In Search of History Season 2, Episode 14: Alchemy: The Science of Magic

The Greek Gods

Their exploits were recorded in stories passed down from generation to generation, their images the basis of some of the most beautiful artworks ever created, and their names echo through history to this day. From their mythical home high atop Mount Olympus, the great Greek gods were an integral part of every aspect of life. Explore the fascinating story of these enduring figures in this comprehensive program. Hear from renowned classicists why the Greeks endowed their deities with such human failings, and explore the significance of the most famous myths. See the astonishing artworks that have preserved their images for all time, and how these epic figures have been integrated into modern life. And visit the phenomenal temples that were built in their names, and where the most important rituals of Ancient Greece were carried out. From Aphrodite to Zeus, it's an entertaining and illuminating look at THE GREEK GODS.

45 min

The Monkey Trial

In the summer of 1925, history was made in the small town of Dayton, Tennessee. The issue at hand was the "Butler Law," which forbid the teaching of evolution in public schools. The fledgling American Civil Liberties Union wanted to challenge the law's constitutionality and chose to test it with the trial of John Scopes, a young high-school math and gym teacher who briefly taught Darwinism as a substitute biology teacher. The quiet procedural matter exploded into a media carnival when two great lawyers arrived to argue the case.

45 min

Oracle at Delphi

One of the holiest sites of ancient Greece, Delphi was the pre-eminent shrine of Apollo. Cradled by Mount Parnassos and a valley of olive groves, it was also sacred to Dionysus, who was supposedly buried there. But Delphi is chiefly known for its legendary oracle the most famous of the ancient world. Journey back to the golden age of Greece, when the mysterious oracle of Delphi predicted the futures of kings and countries. In the smoky, haunting, and hallucinogenic atmosphere of the sacred shrine, predictions were uttered by a priestess in a delirious trance and interpreted by a priest speaking in verse. Dramatic re-creations bring the oracle to life, and leading historians explain how Delphi grew wealthy through the offerings of those seeking a glimpse at their destiny. Explore the ruins of this mystical site with archaeologists, and see the latest discoveries that are shedding new light on the legendary city.

45 min

Cardiff Giant

The history of the Cardiff Giant and the reality about it's existence just south of Syracuse, New York.

45 min

Frankenstein

Was Dr. Frankenstein born from novelist Mary Shelley's mind, or based in reality as some investigators argue? Did she hear of the 18th-century German doctor who experimented on dead as well as live bodies?

45 min

Meriwether Lewis: Suicide or Murder?

Just 3 years after his triumphant return from the Lewis & Clark Expedition, Meriwether Lewis is dead. The body of the renowned explorer and Governor of the Louisiana Territory is found in the wilderness. What happened to this protégé of Thomas Jefferson? The sparks of controversy still flies today.

45 min

Viking Explorers

Scandinavian sagas tell the tales of Leif the Lucky and the Land of Grapes, but are these merely boastful yarns of magical heroes or historical facts? VIKING EXPLORERS investigates the oft-repeated claim that the Vikings landed on America's shores 1,000 years ago. Follow the incredible journey that these hardy sailors had to make across the North Atlantic, and go aboard a restored longboat like the one that carried them to the New World. Noted historians tell the remarkable story of Leif Ericsson and his father, the legendary Eric the Red, and attempt to separate fact from fiction in the sagas of these heroes. And in a remarkable interview, archaeologist Helge Ingstad recalls how her discovery of a Viking settlement in North America helped to rewrite history.

45 min

The True Story of Sacco and Vanzetti

The Great Wall

The Odessa File

This installment in the History Channel series In Search of History takes an in-depth look at a mysterious phenomenon, with this investigation into the infamous flight of several top-ranking Nazi officers from Allied authorities after WWII. Because many of these men faced prosecution for their crimes during the Third Reich, they went into hiding in countries like Syria, Argentina, and even the US - but some believe that this mass exodus was orchestrated by a high-powered organization, which masterminded their escape and asylum.

45 min

The True Story of the Molly Maguires

The Molly Maguires was an Irish 19th-century secret society active in Ireland, Liverpool and parts of the eastern United States, best known for their activism among Irish-American and Irish immigrant coal miners in Pennsylvania. After a series of often violent conflicts, twenty suspected members of the Molly Maguires were convicted of murder and other crimes and were executed by hanging in 1877 and 1878. This history remains part of local Pennsylvania lore.

