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Ancient Mysteries Season 4 Episodes
Season 4 Episode Guide
26 Episodes 1996 - 1997
Episode 1
Ancient Altered States
Thu, Sep 5, 1996
Since the beginning of civilization, humans have explored means of altering their consciousness in search of something "greater" than everyday reality.
Episode 2
Ancient Prophecy
Thu, Sep 19, 1996
From Central African tribes to American Indians, prophecy has held an esteemed place in various cultures throughout the world.
Episode 3
Before Their Time: Ancient Technology
Mon, Oct 7, 1996
Ancient civilizations once used devices which today are considered "modern".
Episode 4
Hidden Cities of the Etruscans
Thu, Oct 10, 1996
The ancient Italian civilization of the Etruscans, which flourished in the 6th century B.C. Included is a study of the society's cult of death.
Episode 5
Witches
Thu, Oct 24, 1996
Ancient Mysteries look at the history of witches from ancient times through the Salem Witch Trials to modern Wiccans. It examines how our perceptions of witches have evolved over time.
Episode 6
Mystical Monuments of Ancient Greece
Thu, Nov 21, 1996
The glorious temples of Athens's Acropolis bear silent witness to the high point of Ancient Greece's legendary civilization.
Episode 7
Sacred Rites and Rituals
Thu, Dec 19, 199647 mins
They mark the joys and sorrows of life. They honor the cycles and mysteries of the natural world and preserve a connection to our past. From the Catholic Sacraments to the tattooing and scarring of some African tribes, rites and rituals have always helped define human experience. As they diminish in the world today are we losing touch with an essential part of humanity? Join a worldwide trek to investigate age-old rites and discover how they enrich the cultures that created them. See incredible footage of a rite of passage ceremony in Papau, New Guinea, where a boy's skin is carved with patterns symbolizing the scales of a crocodile. Visit the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, where devotees pierce themselves with dozens of long aluminum rods. Amazingly, no blood is spilled, and the participants claim to feel no pain. Experts explore the power that these and other rituals seem to have for the participant and the community as a whole, and the possible consequences of their loss in everyday life.
Episode 8
UFOs: The First Encounters
Thu, Jan 2, 199744 mins
Ancient Mysteries examines early UFO sightings and and investigates whether human beings are alone in the universe.
Episode 9
Tombs of the Gods: The Great Pyramids of Giza
Thu, Jan 16, 1997
Who built the Pyramids? Were they designed only as royal tombs? How were they built to such precise measurements? The Great Pyramids of Giza remain the world's most perplexing enigma. For over 4,000 years they have withstood the sands of time, casting a spell that even science cannot break. Through stunning film, interviews with experts and vivid reenactments, you'll witness the actual step-by-step process Egyptian embalmers used in the preparation of mummies to ensure immortality. You'll discover the journey of the Pharaohs into the afterlife and probe the obsessions that led the greatest kings of this powerful ancient civilization to build monuments designed to last for eternity.
Episode 10
Secrets of the Aztec Empire
Thu, Feb 13, 199745 mins
Present day Mexico City sits atop of what was once a great civilization, the Aztec Empire. Drawing on newly discovered artifacts, anthropologists can now give us a more in depth picture and shed new light on what life was like for this ancient civilization. Watch in awe as Ancient Mysteries reveals the Secrets of the Aztec Empire.
Episode 11
The Curse of the Hope Diamond
Thu, Mar 6, 1997
It is the largest, most famous, and most valuable gemstone in the world. It has been the plaything of kings and sultans and has decorated the necks of many an heiress and empress. But, could this notorious diamond actually be cursed?
Episode 12
Private Lives of the Emperors
Thu, Mar 27, 1997
A report on the elaborate homes built by Roman emperors, which were designed to reflect their power.
Episode 13
Secrets of the Romanovs
Thu, Apr 10, 199750 mins
Experience the final days of the Romanov dynasty and penetrate the web of intrigue surrounding the murder of the royal family.
