Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Wgbh Boston
• VHS Release Date: March 28, 2000
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• ASIN: 6304463170
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,372 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The ancient Romans demanded their bread and circuses, and their demands were usually met. The enormous Colosseum was built for the bloody gladiatorial games which kept them happy, but there was a problem: how do you keep out the fierce Mediterranean sun? We know they did it, but how they managed without space-age polymers has always been a mystery. Nova's Secrets of Lost Empires: Colosseum, part of the Secrets of Lost Empires series, examines two competing theories by actually trying them out, which makes for a fun and fascinating look at old-school technology. We might have the power of materials science on our side, but the ancients had the cleverness and patience to get the job done. If you've ever spent a long, hot day under the sun, then you might learn a thing or two from Secrets of Lost Empires: Colosseum. --Rob Lightner

Product Description

Uncover the secrets of ancient civilizations as NOVA journeys to an archaeological site where teams of experts use traditional techniques to test their hypotheses. Try out two possible designs for the canopy that once covered the Colosseum, one of them borrowed from ancient ships.