Ancient World on TV

The Ancient World on Television (AWOTV) lists programs dealing with the ancient world on PBS, A&E, The History Channel, Discovery Channel, and numerous other channels. These listings are compiled on a weekly basis by David Meadows.

Monday, May 12

3.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Cleopatra's Lost City

Alexandria, one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, was named after one of history's greatest warriors, Alexander the Great; archaeologist Jean-Yves Empereur tells the story of this beautiful ancient city and its most famous inhabitant.

4.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Searching For Lost Worlds: Skull Wars - Search For The Missing Link

A skull discovered in Taung, South Africa in 1924 triggered a controversy over where humans evolved from: Africa or Asia; further discoveries in South Africa in 1936 settled the issue.

8.00 p.m. |HINT| Crucifixion

Throughout history, crucifixion has been one of the cruelest and most excruciating ways to die. Approximately 500 years before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Persian King Darius crucified political opponents and both Alexander the Great and Caligula used crucifixion as a means of punishment and entertainment. Watch as a team of forensic experts reconstruct a 2000-year-old body using the only physical evidence of a crucifixion ever discovered. Modern day footage will show real crucifixions that take place in the Philippines. Recreations will be used along with extensive CGI animation and CSI forensic-style graphics to illustrate the different types of crucifixion techniques throughout history and how it eventually kills its victim.

9.00 p.m. |HISTC| ROME II | Philippi

Brutus and Cassius see their military advantage vanish in the wake of Octavian's new alliance with Mark Antony. In Rome, Vorenus receives orders to execute scores of Rome's elite, dividing the task among the Collegium's gang captains. Cicero attempts to warn Brutus of his army's danger, but is foiled by the arrival of Pullo at his villa. Mark Antony adds a few names to the list of condemned, as does Atia; Octavia and Vorena the Elder find themselves enchanted by unlikely suitors; Eirene shares some domestic news with Pullo; Levi and Timon precipitate a synagogue melee; and Atia gets Octavia to reveal a secret as Octavian heads out of Rome. On the plains of Philippi, two armies clash, with the future of Rome at stake.

10.00 p.m. |HISTU| Ancient Discoveries :Ancient Death Machines

Tuesday, May 13

8.00 p.m. |HISTC| DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH IV | God's Gold - Part 1

This episode goes on the most extraordinary treasure hunt ever! Host Hunter Ellis ventures on a world-exclusive search for the priceless golden artifacts of Jerusalem's Temple--lost since the Romans looted them almost 2000 years ago. From Jerusalem, to Rome, to North Africa, Turkey, and--finally--back to Israel, we'll follow a trail of clues to uncover the final hiding place of the most priceless treasures of the Jewish faith.

10.00 p.m. |HINT| Engineering An Empire: The Aztecs

In less than 200 years the Aztec's transformed themselves from a band of wandering nomads to the greatest civilization the New World had ever known. What records remain of this amazing feat indicate they did it through brilliant military campaigns and by ingeniously applying technology to master the harsh environment they faced. They built their capital city where no city should have been possible: in the middle of a lake. The Aztec also practiced human sacrifice on an unprecedented scale and made many enemies. By the time the Spaniards landed they had no trouble recruiting tribal allies to destroy the Aztecs. Watch with host Peter Weller as we examine the architecture and infrastructure behind the New World's greatest, and last, indigenous society.

Wednesday, May 14

6.00 p.m. |HINT| History's Mysteries: Lost City of Atlantis

The ancient Greek philosopher Plato wrote about the fabled missing continent. Even South American Indian legend told of a similar tale. Did a highly civilized and technologically advanced people disappear with their secrets at the bottom of the sea, or is Atlantis merely myth?

6.00 p.m. |HISTU| Ancient Discoveries: Egyptian Warfare

8.00 p.m. |HISTC| RE-INVENTORS, THE II | Da Vinci Chariot

The chariot had already been in existence for thousands of years before da Vinci's time when he decided that the design deserved an upgrade. Equipped with 5-foot long spinning blades, da Vinci's chariot would have been a terrifying sight charging down the battlefield. But how would it have stood up against weapons of its time? Would his chariot have found a place on the 15th-century battlefield? Matt and Jeremy are going to build it and find out.

