Seven Wonders of Ancient Egypt

Author and archaeologist, John Romer, contemplates the mystical aspects of the Seven Wonders, exploring the enduring fascination of the only surviving Wonder, the Pyramids. John then focuses his attention on the city of Rome which had become a magical city, surrounded by a wall of iron enclosing seven hills, one for each day of the Creators rest. There were 365 squares in Rome, 365 streets, 365 palaces for the popes and each palace had 365 steps and each step was covered with bread enough to feed the world. It was a dream of poor people. imagining a legendary past. A past of endless wealth and wonder. Ghosts of Wonder demonstrates how the story of the Wonders is also the story of the modern imagination and has John Romere travelling from Australia to New York to illustrate how people are still haunted by ghosts of the ancient past.

Explore with host John Romer, the influence of ancient eastern civilizations. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, in what is now Iraq, were rumoured to be part of the palace of Nebuchadnezzar. Today, scientists believe that the exotic gardens were actually more fable than fact. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesusm in modernday Turkey, was built to honour the mother goddess. She was a powerful force for many different people - the Romans knew her as Diana, the Anatolians as Kybele - and her temple was one of the holiest shrines in Alexander the Great's world

Explore the birth of the iage of "The New Man" in human hostory. Delving into the legends if the Colossus od Rhodes and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, host John Romer demonstrates how these monuments projected a new vision of the human form into the popular consciousness. A mmoth figure of ivory and gold, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia ruled over the Olympic games. Before this venerable statue lay a huge, shallow pool of olive oil, which reflected light onto the figure. The Colossus of Rhodes was built with sheets of bronze and stood guard over the island of Rhodes. Perhaps the most astounding aspect of both monuments was that the sculptors modelled their faces in the image of man. Today, this image is mirrored in our own Statue of Liberty,

Host John Romer ventures to the sites of two ancient cities created by Alexander the Great - cities that were considered among the most beautiful and unusual the world had ever seen. We also explore the culture and environment that created several of the seven wonders. This episode examines two unparalleled testaments to the power of the era: The Pharos (Lighthouse) at Alexandria, which stood more that 300 feet, making it the tallest structure of its time, and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, which was considered one of the greatest tombs ever created. The Mausoleum's perimieter was not decoreated with icons of ancient gods, as was the custom of the time, but with ennobled and enlarged figures of real people. These statues are thought to have been an inspiration for the citizens - telling them they could be as great as the gods.

Able to inspire wonder and awe in all who gazed upon them, The Seven Wonders of Ancient Rome - the Pantheon, the Aqueducts of Rome, the Via Appia, the Baths of Caracalla, Trajan's Markets, Circus Maximus and the Colosseum - were the works of great men who translated fantastic visions into the epitome of human achievement. These visionaries included ambitious Emperors like Hadrian and engineers with revolutionary ideas such as Apollodorus. By the second century AD, Rome had become the 'caput mundi' - the head of the world.

Greece, a land of breathtaking beauty and light. A land where science, art and inspiration from the gods combined to produce some of the world's greatest marvels of architecture and design. The ancient Greeks used buildings and structures to reflect the variety of life at the core of their civilisation - they built the first theatres, staged the first sports events and worshipped in some of the most spectacular temples ever built.

Zero Hour dramatizes the hour leading up to some of the most memorable historical events as they unfold minute by minute. Using a real-time clock and a split screen to follow key players, the series reveals the compelling and exciting minutes leading up to events that changed the world.

Based on real events from 1983; DC Peter Finch is awarded a medal for the courage he showed in arresting a dangerous criminal. Meanwhile transvestite David Martin is released once again from prison - he's provocative and aggressive and, when he's caught again during a burglary, he shoots one of the police officers, leading to a nation wide manhunt. Innocent filmmaker Steven Waldorf is subsequently shot as a suspect by Finch, provoking a national scandal that rocks the police force.

Many geneticists and archaeologists have long surmised that human life began in Africa. Dr. Spencer Wells, one of a group of scientists studying the origin of human life, offers evidence and theories to support such a thesis in this PBS special. He claims that Africa was populated by only a few thousand people that some deserted their homeland in a conquest that has resulted in global domination.

For years, a blackmailer has been preying on the weaknesses of others throughout London. When Holmes hears of the utter misery this mystery man is creating, he adopts a campaign to thwart his evil scheming. The campaign astonishes Dr. Watson by its strangeness and finds Holmes falling in love.

The existence of the anti-Iraq coalition was threatened when Saddam targetted Israel. In order to keep Israel out of the war, and the coalition together the Scuds had to be stopped. SAS patrol Bravo Two Zero, under the command of Sgt. Andy McNab was tasked to destroy these weapons. Three of the SAS troopers were killed and four captured: Only one escaped - Cpl. Chris Ryan.

Using declassified FBI information, this documentary investigates the extent to which British King Edward VIII sympathized with the Nazis.

Life of the Buddha is a major new landmark documentary following Buddha on his journey from the lap of luxury to the verge of starvation and final enlightenment. Shot on location in Nepal and India, Life of the Buddha uses dramatic computer-generated images and recent archaeological discoveries to piece together this remarkable story.

Documentary about the world of the Japanese geisha. Unattainable by all but the wealthy and powerful, geisha are the ultimate massagers of the male ego. Behind the delicate fan and enigmatic smile can also be found a darker side to the geisha story, including treachery and suicide.