Ancient Mysteries - Season 5

1. Tattooing

Aired: 8/7/1997

For thousands of years, people of almost every culture have decorated their bodies with elaborate tattoos - but few realize the significance of this ancient practice. Ancient Mysteries goes "beneath-the-skin" in an exhaustive exploration of tattoo artistry. Join Steve Gilbert, editor of the Tattoo History Source Book, as he traces the history of tattooing from the first ritualistic practices - marking rites of passage, celebrating the bravery of warriors, branding slaves - to the booming industry that it has become today. Watch as acclaimed tattoo artists demonstrate their skills for the camera and hear their insight regarding the commitment and meaning of these permanent decorations. From the tropical jungles of New Guinea to the urban jungle of New York, Tattooing illuminates the meaningful cultural contexts that lie behind a modern craze.

2. The Sacred Waters of Lourdes

Aired: 8/14/1997

It has been called the city of miracles - where the blind are made to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk. Could the waters of Lourdes in fact contain mysterious healing properties? The story began in 1858, in the remote mountain village of Lourdes, France, when a 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous is said to have witnessed a vision of the Virgin Mary. Since then, believers from all over the world have traveled there in hopes of experiencing the alleged healing powers of the sacred waters. For almost 150 years, scholars, doctors, and even key figures within the Catholic church have struggled to separate fact from faith. In this penetrating documentary, interviews with skeptics, as well as those who claim to have been healed by the water's powers, serve to paint a balanced portrait of this most enigmatic phenomenon.

3. The Magic of Alchemy

Aired: 8/17/1998

Did masters of alchemy possess secret wisdom? What were they really seeking? These are but a few ANCIENT MYSTERIES. Nearly two thousand years ago, a shadowy group called alchemists embarked on a mysterious dangerous quest. In primitive laboratories they risked their lives trying to make gold. They also searched for divine wisdom - and the secret of immortality. Mysteries abound in alchemy's dark history. Was Sir Isaac Newton, one of history's greater minds, driven mad by his secret obsession with alchemy?

4. The Search for the Abominable Snowman

Aired: 8/21/1997

5. Quest for the Holy Grail

Aired: 8/28/1997

It is one of the holiest relics of Christianity and has inspired many a knightly adventure. But does this fabled chalice really exist?

6. Knights Templar

Aired: 9/7/1997

Nine hundred years ago, Muslims fighting Christians were suddenly assaulted by a strange and terrifying force...a legion of sword wielding monks called the Knights Templar. Their fanatical courage struck terror in their enemies; their fabulous wealth made them the most powerful men in Europe; their secret rites inspired rumors of blasphemy. Did the Knights Templar find ancient secrets buried beneath Solomon's Temple? Did they conspire to seize part of Europe for themselves? Join us as we search for answers to these enduring enigmas in the long ago time of the bold and mysterious Knights Templar.

7. Reincarnation

Aired: 11/2/1997

Can the soul transcend death to inhabit another body? Can one person be born again as another? Numerous cultures and religions believe in reincarnation, but is there any evidence to support the claims? Examine popular theories and hear testimony from believers. Many cultures and religions around the world believe in reincarnation. They claim that death is not the end for a soul. It can be born into a new physical body. Many believe that the Dalai Lama is a product of reincarnation. However, beyond belief and faith, is there anything to support the theory? Scholars and theologists examine the issue. Hear multiple claims of reincarnation, like a Colorado housewife who claims to have lived centuries earlier in a land other than America. Find out the roots of the belief. Learn the details of a mid-1800's discovery that sparked worldwide interest in the issue. Delve into Jewish and Christian tradition for their views on the subject. REINCARNATION holds surprises for the staunchest of skeptics.

8. Lost Mummies of the Inca

Aired: 1/4/1998

The Incas held lavish banquets for their mummified chiefs, where corpses were dressed in fine clothes, exquisite jewelry and offer the choicest food and drink. This programme tries to uncover the secrets of the world's most mysterious death cult.

9. Dreamtime of the Aborigines

Aired: 5/3/1998

Take a mesmerizing journey into the ancient, enigmatic culture of Australia's Aborigines, the oldest on earth. They are the oldest continual culture on earth. Enshrined in oral traditions stretching back perhaps 100,000 years are secrets which are memorized by initiates but strictly forbidden any outsiders. Their ancient chants and rites may bring fertility to the land, health to the sick and death to their enemies. "Dreamtime Of The Aborigines" is a spellbinding journey into the mysteries of this ancient culture. Join host Leonard Nimoy as he investigates the astonishing philosophy that appears to bind the present, past and future into one and give these people stunning power. Can their doctors perform surgery without entering the body? Do the spirits of their ancestors really guide their steps today? Incredible evidence, revealing interviews and stunning footage of the Aborigines' life in their beautiful, harsh land makes this a memorable inquiry into the myths and realities of one of the world's most enigmatic people.