In Search of Myths and Heroes

★ 7.5 · 2005 · Documentary

Episodes

▶1. The Search for Shangri-laThe story of the Queen of Sheba appears in religious texts sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Described in the Bible as simply a Queen of the East, modern scholars believe she came from the Kingdom of Axum in Ethiopia, the Kingdom of Saba in Yemen, or both. Their main clue is that she brought bales of incense with her as a gift; frankincense only grows in these two areas. Both countries claim her as theirs. Given that they are separated by only 25 kilometers of water, both could be right.▶2. Shangri-LaThe darker the age, the more desperate we are for illumination. This is certainly true of the tale of Shangri-La, which differs from other myths in that it's a largely modern story. In 1933, British novelist James Hilton published Lost Horizon, which became an instant hit with the public. It follows the fortunes of a group of Western travellers whose aeroplane crashes in the remote, unexplored part of the Himalayas that we now know as Tibet. The group find themselves in an earthly paradise, where materialism, modern cynicism - and the threat of war - are unknown. Despite its modernity as a popular myth, the notion of an earthly paradise beyond the Himalayas had been known to Western scholars for centuries.▶3. The Queen of ShebaKing Arthur, a 5th-century Celtic monarch who battled invading Anglo-Saxons, first appears in a history of Britain written in 830. The story was expanded in the 12th-century by Geoffrey of Monmouth, who most modern historians regard as primarily a writer of fiction. The Tudors popularised Arthur further, as did the Victorians.▶4. Arthur: The Once and Future KingAncient Greek storytellers came up with several versions of the Jason myth but they all shared a central theme. Jason and his heroic warriors must travel across uncharted waters (the modern Black Sea) to secure a golden ram's fleece with mystical powers. Possession of this fleece will enable Jason to regain control of a kingdom his father once ruled. The first tales featuring Jason appeared around 800 BC but they were set 500 years earlier. The most famous version was written by Apollonius of Rhodes, during the 3rd century BC. Jason and the Argonauts (1963) is pure Hollywood. The screenplay takes as many liberties with the Greek myth as the original myth-makers took with Greek history. Todd Armstrong as Jason doesn't set the world alight but the special effects from stop-motion genius Ray Harryhausen are the best of their kind.

More Like This

The Power of Myth

1988 · ★ 7.1

The Power of Myth is a television series originally broadcast on PBS in 1988 as Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth. The documentary comprises six one-hour conversations between mythologist Joseph Campbell and journalist Bill Moyers.

More info →

Transformations of Myth Through Time

1989

Legendary raconteur Joseph Campbell explores the myth and symbols that have shaped our world and given us what he has called "the experience of being alive."

More info →

Clash of the Gods

2009 · ★ 7.4

Clash of the Gods is a one-hour weekly mythology television series that premiered on August 3, 2009 on the History channel. The program covers many of the ancient Greek and Norse Gods, monsters and heroes including Hades, Hercules, Medusa, Minotaur, Odysseus and Zeus.

More info →

Myths of Mankind

2000

Series on mankinds myths and mysticisms.

More info →

Weird Britain

2024 · ★ 8

TV series explores British legends, mysteries, history through host Andy McGrath's travels, aided by celebrities, experts, using technology to investigate supernatural tales and conduct innovative research.

More info →

Greek Island Odyssey

2020 · ★ 7.8

Historian Bettany Hughes has embarked on an epic, personal journey. Inspired by Homer's The Odyssey, she will sail the unpredictable Mediterranean seas, tracing Odysseus's long journey home. Her mission: to experience what the Greek hero experienced and to uncover truths behind the myths and legends, all while enjoying the delights of ancient Greece today. Follow her 1,700-mile adventure as it takes her to over a dozen islands and 22 historic sites and puts her through two hair-raising storms and even an earthquake.

More info →

Výprava za českými čerty

2005

No synopsis available.

More info →

Mythos

★ 9

Mythos is a three-part documentary that consists of a series of lectures given by Joseph Campbell. Campbell conceived of the original lectures, filmed over the last six years of his life, as a summation of what he had learned about the human mythic impulse, in terms of psychology, ethnology and comparative mythology—what he called "the one great story of mankind."

More info →