in agony.

7.00 p.m. |BIO|  King Solomon
Exploration of the life of the great Hebrew king renowned for his wisdom. Features Solomon's love affair with the Queen Sheba, and the disappearance of the Ark of the Covenant.

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. |DTC| The Early Years
Explore the strange fables that surround Jesus' birth. Follow the childhood and early adult years of Jesus using a first century living museum newly opened in Nazareth. Find out why Jesus began his mission and why he chose to live his life the way he did.

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. |DTC| The Mission
Learn how Jesus carried out his ministry as a healer and exorcist and how his taste for parties with undesirable guests became an attack on religious authorities. Follow him to Jerusalem and see how dangerous it was for him during the Passover Festival.

10.00 p.m. |DTC| The Last Days
Look at the last days of Jesus' life: the Last Supper; the Mount of Olives where he prayed and sweat blood; and the trial where he is condemned for blasphemy. Explore what may have accounted for his resurrection and find out what he may have looked like.

10.00 p.m. |HISTU|The Middle Ages
In this steamy history, we trace the evolution of sexual beliefs and practices from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Renaissance. We'll also uncover the conflicting extremes of medieval romance and sex--from the bawdy life of European city dwellers to the staid and dangerous practice of courtly love. Medieval scholars offer humorous and interesting carnal tales of lusty knights, bawdy widows, naughty priests, and chaste maidens.
 
10.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Conquerors: Napoleon Bonaparte
dna

11.00 p.m. |DTC| The Quest for the True Cross
Based on the New York Times best-seller, scholarly detective work and historical adventure draw conclusions about the remains of Christ's actual cross. This comprehensive study could overturn centuries of academic assumptions about the crucifixion.

12.00 midnight |DTC| Spear of Jesus
In the Hofsburg Museum in Vienna, Austria, lies a metal spearhead said to have been used to pierce the side of Christ during his crucifixion. For the first time, scientific testing will establish if this ancient relic really is the Spear of Christ.
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Sunday, January 2
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4.00 p.m. |HISTU| he True Story of Alexander the Great
334 BC--a 20-year-old military commander from Northern Greece set out to conquer the known world. During the next 12 years, King Alexander of Macedon led 40,000 troops more than 20,000 miles, defeated the world's most powerful ruler, King Darius of Persia, and conquered West Asia before dying at age 32. In a 3-hour special, host Peter Woodward explores the true story of Alexander the Great--a tale of conquest, love, hate, revenge, and ultimately tragedy. He visits locations of Alexander's youth, temples dedicated to Greek gods where Alexander sought divine counsel, and actual battlefields, as well as demonstrating his signature battle plans and weaponry. How could one man accomplish so much at such a young age? What led to his demise? These questions drive our analysis of Alexander's complex character, delicately balanced between genius and insanity.

6.00 p.m. |DISCC| The Assassination of King Tut
Did King Tut's gleaming death mask hide an ancient homicide?; dead since 1323 BC and hastily mummified, Egypt's boy king lay in an unfinished tomb until its 1922 discovery; modern forensics shed light on what caused the blows to the king's skull.

7.00 p.m. |HISTU| The Real Attila the Hun
No ruler in history represents the unbridled rage and brutality of the barbarian as much as Attila the Hun. In the 5th century, Attila swept through Europe, effectively extinguishing the classical Roman Empire. And for a time, he held the destiny of all of Western Europe firmly in his grasp. But in the end, it was Attila who unwittingly secured the future of the civilized world and Christian Europe. After his death, the Hun Empire began to break up, and the marauding Huns "scattered to the winds."
 
8.00 p.m. |HISTU|  The True Story of Hannibal
One of history's greatest military leaders, at age nine Hannibal accompanied his father Hamilcar Barca on the Carthaginian expedition to conquer Spain. Before embarking, the boy vowed eternal hatred for Rome, his people's bitter rival. Twenty years later, in 218 BC, he left New Carthage (now Cartagena, Spain) to wage war on "The Eternal City" with an army of about 40,000, including cavalry and elephants. After crossing the Pyrénées and Rhône River, he traversed the Alps while beset by snowstorms, landslides, and hostile mountain tribes. This 2-hour special brings to life the story of the Carthaginian general who struck fear in all Roman hearts and wreaked havoc with his masterful military tactics, bringing the mighty Roman Republic to the brink of ruin. Archaeologists, historians, and military experts guide us through ancient Carthage and give insight into his military strategy up to defeat at Zama in 203 BC.
 
8.00 p.m. |HINT|  The Weapons That Made Britain: The Sword
Mike Loades is a medieval weapons expert and one of Hollywood's foremost historical fight stunt arrangers. Now, in his unique hands-on fashion, he illustrates the great advances in fighting technology that underpinned British medieval history and goes back to the historical record to find out how the weapons were really used. In this episode, he explores the weapon most associated with the medieval period--the sword. Mike focuses on the Battle of Barnet, during the brutal War of the Roses, where on Easter Sunday 1471, 24,000 soldiers fought desperately for over three hours--the sword was the principal weapon. To see how the swords would have been used in a conflict like Barnet, Mike brings along 10 students for a crash course in 15th-century techniques. And swordsmith Hector Cole makes an intricate Anglo-Saxon sword, revealing the secrets of ancient techniques. 
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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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::Sunday, December 26, 2004 7:19:25 PM::
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