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.

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.

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.

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.

For 500 years, China's Forbidden City was a sacred site of power, passion, and perversity. Conceived in a dream and doomed by a curse, the magnificent 15th-century architectural marvel remains shrouded in both myth and mystery. The colorful and majestic Forbidden City is the largest palace complex in the world. Within its high walls like the remnants of a chapter in China's history that ended with the abdication of the last emperor in 1912. As the sanctified home of China's ruler, the great city was once strictly forbidden to all but the emperor and his court of concubines and eunuchs. Anyone who dared trespass its borders would inevitably meet an unspeakable demise.

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.

Along with chivalry, romance, and royalty, the image of the great stone castle with lofty towers, a drawbridge, and a deep moat has always been associated with medieval England. Yet, these formidable stone citadels of the Feudal period were not the first castles to populate the English countryside. During the Middle Ages, the dominant fortifications of England's landscape were built using only timber and earth. Although primitive, these large wooden castles built into the soil were strategically constructed to withstand attack by providing those inside with the defensive advantage. What they were not able to withstand, however, were the indomitable effects of the elements and the unforgiving passage of time, which have all but destroyed the castles' legacy. Join Ancient Mysteries® for a journey into England's medieval past to uncover the lost secrets behind these marvels of ancient engineering.

Explore the life of the last great pharaoh of Egypt, and uncover mysteries behind the life of the legendary ruler. King of Egypt (1304–1237 BC), whose long and prosperous reign marks the last great peak of Egyptian power. Despite his doubtful victory over the Hittites at Kadesh in N Syria (1299 BC), he managed to stabilize his frontier against them, making peace with them (1283 BC) and later marrying a Hittite princess (1270 BC). An enthusiastic builder, he has left innumerable monuments, among them the great sandstone temples at Abu Simbel.