Ancient Mysteries

1. E1. Tattooing

   Aug 7, 1997 · 45m

   For thousands of years, people of almost every culture have decorated their bodies with elaborate tattoos - but few realize the significance of this ancient practice. Ancient Mysteries goes "beneath-the-skin" in an exhaustive exploration of tattoo artistry. Join Steve Gilbert, editor of the Tattoo History Source Book, as he traces the history of tattooing from the first ritualistic practices - marking rites of passage, celebrating the bravery of warriors, branding slaves - to the booming industry that it has become today. Watch as acclaimed tattoo artists demonstrate their skills for the camera and hear their insight regarding the commitment and meaning of these permanent decorations. From the tropical jungles of New Guinea to the urban jungle of New York, Tattooing illuminates the meaningful cultural contexts that lie behind a modern craze.

2. E2. The Sacred Waters of Lourdes

   Aug 14, 1997 · 45m

   It has been called the city of miracles - where the blind are made to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk. Could the waters of Lourdes in fact contain mysterious healing properties? The story began in 1858, in the remote mountain village of Lourdes, France, when a 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous is said to have witnessed a vision of the Virgin Mary. Since then, believers from all over the world have traveled there in hopes of experiencing the alleged healing powers of the sacred waters. For almost 150 years, scholars, doctors, and even key figures within the Catholic church have struggled to separate fact from faith. In this penetrating documentary, interviews with skeptics, as well as those who claim to have been healed by the water's powers, serve to paint a balanced portrait of this most enigmatic phenomenon.

3. E3. The Magic of Alchemy

   Aug 17, 1998 · 45m

   Did masters of alchemy possess secret wisdom? What were they really seeking? These are but a few ANCIENT MYSTERIES. Nearly two thousand years ago, a shadowy group called alchemists embarked on a mysterious dangerous quest. In primitive laboratories they risked their lives trying to make gold. They also searched for divine wisdom - and the secret of immortality. Mysteries abound in alchemy's dark history. Was Sir Isaac Newton, one of history's greater minds, driven mad by his secret obsession with alchemy?

4. E4. The Search for the Abominable Snowman

   Aug 21, 1997 · 45m

5. E5. Quest for the Holy Grail

   Aug 28, 1997 · 45m

   It is one of the holiest relics of Christianity and has inspired many a knightly adventure. But does this fabled chalice really exist?

6. E6. Knights Templar

   Sep 7, 1997 · 45m

   Nine hundred years ago, Muslims fighting Christians were suddenly assaulted by a strange and terrifying force...a legion of sword wielding monks called the Knights Templar. Their fanatical courage struck terror in their enemies; their fabulous wealth made them the most powerful men in Europe; their secret rites inspired rumors of blasphemy. Did the Knights Templar find ancient secrets buried beneath Solomon's Temple? Did they conspire to seize part of Europe for themselves? Join us as we search for answers to these enduring enigmas in the long ago time of the bold and mysterious Knights Templar.

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