Episode 14
Legends of the Arabian Nights
Sun, Apr 20, 199747 mins
Few modern authors have not been influenced by The Arabian Nights, but what is the origin of these mesmeric stories? Journey back in time to an era long veiled in mystery, to a timeless world of myth and legend as this fascinating program aims to uncover the origins and truths behind stories such as Aladdin, Sinbad and Ali Baba.
Episode 15
The Fate of the Neandertals
Sun, Apr 27, 199746 mins
The Neandertals roamed the European continent more than 70, 000 years ago.
Episode 16
Human Sacrifice
Thu, May 1, 1997
Ancient Mysteries examines the history of human sacrifice. It looks at sacrifices performed in the Middle East, Northern Europe, India, Carthage, and the Aztec Empire.
Episode 17
Lost City of Pirates
Thu, May 8, 1997
Roam the high seas in search of adventure and booty with Blackbeard the pirate and women buccaneers like Anne Bonny. Visit a sunken city once known as "the wickedest place on earth" and learn the facts of the pirates of Port Royal.
Episode 18
Bigfoot II
Thu, May 15, 1997
Ancient Mysteries examines the history and myths surrounding the Pacific Northwest creature known as Bigfoot.
Episode 19
Samurai
Thu, May 22, 199748 mins
Explore an exotic world of shimmering beauty and sudden death: the world of the old Japan and their ruthless and honorable warriors: The Samurai.
Episode 20
Curse of the Goddess Pele
Thu, Jun 5, 1997
Hawaii emerged steaming from the sea millennia ago, the product of thousands of years of continual volcanic eruptions that finally broke the sea's surface and gave birth to a tropical paradise famed the world over. Since the very first people settled here, they have revered and feared the volcanoes, and tried to appease their mistress, the fickle goddess Pele. She is one of the most captivating, capricious and enduring of all pagan deities. Even today, her name and power are taken seriously by many Hawaiians, whose lives are subject to the whims of the volcanoes she is said to control. The Curse of the Goddess Pele is a fascinating look at this enigmatic figure. Experts in Hawaiian history and legends trace her origins, and explore the possibility that there is a real person at the heart of this enduring belief. Ancient tales and art help bring her story to life, while footage of modern Hawaiian ceremonies show the very real role Pele continues to play in the islands today.
Episode 21
Guardian of the Ages: The Great Sphinx
Thu, Jun 12, 1997
It is one of ancient Egypt's most recognizable and enduring icons. Situated on the west bank of the Nile River, this great creature has watched over the Giza Plateau for an untold number of years.
Episode 22
Sacred Places
Thu, Jun 19, 199747 mins
When the pyramids were being built and Stonehenge was new, the world was a magical and mysterious place. Throughout the world, man built incredible monuments and mysterious buildings to mark the passing of time and kings, to track the movements of the heavens, to glorify their gods and celebrate their victories. SACRED PLACES is a globe-spanning journey to some of the most extraordinary and moving of these famed sites. From the massive temples at Machu Picchu to the impassive statues of Easter Island, this is an up-close look at some of mankind's most impressive achievements, and the allure they have for us today. Learn how and why they were created, and get a behind-the-scenes look with the curators and directors of these magical sites. Discover the latest findings and theories with leading archaeologists and scholars, and see stunning reconstructions of what these fabled sites looked like in their prime. From Jerusalem to Chaco Canyon, this is a spellbinding journey into mankind's magical past.
Episode 23
Dragons: Myths and Legends
Thu, Jun 26, 1997
They appear in countless myths and stories from around the world. Could dragons have actually existed, and could they still remain hidden in some remote corner of the earth?
Episode 24
Headhunters of the Amazon
Thu, Jul 3, 199748 mins
A powerful tribe of headhunters once ruled the jungles of Ecuador.
Episode 25
The Black Death
Thu, Jul 10, 199746 mins
"Black Death" looks at the plague that, beginning in the 6th century, killed millions on three continents.
Episode 26
The Curse of the Borgias
Thu, Jul 31, 1997
Leonard Nimoy narrates the story of the Borgias family. The legendary Italian Renaissance political family members included two Popes, and filled with exciting tales of murder, incest, and corruption.