Ancient Superstructures

How did ancient civilisations raise monuments that still defy explanation? The fourth season of Ancient Superstructures, confronts this question with unprecedented ambition – moving from satellite imagery down to the microscopic level to reveal the hidden logic behind structures that have outlasted every empire that built them. This is not mythology dressed as history. This is forensic investigation of some of humanity’s most astonishing achievements.

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  E1Pierrefonds Castle, France

  Pierrefonds looks like a 14th-century fortress, yet it is a 19th-century masterpiece. We uncover how a ruined stronghold became a revolutionary hybrid of Middle Ages and Industrial Age innovation.

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  E2Acropole of Athens, Greece

  Rising 80 metres above Athens, the Acropolis is a high-speed engineering feat forged in an age of war and political ambition. This episode decodes the logistics behind the Parthenon.

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  E3Neuschwanstein, Germany

  Neuschwanstein is Louis II of Bavaria's 19th-century fairy-tale castle that inspired Walt Disney. Inside, medieval fantasy hides modern innovation: steel beams, plumbing, and central heating.

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  E4Sagrada Familia, Spain

  Begun in 1882, the Sagrada Família became Gaudí's radical engineering laboratory. In 2026, the church yet to be finished, builders use modern engineering to raise the 170-metre spires above Barcelona.

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  E5Aachen Cathedral, Germany

  Aachen Cathedral is a 1,200-year engineering marvel. We decode the 'smart' mortar, the hidden iron ring stabilising the cupola, and the metal reinforcements that let stained glass replace stone.

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  E6Medieval City of Carcassonne, France

  For 2,600 years, Carcassonne has stood as Europe's ultimate fortress. Blending archaeology and engineering, we learn how innovation, strategy and restoration shaped an 'impregnable' citadel.

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  E1The Holy Sepulchre - The Sacred Shield

  Sep 24, 2024· 50m

  This episode reveals the secrets of the Holy Sepulchre, the most sacred Christian site in the world. Every year, the site welcomes more than one million pilgrims. Built on the site of the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, it has a unique atmosphere. Defied by time, wars and earthquakes, the Holy Sepulchre was rebuilt many times, and has transformed itself into an architectural labyrinth. Today, thanks to the use of new technologies, the Holy Sepulchre reveals its secrets as never before.

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  E2The Sphinx of Giza - Carving the Lion King

  Oct 1, 2024· 50m

  The Sphinx is the most monumental ancient sculpture in the world. Half-man, half-lion, this monument arouses the curiosity of the whole world. Seen from the sky, the location of the Sphinx in relation to the famous pyramids gives us some clues about its possible builder. The Sphinx seems to link the temples of Kephren to its pyramid. The big mystery lies in the construction of the Sphinx: how did they build such a monumental sculpture? This episode sheds new lights on this incredible structure.

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  E3Tikal - The Jungle City

  Oct 8, 2024· 50m

  This episode sheds light on Tikal, one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of pre-Columbian Mayan civilization. Tikal was the capital of the most powerful kingdom built by the Maya. Its immense stepped pyramids and the incredible hydraulic network bear witness to the engineering talents of its people. Today, new technologies, such as LiDar, allows researchers to reveal new secrets about this exceptional place. Secrets that were previously buried in the immense surrounding jungle.

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  E4Chambord - The Jewel of the Loire

  Oct 15, 2024· 50m

  This episode takes us to the heart of Chambord, the largest and most iconic French castle. Designed on the medieval model of fortified castles with its enclosure and large corner towers, this jewel is inspired by the Gothic style. The ornamentation on the upper sections reaches skywards, with the chimneys. Its silhouette is distinctive, making it one of the architectural masterpieces of the Renaissance: with experts’ testimonies and 3D graphics, we’ll reveal all the secrets of this masterpiece.

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  E5Chichen Itza - The Mystic Maya City

  Oct 22, 2024· 50m

  This new episode tells the story of the incredible site of Chichen Itza, in Mexico. Considered as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Mayan city of Chichen Itza was the capital of a powerful civilization: the Itzas. The site impresses by the Castillo, a central pyramid which culminates at 30 meters – main monument of the episode. But also, by the cenotes, natural wells under the ground which are at the origin of the name of Chichen Itza, which means "at the edge of the Itza pit".

