Ancient Superstructures - Season 2

2x1 - The Louvre

February 24, 2021

In the very centre of Paris stands a remarkable wonder of engineering - the Louvre. This super-sized structure is today the largest museum in the world, attracting more than 10 million people every year. Now investigators are using new technology, including technical drones for the first time, to examine this monument at the satellite, aerial and molecular scales and unravel the astonishing past life of the Louvre. Known today for its Pyramid, a monumental and modern glass and steel structure that rises to a height of 21 meters, the Louvre has been the cradle of exceptional technological challenges since the beginning of its construction. Eight centuries of architectural innovation that started with a small medieval castle. History, science, engineering, exposed as never before, the Louvre finally reveals itself, on every scale.

2x2 - Angkor Wat

February 24, 2021

Hidden in the tropical jungle of Cambodia is the largest religious structure ever built - the majestic temple of Angkor Wat. It was built in the 12th century by the powerful Khmer Empire. Now archaeologists are using new technology to examine the monument at the satellite, aerial and molecular scales, to unravel the mysteries of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. How was this iconic temple built? What are the secrets of its longevity? What remains to be discovered of the legendary lost city alongside? Using drones and 3D laser scanning techniques, teams of investigators are discovering long lost structures, looking for clues about whether the temple was used for a tomb, and unravelling the area’s hidden secrets. History, science, engineering, exposed as never before, the temple of Angkor Wat finally reveals itself, on every scale.

2x4 - Taj Mahal

March 24, 2021

The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th Century by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his late wife. The extraordinary marble mausoleum was built in the city of Agra in northern India, and is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world. And yet, there are so many things we still need to learn about the Taj Mahal and the surrounding architectural complex. How did the builders complete it in just 20 years – when the Notre Dame cathedral took more than a century? What gives it stability, built as it is on the unstable banks of the sacred river Yamuna? Using satellite images and microscopic investigations, historians, researchers, and engineers uncover the answer to these questions and more. The latest technology finds evidence of deep foundations, intricate gemstones, and innovative brick manufacture, and reveals the secrets at the heart of the colossal construction.

Hagia Sophia

Ancient Superstructures - S2 - E3