Greek world / Monde grec

The Seven Wisest Men of Ancient Greece did not include Socrates, Plato or Aristotle. However, even the Seven Sages would choose only One as the Wisest of All.

Over six hour-long programs, Michael Wood marshals the disparate strands of evidence to present as fully rounded a portrait as possible of both the historical and the legendary city of Troy, its central place in Western culture, and the Mycenaean Age itself. From Schliemann's initial cavalier bulldozing of the mound at Hisarlik, to Homer's epics, the Hittite Empire, and the role of slave women, Wood journeys back and forth across the Aegean and elsewhere, from a pre-unification Berlin to Liverpool, to illuminate the dawn of Western literature, myth, and history. Did the Trojan war ever happen, or was the city destroyed by natural causes? Wood doesn't claim to find a definitive answer, of course, but for the viewer it's rewarding enough simply to accompany him on this fascinating journey.

The historian explores the history of Greece from the time of the Ancients to the present day.

Documentary series retracing the journey of Alexander the Great across sixteen countries.

The Parthenon - a story of the creation of the glory, and the destruction and drama of the most illustrious monument ever to grace the face of the earth. The period of 'ancient youth' to Pericles and the Panathenian Procession.From the godess Athena to the masterpieces of bas-relief by Pheidias, Iktinos, and Kallicrates.

APOCRYPHAL HARMONY - The geometric and arithmetic revelations concerning the map of Ancient Hellas (Greece) in relation to the map of the Cosmos. The great mysteries of the ancient temples, the magic of the 'curves' of the Parthenon, the 'Golden Mean' as exemplified in ancient theatres, the relationships of distances between temples. All this, together with the 'hidden harmonies' and the sense of beauty which characterise the religion, art, philosophies, spatial arrangements and language of Ancient Hellas.

The Acropolis - marvel at the history and the vivid representations of the unique monuments of the sacred rock of the Acropolis of Athens, the Parthenon, the Erectheion, the Karyatidis, the Propylaia, the Art Gallery, the wondrous Temples of Athena, Pallas, Rome, Augustus, and the Shrine of Artemis ....the great enemies, the catastrophes, and the looting of the most sacred monuments of antiquity.

TEMPLE OF POSEIDON - The history of the temple from Ancient Times to the present day. The god Poseidon, the construction of the temple, the statues, the fortress, the Propylon, the Barracks, the citizens' houses, the Naval Shipyard, the shrine of Athena... all enclosed within the manners and customs of the era.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA & the TEMPLE OF ZEUS - The history of this legendary site which housed the Olympic Games during the glorious era of classical antiquity. Enjoy the customs and traditions of the Olympic Games in the land of their birth. The Stadium, the Judges, the Sacred Altis, the Temple of Zeus, the Heraion, the Philippeion, the Prytaneion, the Garden of treasures, the Crypt, and so many other icons now fabled in ancient history.

Noted scholar John Romer takes us on a tour of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

A highly sophisticated restoration team is painstakingly reassembling the Parthenon of Athens-a classic Greek building that has suffered from wars, earthquakes, and disastrous previous restoration attempts.

Alexander the Great conquered Greece, Turkey, most of Asia (present Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of others) and Egypt in Africa, before age 32. Even now, his innovations in battle continue to be studied.

Series in which Alastair Sooke explores the riches and unique legacy of Greek art.

Best known for the myth of the Minotaur, Crete gave birth to Europe's first civilization. Yet little is known about those who inhabited the island. But now, with fresh archeological evidence, light is finally being shed on this ancient culture.

Eminent classical historian Robin Lane Fox embarks on a journey in search of the origins of the Greek myths. He firmly believes that these fantastical stories lie at the root of western culture, and yet little is known about where the myths of the Greek gods came from, and how they grew. Now, after 35 years of travelling, excavation and interpretation, he is confident he has uncovered answers.

A documentary, narrated by actor Liam Neeson, that chronicles the rise and fall of the civilization of ancient Greece.

Delphi was home to perhaps the most famous oracle in the ancient world. But how did it get its reputation, what really went on there and what influence has it had on the modern world. Michael Scott of Cambridge University investigates.

Bettany Hughes goes to Alexandria, Egypt, too look at one of the great cities of history. Founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria was once one of the intellectual and culture hubs of the world. It was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the immense Library of Alexandria.

Classicist Dr Michael Scott presents a three-part series looking at the power, influence and history of Ancient Greece, particularly Athens, through the prism of one of its most important cultural spaces - the theatre.

Bettany Hughes searches for the truth about the 'Golden Age' of Ancient Athens, investigating how a barren rock wedged between the East and West became the first democracy 2,500 years ago. Democracy, liberty and the freedom of speech are trumpeted as the bedrock of western civilization, but what was Athens really like? Bettany goes deep underground to explore a treasure trove of prehistoric bones and ancient artifacts. In silver mines and tombs she uncovers evidence for what this society was really like. This was a democratic city built on slave labor, manipulated by aristocrats, where women wore the veil and men pursued a bloody foreign policy, slaughtering thousands in the pursuit of the world's first democratic empire. The program reveals amazing, sophisticated voting systems but also a society where smooth-talking politicians used spin, and where those who didn't vote were known as 'idiotes'. This first episode charts the epic story of Athens' victory in one of the greatest sea battles of the ancient world, when the Athenian triremes defeat Xerxes' mighty Persian fleet at Salamis, and reveals the real story of the building of the greatest monument of this first democracy - the Parthenon - as a symbol of Athenian power.

There were many interesting and important civilizations in the Mediterranean region in ancient times, but the Mycenaeans were especially fortunate in one way.Their legends and deeds became the subjects of the finest works of literature to be handed down from antiquity - Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and the dramas of the great Greek playwrights.In addition, archaeologists have unearthed the remains of the great fortified cities of the Mycenaeans.Together, these sources, both literary and archaeological, have allowed us to get an unusually intimate look at this impressive culture.What we see is an age of powerful military dynasties that ruled large areas of land, conducted trade, and established industries. Their influence reached as far as Egypt and Sicily.And although their civilization, like so many others, eventually crumbled, their legends lived on to form the cornerstone of the literature of the Western world.

Greece. Home of democracy, philosophy and mythology. The Ancient Greeks worshipped the gods of Mount Olympus, which were ruled over by Zeus. However, what was the truth behind the myths?

Though it is today a region of Turkey, the coastal area of Anatolia, or Asia Minor, was a thriving center of Greek culture in ancient times. Two cities there especially stand out - one for its connection to a work of literature, one for its connection to a work of art. The fabled city of Troy and its legendary ten-year siege by forces from mainland Greece became the subject of one of the cornerstones of western literature, Homer's Iliad. The frieze of the Great Altar of the city of Pergamum, now in a museum in Berlin, is one of the finest surviving examples of Hellenistic sculpture. These cities flourished many centuries apart, but their combined legacies give us today a remarkable glimpse into ancient Anatolian civilization.