Ancient Discoveries - Roman Ships

Today on Far Future Horizons we take another foray into the field of marine archaeology with the History Channel’s acclaimed documentary series “Ancient Discoveries”.

This episode of Ancient Discoveries uncovers the secrets of the titans of Roman naval engineering--the Nemi Ships and also presents a fascinating brief history of Underwater Archaeology beginning with the work of the Renaissance humanist polymath, Leon Battista Alberti a century later in 1535 by Francesco De Marchi who employed a diving suit designed by Leonardo da Vinci to explore the ships on the bottom of Lake Nemi.

Lurking beneath Lake Nemi’s blue waters lay the titans of Roman naval engineering--the Nemi Ships.

Titanic luxury liners of the ancient world, they held inventions lost for thousands of years.

But why were they built? Were they Caligula's notorious floating pleasure palaces--rife with excess and debauchery? Flagships of a giant sea force? It took Mussolini's obsession with all things Roman to finally prise the two wrecks from the depths of Lake Nemi near Rome. Using an ancient Roman waterway, he drained the lake and rescued the ships, an accomplishment captured on film that we access to illustrate this astounding story. Sophisticated ancient technology discovered in the boats transformed the understanding of Roman engineering overnight. Yet by 1944, the adventure had turned sour and the retreating German army torched the boats. We reveal the mysteries of the Nemi Ships and the ancient technology that made them possible.

ANCIENT DISCOVERIES changes the way we think about the distant past. While we entertain visions of a simpler, unsophisticated time, the truth is much more complicated and fascinating than we imagine.

This fresh, eye-opening series - filmed on location where historical events actually happened and using brilliant, lifelike computer animation - applies the latest scholarship to reconsider common beliefs about ancient times. Reconstructions of ancient machines and hands-on demonstrations bring ancient times to life.

Ancient Discoveries is one documentary series you will want to add to your collection and is available on DVD from Amazon.com.

Ancient Discoveries - Roman Ships

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