1996

S1.E1 ∙ The First Olympics

Wed, Feb 07, 1996

In 776 B.C., in Olympia, Greek city-states compete in peaceful games to honor Zeus.

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S1.E2 ∙ Rome's Lost Harbor

Sat, Feb 10, 1996

The Roman city of Ostia, founded in the 4th century B.C. at the mouth of the Tiber, was once a vital harbor town and important port; examining the reasons for the town's demise.

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S1.E3 ∙ Lost City of the Incas

Sat, Feb 24, 1996

Hiram Bingham encounters the abandoned ruin of Machu Picchu in 1911.

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S1.E4 ∙ Venice: Queen of the Adriatic

Sat, Apr 06, 1996

Venice relied on her 200-square- mile lagoon for protection until surrendering to Napoleon in 1797, yet her origins have sunk into the miasma of myth.

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S1.E5 ∙ The Hidden Glory of Petra

Sat, Apr 13, 1996

A look at the story of the Nabataeans, a desert people who carved the city of Petra out of the Jordanian mountains some 2,000 years ago.

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S1.E6 ∙ Secrets of the Karma Sutra

Wed, Apr 17, 1996

Visiting the fabled temples of India that celebrate the Kama Sutra, comprising ancient Hindu texts that deal with all facets of sexual experience including exotic lovemaking and formulas for aphrodisiacs.

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S1.E7 ∙ Forgotten City of the Jungle

Wed, May 08, 1996

Exploring the lost city of Angkor Wat.

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S1.E8 ∙ Oracle at Delphi

Wed, Jun 19, 1996

Delphi was the sacred area where Zeus' two eagles crossed paths; in a cave under the Temple of Apollo, pilgrims enveloped by hallucinogenic smoke asked questions of the priestess.

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S1.E9 ∙ The Greek Gods

Wed, Jul 10, 1996

Greek deities involve themselves in wars, jealousies and mortal intrigue; monuments and temples reflect the advancement of the Greeks.

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S1.E10 ∙ The Lost World of the Etruscans

Wed, Oct 09, 1996

Exploring the Etruscan civilization and the Roman-Etruscan Wars.

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S1.E11 ∙ Pyramids of Giza

Wed, Jan 15, 1997

By the Old Kingdom's 4th Dynasty, Egyptians expressed their profound concerns for the afterlife in towering monuments for the God-Kings.

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S1.E12 ∙ Arabian Nights

Sat, Apr 19, 1997

Folk tales from the Middle East are compiled during the Islamic Golden Age.

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S1.E13 ∙ Hawaii's Vengeful Goddess

Wed, Jun 04, 1997

Volcanic eruptions are attributed to Pele, queen of the fiery domain, and rituals are used to calm her anger.

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S1.E14 ∙ Mystic Ruins

Wed, Jun 18, 1997

Throughout the ancient world, many religions dominated the landscape as did the stone structures built to honor their gods.

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S1.E15 ∙ Dragons

Wed, Jun 25, 1997

Recorded dragon sightings by Herodotus and Marco Polo; dragons in fairy tales; possible descendants.

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S1.E16 ∙ The Headhunters

Wed, Jul 02, 1997

The Shuar practice the ritual of headhunting until a ban in the 1970s.

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S1.E17 ∙ The Borgias

Wed, Jul 30, 1997

Chronicling the Borgias, a Spanish crime family that migrated to Italy and became embroiled in political plots and murder during the Renaissance.

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S1.E18 ∙ Lourdes: Shrine of Miracles

Wed, Aug 13, 1997

For over 150 years, pilgrims have journeyed to the French mountain village of Lourdes where Sainte Bernadette claimed to see a vision of the Virgin Mary.

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