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  E6Notre Dame - Build To Survive

  Oct 29, 2024· 50m

  In this episode, we discover Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the most popular cathedrals in the world. Notre-Dame attracts 15 million visitors each year. An icon of French culture and history, this monumental masterpiece is testament to the skill of its medieval builders. A superstructure in stone, wood and glass, Notre Dame is notable for its finesse and grandeur. The greatest devastation it ever suffered was the fire in 2019. We’ll see how, after surviving a fire, the cathedral has been rebuilt.

Ancient Superstructures exposes the secrets behind the most famous monuments on the planet. After the success of the first season, which revealed the secrets of Mont Saint-Michel, the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu and Petra, the second season is once again taking on spectacular monuments: the Louvre (France), the Temple of Angkor (Cambodia) and the Basilica of Saint Sophia (Turkey).

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  E1The Louvre

  Feb 24, 2021· 54m

  In the very centre of Paris stands a remarkable wonder of engineering - the Louvre. This super-sized structure is today the largest museum in the world, attracting more than 10 million people every year. Now investigators are using new technology, including technical drones for the first time, to examine this monument at the satellite, aerial and molecular scales and unravel the astonishing past life of the Louvre. Known today for its Pyramid, a monumental and modern glass and steel structure that rises to a height of 21 meters, the Louvre has been the cradle of exceptional technological challenges since the beginning of its construction. Eight centuries of architectural innovation that started with a small medieval castle. History, science, engineering, exposed as never before, the Louvre finally reveals itself, on every scale.

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  E2Angkor Wat

  Feb 24, 2021· 55m

  Hidden in the tropical jungle of Cambodia is the largest religious structure ever built - the majestic temple of Angkor Wat. It was built in the 12th century by the powerful Khmer Empire. Now archaeologists are using new technology to examine the monument at the satellite, aerial and molecular scales, to unravel the mysteries of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. How was this iconic temple built? What are the secrets of its longevity? What remains to be discovered of the legendary lost city alongside? Using drones and 3D laser scanning techniques, teams of investigators are discovering long lost structures, looking for clues about whether the temple was used for a tomb, and unravelling the area’s hidden secrets. History, science, engineering, exposed as never before, the temple of Angkor Wat finally reveals itself, on every scale.

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  E3Hagia Sophia

  Feb 24, 2021· 52m

  In Turkey, at the intersection of Europe and Asia, lies a remarkable wonder of ancient engineering – the Hagia Sophia of Istanbul. Now archaeologists are using new technology to examine this monument at the satellite, aerial and molecular scales to unravel the mysteries of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. What incredible construction secrets are hidden in the heart of this monument? How was its gigantic dome and lavish interior designed? How was this immense puzzle pieced together over the centuries? Scientists are exploring water filled tunnels hidden deep under the building and are investigating its remarkable ability to remain standing even though builders constructed the monument on an active seismic fault. History, science, engineering, exposed as never before, Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia finally reveals itself, on every scale.

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  E4Taj Mahal

  Mar 24, 2021· 52m

  The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th Century by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his late wife. The extraordinary marble mausoleum was built in the city of Agra in northern India, and is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world. And yet, there are so many things we still need to learn about the Taj Mahal and the surrounding architectural complex. How did the builders complete it in just 20 years – when the Notre Dame cathedral took more than a century? What gives it stability, built as it is on the unstable banks of the sacred river Yamuna? Using satellite images and microscopic investigations, historians, researchers, and engineers uncover the answer to these questions and more. The latest technology finds evidence of deep foundations, intricate gemstones, and innovative brick manufacture, and reveals the secrets at the heart of the colossal construction.

‘Ancient Superstructures’ reveals the secrets behind the Great Wall of China, Jordan’s gem Petra, the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu and the French island commune of Le Mont Saint-Michel. These ancient marvels have been scrutinized for centuries and yet they remain shrouded in mystery. By observing them from different perspectives of scale – from satellite imagery right down to macro and microscopic levels – this groundbreaking series sheds new light on historical and construction enigmas.

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