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The Ancient World on Television May 11-17, 2009
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All times Eastern

Please visit our blog:

http://www.atrium-media.com/rogueclassicism/

n.b. official descriptions are provided by the respective
networks' websites

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Monday, May 11
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5.00 p.m. |HINT| Cain and Abel: A Murder Mystery.

6.00 p.m. |HINT| Bible Mysteries

8.00 p.m. |HINT|Banned from The Bible
In a 2-hour special, we scrutinize ancient writings that didn't "make
the cut" in the battle to create a Christian Bible in the new religion's
first few centuries. Biblical archaeologists and scholars examine why
they were left out and if others might yet be found. Beginning with the
little-known Life of Adam and Eve, we also peruse the Book of Jubilees,
the Book of Enoch, the Gospel of Thomas, the Protevangelium of James,
the Gospel of Mary, the Gospel of Nicodemus, and the Apocalypse of Peter.

8.00 p.m. |NG|Herod's Lost Tomb

9.00 p.m. |NG|The Scorpion King

11.00 p.m. |DISCU| Doing DaVinci:Self Propelled Carts
It's Bill and Flash against Val and Jurgen when the wood team goes
head-to-head with the metal team to see who can build a better
self-propelled cart. Then, the two teams race their da Vinci-style carts
to compete for the glory of their build styles.
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Tuesday, May 12
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5.00 p.m. |HINT| Cities of Evil: Sodom and Gomorrah.

5.00 p.m. |HISTU| The Wrath Of God: Snowbound: The Curse of the Sierra.
The mountains called the Sierra Nevada are among the most picturesque in
the U.S.--tourists marvel at the snowcapped peaks while skiing at Lake
Tahoe. But the "Snowy Mountains" have also produced disasters, including
the 1846 Donner Party tragedy that led to cannibalism and the 1982
avalanche that buried alive Anna Conrad for five days.

6.00 p.m. |DISCU|Barbarians: Vikings.
Nordic peoples from the coasts of Scandinavia, these raiders and
warriors were also explorers and merchants, whose slender ships carried
them from Arabia to the New World--hundreds of years before Columbus set
sail. After savage infighting among their own clans spurred development
of the longship, the Vikings struck out across the seas, seeking
plunder, slaves, and new lands. But in the end, they assimilated into
European cultures and became agents of social and political change.

8.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Egypt: Beyond The Pyramids
Meet the archaeologists who are uncovering long-lost temples, tombs and
treasures; examining recent discoveries that have altered our
understanding of the Kingdom of the Nile.
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Wednesday, May 13
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3.00 p.m. |HINT| Egypt beyond the Pyramids The Great Pharaoh and His
Lost Children.
Join us on an historical mystery tour back to Egypt's New Kingdom and
the era of Ramesses the Great to solve the puzzle of his missing
children. We learn of his dedication to his family at his funerary
temple, the magnificent Ramesseum, where we see how he depicted his
children on various temple walls and reliefs. Then, Dr. Kent Weeks takes
us through the mysterious and long-forgotten KV5, the tomb of several of
Ramesses' sons, which proves to be ancient Egypt's greatest family
mausoleum.

4.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Egypt: Beyond The Pyramids
Meet the archaeologists who are uncovering long-lost temples, tombs and
treasures; examining recent discoveries that have altered our
understanding of the Kingdom of the Nile.

5.00 p.m. |HINT| Jacob's Ladder.
Story of Jacob's magnificent stairway to heaven. Includes a trip to the
Middle East to explore 4,000-year-old ruins that some believe were the
palaces of Jacob and his son.
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Thursday, May 14
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5.00 p.m. |HINT| Moses at Mount Sinai.
Story of the search for the mountain where Moses spoke to God and
received the Ten Commandments. Explores the possibility that the site
could be at St. Catherine's monastery.

8.00 p.m. |HISTC| Ancient Discoveries I | Machines of the East
If the ancient Greeks had amazing engineers like Heron and Ctesibius,
the Islamic world would also have their geniuses in engineering and
ancient technology. The champion of the ancient Islamic world would be a
man working in 1206 AD called Al-Jazari. Donald Hill, a world leader in
ancient technology would say the following about the great Islamic
engineer: ‘It is impossible to over emphasize the importance of
Al-Jazari’s work in the history of engineering; it provides a wealth of
instructions for design, manufacture and assembly of machines’.

