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The Best Episodes of Ancient Mysteries Season 3

Every episode of Ancient Mysteries Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Ancient Mysteries Season 3!

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Ancient Mysteries is a television series that was produced by FilmRoos and originally broadcast on A&E between 7 January 1994 and 3 May 1998 with reruns airing until 2000. Reruns were also re-broadcast on The

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 5 - Machu Picchu: City in the Sky
    8.0/10(8 votes)

    S3:E5

    The structure of Machu Picchu, originally built by the Incas, is one of the most archaeologically stunning mysteries of the past. However, even today we are still unsure what its purpose was. Was it an observatory? A pleasure retreat? Or a Fortress? This programme attempts to uncover the historical and spiritual mysteries of this magical place.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 20 - The Miraculous Canals of Venice
    7.8/10(19 votes)

    S3:E20

    "The Miraculous Canals of Venice" looks into why - and how - Venetians built their city on 120 islands in the Adriatic. The city was first settled in the 5th century by people fleeing invading barbarians, and reached the height of its commercial and political prosperity in the 1500s.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 26 - The Rosetta Stone
    7.7/10(11 votes)

    S3:E26

    For thousands of years, the rich history of ancient Egypt was sealed off from the world, a mystery obscured by the pictorial language of hieroglyphics. But in 1799, the breakthrough needed to decipher the hieroglyphs was accidentally discovered. The Rosetta Stone -- a cryptic, black stone tabled -- held the key to knowledge of ancient Egypt. Yet it could not be translated until 1822, twenty-three years after the discovery, when its meaning was finally revealed by Francois Champollion, a young French scholar. Ancient Mysteries explores his struggle to decipher the Rosetta Stone and the glorious secrets it uncovered.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 28 - Astrology: Secrets in the Stars
    7.5/10(14 votes)

    S3:E28

    Are the secrets truly written in the heavens, or is the ancient practice of astrology further evidence of mankind's need to seek fate and meaning beyond the "real" world?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 25 - The Puzzling Pyramids of Mexico
    7.3/10(7 votes)

    S3:E25

    An examination of the pyramids in the Mexican city of Teotihuacan. Also: the Temple of the Feathered Spirit and the Avenue of the Dead.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 3 - Camelot
    7.2/10(10 votes)

    S3:E3

    The court of King Arthur, Camelot was at the center of a world of magic and honor. But what lies behind this captivating legend?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 39 - Secrets of Delphi
    7.2/10(21 votes)

    S3:E39

    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 destiny. Explore the ruins of this mystical site with archaeologists, and see the latest discoveries that are shedding new light on the legendary city.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 22 - Pompeii: Buried Alive
    7.1/10(18 votes)

    S3:E22

    Two-thousand years ago, Rome was an all-powerful empire and Pompeii was one of its prosperous provincial towns - until Mount Vesuvius exploded in the largest eruption ever recorded. In a matter of hours the thriving city was entombed under a thick layer of ash and debris, undiscovered for centuries. Ancient Mysteries journeys to the first century to explore the remarkable city of Pompeii. Recreate the events leading up to the explosion and learn how the ash kept the city and its inhabitants - the only significant discovery of Roman Bodies ever - in a unique state of preservation. Wander through the ancient streets of this sophisticated society and witness current excavations. Interviews with archeologists and historians, extensive location footage, and archival documents - including one remaining eyewitness account - shed eerie light on the cataclysmic eruption of Pompeii, a city frozen in time.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 32 - Incredible Monuments of Rome
    7.1/10(14 votes)

    S3:E32

    They stand today as testaments to the glory and grandeur of ancient Rome. But what brutal and murderous price was paid to build and maintain these imperial monuments? The celebrated Roman monuments were once splendid arenas where no form of torture was deemed too cruel; places of worship where gods were frequently honored with shocking ritualistic sacrifices; and pleasure palaces where wanton sexual depravity was not only accepted but encouraged. In this captivating program, Ancient Mysteries presents the stories behind those responsible for creating these imposing structures and attempts to uncover what these monuments symbolized in the ancient Roman world. Join A&E for an exciting journey into the past to resolve some of the unanswered questions surrounding the magnificent and controversial monuments.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 15 - Naked Warriors of Europe
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    S3:E15

    An examination of the Celts, whose culture reached its zenith in Europe between the 5th and 1st centuries B.C. Included: their artwork, religious practices and fighting tactics.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 18 - Blood and Honor at the First Olympics
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    S3:E18

    A look at the first Olympic competitions in Greece, circa 776 B.C.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 53 - UFOs: The First Encounters
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    S3:E53

    Although experts today have been able to decipher artifacts and ruins from once flourishing ancient civilizations, questions remain as to why so many monuments of antiquity seem to refer to certain stars in the sky. UFOs: THE FIRST ENCOUNTERS investigates several early texts and their curious references to strange flying objects, while confronting the age-old question: Are we truly alone or have we been visited by travelers from other worlds for thousands of years?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 6 - Quest for the Fountain of Youth
    6.8/10(11 votes)

    S3:E6

    It is one of the most puzzling tales to come out of the European Age of Discovery. And yet, the alleged search for the Fountain of Youth by Spanish explorer Ponce de León was almost certainly influenced by folklore from many centuries before. In this tale of a quest for immortality, explore the origins of the powerful belief in water mythology - said to be traced back at least as far as the third century. Listen to leading historians propose that despite the account of León's venerable pursuit, he was actually driven by dreams of gold and riches, not the fabled fountain. Or is it possible that when the famed explorer alighted on Florida's shores, he wasn't looking for the fountain at all? The Quest for the Fountain of Youth is the ultimate examination o this much-debated, timeless legend.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 41 - The Powerful Gods of Mt. Olympus
    6.5/10(11 votes)