9.00 p.m. |HINT|Mummy Forensics: The Fisherman Mystery

In a hidden corner of a London storage facility lies an ancient Peruvian mummy that has hardly seen the light of day in almost 100 years. Most mummies from ancient Peru were either bundled in a fetal position or laid out flat. But for some mysterious reason this Peruvian mummy has been buried in an unusual cross-legged posture. For the Mummy Investigation Team the position of the mummy proves to be the starting point of a thrilling case -- one which challenges our preconceptions and proves that certain legends just might be true.

Thursday, May 15

6.00 p.m. |HISTU| Ancient Discoveries: Heron of Alexandria

8.00 p.m. |HISTU| Ancient Discoveries: Ancient New York

Friday, May 16

6.00 p.m. |HINT| History's Mysteries: Ancient Drugs

Since mankind's beginnings, and in all civilizations, we have found ways to alter our everyday consciousness in search of a greater reality. To this end, we have indulged in many frightening and often toxic substances in many different rituals. We'll look for answers to why we take mind-altering trips off the well-trod path.

7.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Mysteries Of The Dead: Belizean Blood Chamber

Archaeological detectives uncover clues to explain what drove the Maya to make human sacrifices of their children.

8.00 p.m. |HISTC| CITIES OF THE UNDERWORLD | Rome - The Rise

Rome, Italy is known for great food, edgy fashion...and its history. The Roman Empire was the largest and most powerful in history, and pieces of this great Empire can be found under practically every street in Rome. But how did ancient Rome achieve its greatness? The answer lies underground. From entire underground neighborhoods and one of the oldest sewer systems in the world, to aqueducts and underground theaters, the secret to Rome's success can be found beneath the streets. Many modern engineering marvels are based on ancient Roman design, and the proof is found in these subterranean locations. Join host Eric Geller as he goes back to the founding of the Empire and traces technology back to the beginning. We're peeling back the layers of time on Cities of the Underworld: The Rise of Rome.

9.00 p.m. |DISCC|Bone Detectives: Shadow Of The Sun Lord

Scotty travels deep inside the jungles of Belize to the ancient Mayan city of Caracol; archeologists have discovered a body buried in an unusual manner, in a place it shouldn't be, along with the sacred symbol of a war god.

10.00 p.m. |NG| King Tut and the Lost Dynasty

Saturday, May 17

6.00 p.m. |DISCU| Secret History of the Freemasons Episode 1

An unprecedented inside look into one of the world's most mysterious organizations: the Freemasons. Their inner workings, history, and secrets will be uncovered and centuries old rituals are filmed for the first time ever.

7.00 p.m. |DISCU| Secret History of the Freemasons Episode 2

An unprecedented inside look into one of the world's most mysterious organizations: the Freemasons. Their inner workings, history, and secrets will be uncovered and centuries old rituals are filmed for the first time ever.

7.00 p.m. |HISTC| ROME II | Philippi

Brutus and Cassius see their military advantage vanish in the wake of Octavian's new alliance with Mark Antony. In Rome, Vorenus receives orders to execute scores of Rome's elite, dividing the task among the Collegium's gang captains. Cicero attempts to warn Brutus of his army's danger, but is foiled by the arrival of Pullo at his villa. Mark Antony adds a few names to the list of condemned, as does Atia; Octavia and Vorena the Elder find themselves enchanted by unlikely suitors; Eirene shares some domestic news with Pullo; Levi and Timon precipitate a synagogue melee; and Atia gets Octavia to reveal a secret as Octavian heads out of Rome. On the plains of Philippi, two armies clash, with the future of Rome at stake.

Sunday, May 18

6.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Mummy Autopsy: Secrets Of The Salt Plain / The Unknown Sailor

The bodies of three men and two children are found entombed in a cave at the edge of Bolivia's vast salt plain; James and Tiffany notice that the skeletons show signs of blows to the head powerful enough to kill them; how did these injuries come about?

7.00 p.m. |HISTC| ULTIMATE ENGINEERING | Colosseum

The dramatic story behind the building of the Colosseum in Ancient Rome. To achieve this, the Romans used ground-breaking technology that we still use today, whilst the money to pay for this grand project enslaved a people and brought a temple crashing down.

8.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Joy Of Lex

Words are in constant flux, being found and lost, being picked apart and abused, relished or overused into meaninglessness; hear the stories, passions, and humour associated with words and the people who use them.

*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.

See also Events

© 2008 by the Archaeological Institute of America www.archaeology.org/events/tv.html

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