45 min

Lost Colony of Roanoke

It was supposed to be the first permanent English settlement in the New World. It became one of the most enduring tantalizing mysteries in American history.

45 min

Dragons

Dragons: Gigantic fire-breathing man-eating monsters! Dragons haunt the imagination and invade the art of nearly all civilizations.

45 min

Born Killers: Leopold and Loeb

Nathan Freudenthal Leopold Jr. and Richard Albert Loeb were two wealthy students at the University of Chicago who in May 1924 kidnapped and murdered 14-year-old Robert Franks in Chicago. They committed the murder—characterized at the time as "the crime of the century"—as a demonstration of their perceived intellectual superiority, which, they thought, rendered them capable of carrying out a "perfect crime", and absolved them of responsibility for their actions.

45 min

Mexico's Great Pyramids

This program goes to Mexico to unravel the enigmatic history of Teotihuacán, a 2,000-year-old urban wonder and one of the largest settlements of the ancient world.

45 min

Forgotten Wars

Reveals exciting and controversial military campaigns that have all but faded from American history--a showdown with Britain that began over a pig; a war in Korea fought in 1871, not 1950; and a U.S. citizen's attempt to seize control of Nicaragua! Covers little-known invasions in Russia, Central America, and the Caribbean as well. (cc) [TV G] 9:00/6:00 Top Secret Missions of the CIA. Bodysnatch/The War That Never Was. First, CIA officer Duane Clarridge engineers a clandestine operation with the FBI to "kidnap" international terrorist Fawaz Yunis from Cyprus and bring him to the U.S. to stand trial. Then, CIA Officer Bill Lair launches Operation Momentum, a covert mission to arm and train mountain tribesmen in Laos to battle communist infiltration.

45 min

Samurai Warrior

The rituals and history of Japan's Samurai.

45 min

Secret Brotherhood of Freemasons

Join us as we divulge the true nature of the secret and mystical organization known as freemasons. We reveal the initiation ceremony, when candidates swear on pain of death.

45 min

The Catacombs of Rome

Prophecies

Prophecies: From the ancient Greek's ominous Oracle at Delphi to the Renaissance's revered Nostradamus, civilizations have sought their future through the mouths of prophets.

45 min

Seven Wonders of the World

Death Cult of the Incas

The Roman Legions

The Roman Legions: Their legions were legend as the Roman army marched across the known world, trampling its enemies and securing one of history's largest empires.

45 min

The Mormon Rebellion

Archival documents and stunning re-creations bring the defining moments of the standoff to life, and Mormon historians explore the legacy it left behind. THE MORMON REBELLION reveals the truth behind an often-overlooked chapter in American history.

45 min

The Romanovs

Explores the fall of the Romanov dynasty and the fate of some of its members. Examines the enduring mystery of Anastasia in some detail.

The Celts

The Celts are one of the least understood of all the ancient people. They left no written records, and the Greek and Roman accounts tell us of little beyond their prowess in battle. This much is certain they were the fiercest warriors of the ancient world, and the most unusual. They often fought naked and cut off the heads of their enemies for souvenirs. Search for clues to the life of these legendary people beyond the battlefield. Wander the English countryside to see their incredible monuments including the legendary Stonehenge and ponder their significance. Join archaeologists as they trace the origins of the Celts, and see ancient evidence of their advanced culture they were among the most advanced farmers, artists and metalworkers of their time. And explore the influence of their powerful holy men the Druids whose true role and significance remains shrouded in mystery.

45 min

The Knights Templar

The Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon grew quickly into a powerful religious order - only to stand accused of devil worship. Were the Knights Templar betrayed by the Pope or their own greed?

45 min

The Hope Diamond

The Hope Diamond is a legendary 45.52-carat, deep grayish-blue diamond renowned for its size, rarity (Type IIb), and a supposed, historic curse. Currently located at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., it is considered "priceless" and is one of the world's most famous gems.

42 min

Tombs of Sipán

The Tombs of Sipán are a series of ancient Moche culture burial chambers discovered in 1987 at the Huaca Rajada archaeological site in northern Peru. Often hailed as the "Tutankhamun of the Americas," this discovery is considered one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century because it was the first royal burial site in South America found virtually intact.

42 min