Customer Reviews

Secrets of Archaeology

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I agree with others that this is one of the best historical documentaries available, especially on Classical Mediterranean civilizations (Greece, Rome, and others). There are six discs in the series, each disc containing five episodes of 20 minutes, except the last disc which has only two. Although 20 minutes may not sound like much, so much is packed into each episode that they do not disapoint.

Each episode shows historical ruins related to its subject, beginning with maps to let you know when and where you are, and frequently using animation to reconstruct the ruins as they appeared in their prime. The narration uses the pictures as a starting point to discuss the culture and history represented by the ruins. The series frequently provides a fairly in depth discussion of the culture, ordinary life, religion, etc. of the peoples who lived in these locations, not just stories of battles and rulers.

The other outstanding aspect of this series is that it covers a wide variety of cultures, time periods, and geography. It works best where history can be told as the history of individual cities, which is the case in the Mediterranean world (the great majority of the episodes) and also for the Mayans in America.

A good example of the unusual approach of this series is episode two. From the title "Glorious Rome", I was expecting a tour of classical Rome using models and virtual recreations, since good examples of these are now available. Instead, the episode showed only brief shots of the unreconstructed Roman forum, and centered instead on the ruins of outlying Roman cities to show the common culture which existed over the extent of the empire.

Disc 1
1. Pompeii: A City Rediscovered. 79 AD
2. Glorious Rome, Capital of an Empire. 2nd Cent. AD. (Vaison-la-Romaine, Provence, FR; Tindaris and Morgantina, Sicily, IT; Jerash, Jordan.)
3. Pyramids Designed for Eternity. 3rd Millennium BC [Egypt] (Sakkara, Maidum, Dahshur, Giza)
4. Athens: Western Splendor 460 BC (Parthenon, Acropolis)
5. A Place Called Etruria 540 BC (Tuscany, It; It cities: Murlo (Poggio Civitate), Tarquinia, Volterra (San Cerboni tombs), Populonia, Cerveteri, Chiusi, Bologna (Villanova Culture))

Disc 2
6. The Cities of the Pharaohs. 3,000 BC. [Egypt] (Memphis, Luxor, Thebes, Cairo, Alexandria)
7. Egypt According to Cleopatra. 30 BC. [Egypt] (Alexandria - Pharos; Giza - Pyramids; Dendera - Temple of Hathor; Philae - Temple of Isis; Rome - obelisk, pyramid, temple, statue Esquiline Venus).
8. Greek Cities in Italy. 9th Cent. BC. (Magna Graecia: Delphi; Naples; Cumae - Parthenope; Sybaris - Paestum Poseidonia; Campi Flegrei; Pozzouli [Dicaearchia] - Temple of Serapis [Serapium]; macellum - market building Lake Avernus - Virgil, Hades; Sibyls).
9. The Pyramids of the Sun. 1519 AD. [Mexico]. (Aztec - Tenochtitlan; Teotihuacan - Pyramid of the Sun, Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Pyramid of the Moon).
10. The Roads to El Dorado. 15th & 16th Cent. AD. [South America - Peru, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cuzco; Columbia - Muisca, Lake Guatavita]. "El Dorado" originally referred to a person--the "gilded man", or man covered with gold dust--not a place.

Disc 3
11. The Lost Cities of the Maya. 8th Cent. AD. (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras: Palenque; Chichen Itza; Toltecs - Tula [Central Mexico]; Tulum; Colzumel).
12. The Forgotten Civilizations of Anatolia. [Turkey] (Ionian Greek - Aphrodisias; Hierapolis - Pamukkale hot springs; Gordium - Phrygia - King Minos 8th Cent BC; Hittites - Hattusah - 14th Cent. BC)
13. Travels through Greece. 2nd Cent. AD (Corinth; Temple of Venus; Epidaurus - Asclepieion; Phidias's workshop; Olympia).
14. The Ports of the Desert. 1st Cent. AD (Ma'rib - Sabaean Kingdom [Yemen]; Petra - Nabataeans [Jordan]; Palmyra [Syria]). Roman spice trade.
15. Sailing with the Phoenicians. 5th Cent. BC (Phoenicia - Tyre [Lebanon]; Sardinia - Nuraghe, Nora thermal bath; Carthage [Tunisia] - Harbor; Island of the Admiralty; Byrsa citadel)

Disc 4
16. The Roman Empire in Africa. 1st - 4th Cent. AD. [Maghreb: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia] (Volubilis)
17. Ancient Cities Bordering on Latium. 4th Cent. BC (Hernici-Hernicians; Samnites [Samnium] - Apulia; Umbrians)
18. Retracing the Tracks of Hannibal. 3rd Cent BC (Saguntum Spain; Bardo Museum Tunis; Roman Walls; Carthage, Tophet - human sacrifice?) (Not just war - differences in cultural & cultural interchange)
19. Roman Imprint on the West. 3rd Cent AD. [Spain; France (Provence)] (Provence - Orange, Nimes; Spain - Tarragona, Cadiz) (Impact of Rome on Western Culture)
20. At the Court of the King of Kings. 4th Cent BC. (Iran [Persia]) Cyrus the Great; Zoroastrian Hilltop Altars; Susa; Persepolis)

