Season 1 2001

This is the story of ancient Egypt told through the reigns of the most powerful kings in history. From the first Pharaoh, Narmer, who unified Upper and Lower Egypt in 3150 B.C. to the brilliance of Imhotep who constructed the first Egyptian Pyramid for his King Djoser, we chronicle the lives of the men and women to commanded this ancient civilisation

The story of Egypt continues with the emergence of the heretic king, Akhenaten, in 1351 B.C. His radical beliefs rocked Egypt and the burden of restoring confidence fell on Tutankhamun. However, Egypt's greatest period was under Ramses II whose vision would leave an indelible mark on the country. In 333 B.C. Alexander the Great pushed out the Persians and when Cleopatra took her own life around 30 B.C. she brought to a close one of the greatest civilisations in history.

The story of Egypt continues with the emergence of the heretic king, Akhenaten, in 1351 B.C. His radical beliefs rocked Egypt and the burden of restoring confidence fell on Tutankhamun. However, Egypt's greatest period was under Ramses II whose vision would leave an indelible mark on the country. In 333 B.C. Alexander the Great pushed out the Persians and when Cleopatra took her own life around 30 B.C. she brought to a close one of the greatest civilisations in history.

The story of Egypt continues with the emergence of the heretic king, Akhenaten, in 1351 B.C. His radical beliefs rocked Egypt and the burden of restoring confidence fell on Tutankhamun. However, Egypt's greatest period was under Ramses II whose vision would leave an indelible mark on the country. In 333 B.C. Alexander the Great pushed out the Persians and when Cleopatra took her own life around 30 B.C. she brought to a close one of the greatest civilisations in history.

On the eastern base of the Giza Plateau, below the pyramid complex, is another stunning symbol of ancient Egypt, The Great Sphinx. Like the pyramids it protects, The Great Sphinx is massive. Its body measures 240 feet and its head is 66 feet high. A mysterious mixture of man and beast, this strange sculpture crouches in front of the pyramid complex of Giza, quietly keeping the secret of its true significance.

From the Predynastic days when dead bodies were buried away from fertile ground for practical reasons, to the greatest of the Giza pyramids, this is the story of the Tombs of Kings. The evolution began in 2600 B.C. when a creative designer, Imhotep, built the first Egyptian pyramid - The Step Pyramid at Saqqara. It would set a new standard in tomb design culminating in the magnificent Pyramids of Giza.

In their quest for eternity, the great pharaohs pushed the limits of art, science and imagination. The result was the creation of the world's most majestic monuments. From the Great Pyramids of Giza to the Temple of Amun at Karnak, this programme unveils the ancient wonders made by artisans, engineers and labourers who devoted their entire lives to their creation.

The Alexandria Library housed the greatest collection of books ever assembled in the ancient world. Its name would be forever linked to Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Yet, to this day, no one knows where it stood, what it looked like, for how long it existed or why it vanished. Its story remains one of the greatest mysteries of all time.

Ramses II was perhaps the greatest pharaoh to rule ancient Egypt. His reign lasted 67 years, one of the longest in Egyptian history. As king he possessed endless energy and a determination to ensure his name would stand immortal. Despite his glorious reign, Ramses died a crippled old man undoubtedly in pain. His death marked the end of a golden era, the likes of which would never be seen again.

Ancient Egypt remained a mystery to the world, locked in the unknown language of hieroglyphs. In 1799, The Rosetta Stone was discovered which held the key to deciphering hieroglyphs. Carved on its dusty surface were three types of writing - Greek, demotic and hieroglyphs - all saying same thing. However, it remained undecipherable for over twenty years until a French scholar broke the code and opened the door to Egypt's past.