Extreme Engineering of the Ancients

© MONDOLITHIC STUDIOS: This digital painting was commissioned by National Geographic Kids for a special issue on the 7 Wonders of the World.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria (or The Pharos of Alexandria, Greek: ὁ Φάρος τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας) was a tower built in the 3rd century BC (between 285 and 247 BC) on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt to serve as that port’s landmark, and later, its lighthouse.

When faced with impossible situations, our ancestors  didn't simply give up, they pursued the impossible. Join us today on Far Future Horizons for another exciting episode of Ancient Impossible.

Pharos of Alexandria

This episode of Ancient Impossible explorers the Extreme Engineering projects undertaken by Ancient Civilizations.

The Seven Wonders of Ancient Rome

Today on Far Future Horizons  we travel back in time to visit the Ancient city of imperial Rome and its seven greatest wonders.

Rome was the last of the greatest ancient civilizations that had the most profound impact on today’s architecture, engineering, politics, and entertainment among many others, leaving behind iconic monuments testament to Rome's awe inspiring achievements.

The Seven Wonders of Ancient Greece

Today on Far Future Horizons we take another voyage to antiquity and visit the birthplace of western civilization – Ancient Greece and its seven magnificent wonders.

In today’s documentary we will travel back in time to a land of breathtaking beauty, ancient intellect and philosophical wisdom.

The Seven Wonders of Ancient Egypt

Today on Far Future Horizons we travel back in time to visit Ancient Egypt and its seven magnificent wonders.

Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

Egypt is one of the earliest civilizations on Earth with over 3000 years of ancient civilization and over 2000 years of modern Egypt which is what we can see today. The civilization concentrated on the lower reaches of Nile River, which is the life force for the empire. Over 3000 years ago, the Egyptians had created some of finest monuments the world has ever seen and till now, many hidden mysteries still laid beneath the desert of Egypt.

Temple of Ramesses 2, Abu Simbel

Unlocking the Final Secret of the Great Pyramid

 

Today on Far Future Horizons we join renowned Egyptologist Bob Brier in following the story of how one man's decade long obsession produced a compelling new theory on how the Great Pyramid was built.

When ancient architects completed construction on the Great Pyramid at Giza, they left behind the greatest riddle of the engineering world how did builders lift limestone blocks weighing an average of two and a half tons, 480 feet up onto the top of the pyramid? For centuries, adventurers and Egyptologists have crawled through every passageway and chamber of the Great Pyramid, measuring and collecting data in an attempt to determine how it was built. 

Jean-Pierre Houdin

For the first time, a revolutionary theory argues that the answer may be inside the pyramid. Architect Jean-Pierre Houdin has devoted his life to solving this mystery by creating incredibly accurate blueprints of the Great Pyramid, using cutting-edge 3-D software. Unlocking the Great Pyramid follows Houdin and renowned Egyptologist Bob Brier in Giza as they put Houdin’s theory to the test.

Building the Impossible - The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Colossus of Rhodes

 

Today on Far Future Horizons we present Building the Impossible: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  

Pharos of Alexandria

This documentary reveals the secrets behind the construction of seven monuments built over 2000 years ago - the Pyramids of Egypt; the Hanging Gardens of Babylon; the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus; the Statue of Zeus at Olympia; the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus; the Colossus of Rhodes; and the Pharos of Alexandria that came to be known as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 

Statue of Zeus at Olympia

By combing ancient historical sources for clues and making modern-day comparisons, the ancient wonders are reconstructed using computer imagery and scale models. Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only one, the Great Pyramid of Cheops survives today.

The Machines of the Gods

Temple of Zeus in Olympia 

Today on Far Future Horizons we are proud to present another episode from the History Channel’s acclaimed documentary series “Ancient Discoveries” titled “Machines of the Gods”.

This instalment of Ancient Discoveries will take an in depth look at the temple machines used to bedazzle worshipers in the ancient temples of Greece and Egypt.

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only one, the Great Pyramid of Cheops survives. But history and archaeology are able to tell us the stories of all seven, including the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Pharos of Alexandria. 


Join us today on Far Future Horizons as we take an imaginary voyage through time and space for a guided tour of these magnificent feats of engineering and human ingenuity.