Disc 5
21. Cities of the Sea and Wind. 1st - 3rd Cent. AD. [Tripolitania (Libya)] (Leptis Magna - Emperor Septimis Severus & Caracalla; Sabratha; Oea [Tripoli], Syrtes desert)
22. Secrets of the Island of Minos. 15th Cent. BC. [Greece; Crete] (Minoans, Atlantis, Crete, Aegean Civilization, Arthur Evans - Knossos, Santorini, Cyclades)
23. The Fabulous Centers of Hellenism. 4th Cent BC. [Turkey (Ionia)] (Alexander the Great, Persia, Pergamun, Ephesus - Temple of Artimis, Library of Celsus)
24. Visit of the Sanctuaries of Apollo. 4th Cent. BC. (Delos Island [Greece] - birthplace of Apollo and Artemis; Didyma [Turkey] - sanctuary, temple & oracle of Apollo; Delphi [Greece] - Delphic oracle, pythian games)
25. Sicily: Greek Legacy in the West. 4th Cent. BC. (Battle of Himera; Sicani; Syracuse & Island of Ortigia; Agrigento - Valley of the Temples).

Disc 6
26. Ancient Itinerary in Ionia. 2nd Cent. BC. [Delos, Kos, Rhodes (Greece); Priene, Miletus (Turkey)] (Priene; boulç, bouleuterion; Epicurian School Philosophy-Thales, Anaximenes, Anaximander; Miletus - Hippodamus of Miletus (urban planning); Delos - slave market, foreign temples; Kos - Asclepius Sanctuary, Hipppcrates; Rhodes-Colossus; "Anatolia" - rising sun)
27. Mycenaeans: The Civilization of Heroes. 3rd to 2nd Millennium BC. [Ebla (Syria); Troy (Turkey), Mycenae (Greece)]. (Ebla-Assyrian City north of Euphrates, 17,000 cuneiform tablets; Troy- Heinrich Schliemann; Tiryns-Cyclopean walls, Pausaneus; Mycenae-lion gate; Agamemnon, megaron)

I have caught some of these episodes on History Channel and this series is the one to watch if you're at all interested in understanding and experiencing the ancient civilizations covered, be it Petra, Rome, Greece, the Mayans, etc.

The series, which encompasses 27 journeys to sites and cities, not only presents current filming, but also, in many cases re-creates the sites using phenonemal computer graphics that let you sort of see what these places looked like when they were built.

This is so comprehensive, I can't wait to get it.

Secrets of Archeology, a six-DVD set, introduce viewers to twenty-seven amazing archeological sites spread over Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The authors excel at rendering the magnificence of these sites through their photography. Furthermore, leading archaeological experts weave their fascinating narrative with visually compelling computer graphics that make possible for viewers to better appreciate the accomplishments of past civilizations. Viewers can use Secrets of Archeology for planning a future journey to these sites. Nothing, not even the excellent Secrets of Archeology, can replace the sensorial experience that visitors gain while they tour these sites. Furthermore, viewers, who have had the chance to walk around these sites, will find in this series a nice souvenir complementing their personal recollections.

Secrets of Archaeology is an excellent video narrative of many ancient sites. A nice overview of the history is given while the sites are shown in good detail. However, I was hoping for something that would show and talk more about the actual excavations and findings at these sites. To me the little things, like beads, pots, tools, etc. that are unearthed are more telling and often more interesting than the general histories.

These 6 DVD collections are precious source about the well-known archaeological discoveries from different locations of the world. In 27 episodes you will live the ancient world after reconstructing it with today's scientific tools; simply, you will see the past with our todays eyes.
I Highly recommend these collections for everyone interested in ancient world history.

Archaeology Secrets is wonderful. Some of the episodes have been viewed on television. There are six disks and 12+ hours of viewing. I enjoy watching them over and over. I will certainly purchase more sets of this caliber and interest. Fascinating no matter how many times it is viewed. It covers Pompeii, Rome, Pyramids of Egypt, Greece, ancient cities of Etruscan, Memphis and Thebes, Cleopatra's Egypt, Greek Cities in Italy, Pyramids of Aztecs in Mexioc, Lost cities of the Maya, Anatolia, Syrian Desert, Phoenician sail routes, Roman Empire, Tracing Hannibal, Apollo, Civilizations on the Euphrates and Aegean Seas to Bablonian Troy. Commentary is very well done as is accompanying music and photography.

Each segment, taken individually, is very good, but the work as a whole was rather lopsided and not as comprehensive as it should be. Over half the segments are about Greece or Italy and there are none at all about Mesopotamia, China or India, each of which contributed as much to the mainstream of human history as Greco-Roman civilization and contributed much more than the American Indian civilizations covered.

In a nutshell, this series doesn't cover everything it should, but what it does cover, it covers very well. If you're interested in the civilizations which are covered, you won't be disappointed.

HI THERE Secrets of archaeology is a fantastic walk back in time to ancient lands from ionia to the maya and the beautiful city of palmyra this together with outstanding computer graphics is a must for any history buff from rome to the mediterranean and rodger steffhins does a great job in explianing all the lands and history and the mysterys surrounding them personaly (AT THE COURT OF THE KING OF KINGS IS MY NUM 1) BYE IT AND YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT from start to finish history chann we need more

The script and explanations of the sites are very Eurocentric... I bought this to preview and possibly show in my archaeology class; however, I would not show something like this ... The information is not new and worded from a very specific perspective... Archaeologist excavated, but they had nothing to do with the script of this box set... If I had it to do over again, I would pass on this documentary. However, as an alternative; Mysteries of the Ancient World by readers digest is something I would recommend and I have shown it in my class.

I really enjoyed this very diverse DVD set. It has 6 discs that have 27 programs that totally blew me away. MUST SEE!