Episode 1 - Secrets of the Acropolis
BLOWING UP HISTORY investigates the secrets of the 2500-year old Acropolis - the pinnacle of Ancient Greek engineering. We uncover the mysteries of how it was built and what it looked like, answering questions that still baffle engineers and archaeologists today.
A flat-topped rock, rising above the city of Athens, forms the foundations of the exquisite Acropolis temples, including the famous Parthenon. For millennia humankind has lived and worshipped upon this unique site. But how did the ancient Greeks build it, and what it keeps it standing to this day?
CGI animation pulls these vast structures apart to explore their scale and intricate construction. We discover how ancient stonemasons quarried, moved and assembled its key features. Dis-assembling the temple reveals the once giant statue of the goddess Athena, clad in gleaming gold. Peeling back the layers shows how ancient engineers used naval technology to construct these monumental structures at super speed.
We follow restoration workers who are painstakingly rebuilding the Parthenon’s north wall, piece by piece, uncovering the secrets of the Greek craftsmen as they go. They reveal the incredible attention to detail that went into carving this visually perfect temple and demonstrate how titanium-technology will protect the Parthenon against earthquakes. Alongside scientists exploring how the original monument was coloured, we discover the details that have remained invisible to the naked eye for centuries, shining new light on what the buildings looked like when they were first erected.
Combining CGI and modern investigations, this film unravels the mysteries of one of the ancient world’s greatest treasures.