11.00 p.m. |HISTU| 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.
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Friday, May 15
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5.00 p.m. |HINT| The Ten Commandments.
Originally, the Ten Commandments didn't mean the same things as they do
today. How was adultery different in the ancient world? And what did it
mean to honor your father and mother? We'll study these intriguing
questions and more.

10.00 p.m. |HISTU| The Templar Code:
For nearly two centuries, the Knights Templar were the medieval world's
most powerful order, a fearsome and unstoppable Crusader militia. Then
came accusations of unspeakable crimes. Who were the Templars, really?
How did they become so powerful, so fast, and why did they fall just as
quickly? Evidence hints that the Templars excavated under Jerusalem's
Temple of Solomon. What did they find there? Was it, as The Da Vinci
Code suggests, the true identity of the Holy Grail--the bloodline of
Christ? Or an unimaginable treasure, documented in the Dead Sea Scrolls,
buried 1,000 years before Christ's birth? We explore the Templar's
origin, how they lived, trained, fought and became a medieval world
power, and the suspicious circumstances behind their sudden downfall.
Plus, we reveal why these warriors, dead for seven centuries, and their
treasure still populate Hollywood blockbusters. Narrated by Ed Herrmann
and featuring preeminent Templar authors.
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Saturday, May 16
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3.00 p.m. |HISTU| Battles BC: Ramses: Raging Chariots
What begins as a dispute over a buffer zone escalates quickly into a
struggle for regional dominance as two of the great Empires of the
Ancient world trade blows. The Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses is baited into
overextending his armies, believing the first fighting force to arrive
at the contested city of Kadesh will be victorious. But Ramses has been
deceived... the Hittite Army lies in wait. They strike when he is at his
weakest, and his troops exhausted. Ramses suffers desertion and heavy
losses. His weakened force is surrounded on three sides. Amazingly, the
pure fighting ability of the Egyptian soldiers is enough to enable them
to battle their way out of their corner and escape.

4.00 p.m. |HISTU| Battles BC: Judgment Day at Marathon
After years of perceived disrespect, a gravely offended Persian army
sets sail to teach the insolent Athenians a lesson. The massive Persian
fleet seems predestined to overpower the small Athenian army, abandoned
by their allies the Spartans. But a brilliant defensive strategy, the
extreme mettle of Greek troops, and a runner whose route would go down
in history, all combine to drive the Persians back across the Aegean
defeated, dripping in their own blood. The Battle of Marathon sets up
one of the most famous battles between Greece and Persia... the Battle
of the 300.

5.00 p.m. |HISTU| Last Stand of The 300:
After Custer, Thermopylae is the most famous last stand in history. In a
narrow pass in Northern Greece, seven thousand Greek soldiers await an
onslaught of epic proportions. They will soon face the largest fighting
force ever assembled--the war machine of the mighty Persian Empire,
estimated at over a million men. The Greeks are led by three hundred of
the most ferocious warriors of the ancient world--the Spartans. Their
leader is the fearless King Leonidas, who after this battle would be
catapulted into legend. When it is over, every Spartan in the pass will
have sacrificed his life for freedom. Creating a fresh visual style and
using new technologies we will dramatically recreate the significant
events that lead to Thermopylae and the clash of arms.

7.00 p.m. |HINT| Engineering An Empire Greece: Age of Alexander
438 BC. The Parthenon is complete. This masterpiece is the crowning
achievement for the Greek people. Without Alexander the Great, it is
possible Greece's Golden Era would have been just a footnote in history.
Tens of thousands would die during Alexander's relentless attacks on
Persia and Egypt, yet, his armies carried Greek life, culture and values
far abroad and this empire became known as the "Hellenistic" world.
Greece's amazing engineering achievements and ideas are still with us
today.

8.00 p.m. |HINT| Indian Warriors: The Untold Story of the Civil War
Though largely forgotten, some 20-30 thousand Native Americans fought in
the Civil War. Ely Parker was a Seneca leader who found himself in the
thick of battle at the side of General Ulysses S. Grant. Stand Waite, a
Confederate General and a Cherokee was known for his brilliant guerilla
tactics. Also highlighted is Henry Berry Lowery, who became known as the
Robin Hood of North Carolina. Respected Civil War authors Thom Hatch and
Lawrence Hauptman help reconstruct these stories, along with descendants
like Cherokee Nation member Jay Hanna, whose great-grandfathers fought
for both the Union and the Confederacy. Together, they reveal a new
perspective and the very personal reasons that drew these Native
Americans into the fray.

