Secrets of Archaeology

New excavations and computer reconstructions recreate the magnificent city and the cataclysmic eruption that silenced its inhabitants.

Art, aesthetics, literature, theater, law, town planning: these are just some of the debts owed by Western civilization to Rome, the glorious capital of the greatest and most powerful empire that the world has ever known. Take a tour of this vast metropolis as it was during its peak, and see it through the eyes of the Roman citizens of the time.

During the 4th dynasty of the Pharaohs in Egypt, nearly 5000 years ago, a people emerged from the mists of pre-history to complete the most ambitious and spectacular undertaking ever attempted by mankind. An incredible feat characterized by ingenious design, resourceful technique, and above all, the labor of tens of thousands of men who contributed with their bare hands to creating these colossal tombs for their Pharaohs. We look at the construction of Khufu, which, tall as a 40 story building, is the largest pyramid in the Nile Valley.

Discover why Athens was the preeminent city during the Golden Age of Greece on this virtual tour of the cradle of Western civilization. Travel back to the time of Pericles, the noble statesman who led the revolution that touched all fields of knowledge. We will visit the amphitheatres that were home to the famous tragedies of the day, tour the site of the premier Olympic games, and see the ornate temples of the Gods including a bird’s eye view of the architectural masterpiece of its day – the Acropolis.

Go on a journey to the ancient cities Volterra, Populonia and Cervetari and see why Etruscan civilization was famous for its extravagant wealth, fine ceramics, handicrafts and bustling trade, and how it was all lost in battles with the Greek colonies in southern Italy.

Perhaps no one in the history of mankind has wielded more power than a pharaoh in ancient Egypt. More than the Roman emperors, more than the King of Kings of Persepolis or Babylonia, the pharaohs ruled the population with an iron hand and were worshipped in turn as direct descendents of the Sun God. They were considered immortal, capable of subduing the forces of nature and of laying down a challenge to the centuries. A challenge that was taken up and won by the pharaohs' magnificent tombs and the sacred temples erected in honor of the gods. However, this is not the case with their cities, which disappeared mysteriously off the face of the earth as if swallowed up by the desert sands.

Cleopatra herself serves as our virtual tour guide through Egypt during her reign as Queen. From the exotic yet cosmopolitan Alexandria, to the Sanctuary of Dendera to the magical isle of Philae, we explore her empire by land and sea. We follow her as she sets sail for Italy and end our journey within the city walls of Rome where an Egyptian temple is being erected for Cleopatra’s deity protector, Isis.

Nearly 2800 years ago, a group of Greek settlers landed on the coast of Italy. That event marked the start the process which created Magna Graecia, named after the motherland. Join us as we walk through the streets of Cumae, Pasteum, Puteoli, and Neapolis, reconstructed using the most advanced computer graphics.

Aztec civilization reached its height in the early 16th century. Explore the capital of their empire, Tenochtitlán, home to elaborate yet sacred temples atop gigantic stepped pyramids. Witness the majesty of this warrior culture that has been unearthed below what is modern-day Mexico City by the preeminent archeologists of our time.

Discover the gems of the 15th Century Incan empire, a domain which covered much of South America. The splendid cities of Curzo and Chairana and the grandeur of Machu Picchu captivated the imagination and, unfortunately, greed of the Spanish conquistadors. Lifelike virtual construction gives us a close look at the massive sacred grounds of the Temple of the Sun at Cuzco, religious and political capital of a world known to generations of European adventurers as El Dorado.

Between the 3rd and 10th centuries A.D., the Mayan civilization ruled much of Central America. Travel back to the magnificent Mayan cities of Uxmal, Tulum, Chichén Itza and the capital Palenque, with its breathtaking pyramid built by master mathematicians. Being that it is located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, it is, to this day, one of the most picturesque places in the world.

Throughout the course of history, many great civilizations have flourished n Turkey because it forms a natural bridge between Europe and Asia. The Byzantine empire was home to the splendid Greek cities of the ancient East. Take a virtual tour of Gordian, the domain of King Midas, and Hattusa, the famous Hittite capital with its spectacular royal citadel.

By the 2nd century A.D. Greece was already steeped in myth, tradition and a rich history which made it a major tourist destination. “Travels through Greece” chronicles a journey with a Roman senator to the artistic and cultural treasures of Greece, including the welcoming agora of Corinth, the acoustically perfect Theatre at Epidaurus, the famous sporting competitions and chariot races of Olympia and the majestic temple of Zeus.