Documentary films & series
Our analyses and companions to the great documentaries on prehistory and antiquity: what science actually says, with sources.
Founded by thé Ptolemies in thé 3rd century BCE, thé Library of Alexandria was thé greatest collection of knowledge in thé ancient world. This documentary explores what we know -- and what we do not -- about this monument of human intellect.
Watch the documentary →In thirteen years of military campaigns, Alexander thé Gréât built one of antiquity's greatest empires. This documentary follows archaeologists and historians in thé footsteps of his conquests, from Macedonia to India.
Watch the documentary →Beneath thé waters of Alexandria's bay lie thé remains of thé Ptolemaic royal palace, thé lighthouse foundations, and colossal statues. Underwater archaeology has been uncovering its best-kept secrets for thirty years.
Watch the documentary →Hisarlik, Turkey: for 150 years, archaeologists have been excavating the site believed to be Homer's ancient Troy. Between myth and reality, science and controversy, a fascinating inquiry into Antiquity's most famous city.
Watch the documentary →For eight years, a Franco-Saudi mission excavated Hegra (Mada'in Saleh), the ancient Nabataean capital of Arabia. Over 130 monumental tombs, a sophisticated hydraulic network, and Aramaic inscriptions reveal a crossroads city at the heart of ancient caravan routes.
Watch the documentary →Beyond its monumental palaces, Persepolis concealed an entire city: artisan quarters, cuneiform archives, royal workshops. Recent excavations reveal the true nature of the Achaemenid capital.
Watch the documentary →Beneath the ruins of Byblos, one of the world's oldest cities, a royal Bronze Age necropolis reveals its secrets: Phoenician treasures, pharaonic gifts, and the birth of the alphabet. A dive into a vanished world.
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