8.00 p.m. |HISTU| Angels & Demons Decoded:
Investigate the fascinating truths behind Dan Brown's (The Da Vinci
Code) first novel. From centuries-old secret societies to real-world
cryptography, from the high-stakes intrigue surrounding the installation
of a new Pope to the sometimes uneasy relationship between the Vatican
and leading scientists, this special will thrill and inform viewers
about this monumental time in world history. The clues Brown's hero
Robert Langdon follows in frantic pursuit of the Illuminati will inspire
further investigation--into religious conspiracies and the Freemasons,
secret "codes" hidden in Roman architecture and artwork--as well as
controversial theories about religious iconography. Features scenes from
the new movie as well as interviews with renowned symbologists, art
historians, religious scholars, scientists and other experts will help
unravel the mysteries and expose the diabolical plot to destroy the Church.

10.00 p.m. |HISTU| Beyond The Da Vinci Code: Beyond The Da Vinci Code.
Is it the greatest story ever told--or the greatest story ever sold? A
best-selling novel sparks a debate that could change Christianity
forever. Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and co-leaders of their
movement? Was Mary Magdalene, herself, the Holy Grail--the vessel said
to hold Jesus's blood--and mother of his descendants? Did the early
Church know this "truth" and deliberately mislead followers? Is there a
secret, ancient society, the Priory of Sion, which still protects this
bloodline? Have some of the most illustrious names in art and science
been members? These are some of the questions that Dan Brown's
best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code raises. We examine both sides of
the story--the conventional view of Christianity and the "alternate
history" proposed by Brown--so that viewers can decide.
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Sunday, May 17
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5.00 p.m. |DISCU|The Real Da Vinci Code Episode 1
'The Da Vinci Code' has been a phenomenal success with millions of
readers hooked, but what do historians think of the book? Discover the
facts about the Holy Grail and cut through the thicket of mystery that
surrounds the subject.

6.00 p.m. |DISCU|The Real Da Vinci Code Episode 2
'The Da Vinci Code' has been a phenomenal success with millions of
readers hooked, but what do historians think of the book? Discover the
facts about the Holy Grail and cut through the thicket of mystery that
surrounds the subject.

7.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Unsolved History: Roman Colosseum
Completed in 80 A.D., the Colosseum was inaugurated with 100 days of
games showcasing gladiatorial contests, wild beast hunts, public
executions and variety shows.

7.00 p.m. |HINT| Lost Worlds The Pagans.
In the late Stone Age, the pagan people of the British Isles constructed
some of the greatest monuments of the ancient world. Fabulous
constructions of wood, earth, and stone arose. In this hour, we enter
the world of their builders. We travel from the ancient stone villages
of the Orkney Islands, off the north coast of Scotland, to Stonehenge,
in Southern England. We reveal a startling new theory about the role
this extraordinary structure played in the lives of the pagans. With
computer animation, we reconstruct the monument as it appeared to them.
We then trace a forgotten ancient pathway to Stonehenge's lost
twin--Woodhenge, explore the secrets of Silbury Hill, the world's
largest man-made mound, and visit Maiden Castle, a fortress that
witnessed the pagan world's end.

8.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Unsolved History: Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch trials of 1692 were one of the darkest periods in early
American history; during a year-long period, more than 100 people were
imprisoned and 37 men, women, and children were killed because of their
purported involvement with witchcraft.

9.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Unsolved History: Donner Party
In the winter of 1846, 87 pioneers led their wagons into the Sierra
Nevada Mountains; four months later, only half of them came out alive;
uncover the truth behind the survivors' shocking claims of starvation,
death and cannibalism.

9.00 p.m. |DISCU| Angels vs. Demons: Fact or Fiction?
A hard-hitting yet witty look at the cutting-edge science and historical
reality behind the best-selling novel Angels and Demons. It's a battle
of fact vs. fiction in a world of antimatter, theology, conspiracies,
symbolism and cults.
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Channel Guide
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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)
SCI The Science Channel (U.S. Cable)
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) 2009 David Meadows. Feel free to distribute these
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Thanks!
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