    S3:E41

    Twelve great gods, overlooking classical Greece from atop Mount Olympus. Their anger was capable of boiling the oceans, electrifying the skies or splitting the earth. They seduced mortal women and castrated their enemies. From Zeus to Apollo, Poseidon to Demeter, the gods and goddesses were all powerful and unpredictably fickle. The great writer Homer dared to mock the gods. Yet, from Eleusis to Athens, the Greek people built magnificent temples and cult sites. Ceremonies of birth and death were played out and sacrifices were made as the mysteries were celebrated. Propitiating the gods was a duty executed with lyrical devotion and savage passion.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 11 - Atlantis: The Lost Civilization
    6.4/10(14 votes)

    S3:E11

    It was a myth first told by Plato in the late 4th century B.C. - a dramatic tale of a powerful civilization living on an island that one day mysteriously disappeared underneath the rolling waves of the Atlantic. In the many thousands of years that have passed since Plato's time, questions about the fabled city under the sea have continued to captivate millions across the globe. Did the island of Atlantis really exist, and, if so, where? Throughout the ages, Atlantis has been linked to the island of Bimini, the Canary Islands, Santorini, and Troy, among other places. In this fascinating program, join renowned historians as they examine the many theories surrounding this timeless legend. Was it a purely fictional fable invented by the famous Greek philosopher, or an accurate historical account of a technologically advanced society? Join Ancient Mysteries and discover the truth behind the story of Atlantis: The Lost Civilization.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 1 - The Hidden City of Petra
    5.6/10(20 votes)

    S3:E1

    It remained hidden behind walls of sheer rock for more than 2,000 years. In 1812, Johann Burckhardt ventured into the Jordanian desert and discovered hundreds of structures stretching for miles along narrow canyons: the ancient city of Petra. Narrated by Leonard Nimoy, ANCIENT MYSTERIES journeys into the past, unlocking the secrets long held captive behind Jordan's sandstone cliffs. Nearly 200 years after its discovery, archaeologists are still astonished at the ruins of Petra. The city evokes wonder in all who behold it--who were the people who carved these structures into solid rock, and how? Wander through what was once a thriving, sophisticated city and glean insight into the Nabataeans, the ancient people who lived and worked here. What caused their strange disappearance? Interviews with archaeologists and anthropologists and stunning location footage illuminate an incredible account of THE HIDDEN CITY OF PETRA.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 2 - Palenque: The Maya
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E2

    Palenque was a Maya city state in southern Mexico that flourished in the 7th century.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 4 - Vikings in North America
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E4

    The exploits of Eric the Red. The legend of Leif Ericson. The struggle for power the bond of a family and the courage to sail beyond a dark and dangerous ocean. Guided by their hopes the explorers of the North moved their horizon west in an odyssey of ice and uncertainity. Leaving Norway for Iceland and an inauspicious tundra they named Greenland the Norse in their long boats proved sturdy enough to reach one more distant shore--VINLAND. At the dawn of the century with the chance to settle a new home the long search seemed over and the future bright. Yet their stay proved so brief as to almost escape history until a fantastic find just thirty years ago by Helge Ingstad.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 7 - The Timber Castles of England
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E7

    The history of the timber castles that once populated medieval England, but are only mounds of earth today.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 8 - The Secret Mounds of Pre-Historic America
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E8

    Across North America, tens of thousands of prehistoric mounds offer tantalizing but tenuous clues to their long-vanished makers. Ranging from vaguely recognizable lumps to astonishing, stories-high structures, these mounds are among the most important archaeological artifacts left by Native Americans. Yet almost nothing from how they were constructed to their purpose is known for sure of these puzzling mounds. Take to the skies to see the incredible earth sculptures whose shapes are hidden except from above and ponder why and how they were made when no one could see them. Walk the famed Monk's Mound in Cahokia, Illinois with leading experts, and hear the latest theories about these astonishing earthworks.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 9 - The Search for Shangri-La
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E9

    A tale told through the centuries of a lost, hidden civilization that lives in an euphoric state of peace and harmony enclosed by impassable mountains.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 10 - Who Built Stonehenge?
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E10

    An investigation of the origins of Stonehenge, the prehistoric megaliths on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, believed to have been erected during the Neolithic period (circa 2000 B.C.).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 12 - The Search for Alexander the Great
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E12

    Efforts to locate the remains of Alexander the Great. Included: the discovery of treasures in northern Greece that appear to have belonged to his father, Phillip II of Macedonia.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 13 - The Riddle of the Maya
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E13

    The Maya temple city of Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico, abandoned by the Mayans around 835 A.D., is explored. Included: the Temple of Inscriptions, a sarcophagus, and the great Palace.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Ancient Mysteries Season 3 Episode 14 - The Lost Canyon of the Pueblos
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E14

    Examination of the sophisticated system of housing built by the Pueblo Indians in New Mexico's Chaco Canyon over 1,000 years ago.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"Machu Picchu: City in the Sky" is the best rated episode of "Ancient Mysteries" season 3. It scored 8/10 based on 8 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/8/1995. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "The Miraculous Canals of Venice".