Myths: The Greatest Mysteries of Humanity

Épisode 1 - The Bermuda Triangle

11 janvier 2021

The Bermuda Triangle – to this day, countless myths and legends surround the infamous waters between Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Florida. For centuries, many ships and aircraft have disappeared there. What is behind these mysterious events? Pilot Bruce Gernon has first-hand experience with the myth. Flying his plane, he gets caught in a mysterious fog. The compass starts malfunctioning, making navigation impossible. U.S. freighter “U.S.S Cyclops”, which disappeared without a trace in 1918, also made headlines. Its wreckage was never found. What happened to it? The Bermuda Triangle is known for its extreme weather. In a wave tunnel, researchers test the impact of monster waves. They can reach up to 30 meters in height. High enough to capsize a ship like the U.S.S. Cyclops?

Épisode 2 - The Search for Attila’s Tomb

11 janvier 2021

Attila, King of the Huns – the entire continent of Europe trembled in fear of this legendary leader. His life: victorious. His death: a legend. No one knows where he is buried. But there are some new clues. Researchers surmise the tomb of the legendary king is located in the Hungarian lowlands. Legends point us to his final resting place. Scientists and amateur researchers alike search for hidden clues – even under water. Accompanied by underwater archaeologist Attila Tóth, we set out on a journey to the depths of the Danube. Legend has it that Attila is buried under a river. Rock star Levente Szörényi, on the other hand, is convinced that Attila’s grave lies in an old quarry. Spectacular experiments with weapons reveal how the Huns became a legend 1,500 years ago. Since then, his name has become shrouded in legend.

Épisode 3 - The Holy Grail

11 janvier 2021

It promises power, wealth, even eternal life: The Holy Grail. The chalice of the Last Supper, in which Jesus’ blood is said to have been collected, is one of the most important relics of Christianity. The National Socialists were already looking for him – in vain. Is the Holy Grail real or is there something else behind the myth? The historian and knight of the grail Dr. Michael Hesemann now claims to have found the true Holy Grail: The Santo Caliz in the Cathedral of Valencia. Together we go with Dr. Hesemann on the way of the chalice to the Spanish Pyrenees. Can the authenticity of the Grail be proven? Or does the trail lead to England, to King Arthur and his knights of the grail?

Épisode 4 - Searching for Mothman

11 janvier 2021

The Mothman – A creature as sinister as the devil himself. A black creature, two meters tall, with glowing red eyes and gigantic wings. This mysterious creature has been haunting the small American town of Point Pleasant since the 1960s. In 1966 and 1967 alone, over 100 people claim to have seen the Mothman. They still remember their encounter with horror and believe that the mysterious figure is a herald of disasters. The collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967 with 46 fatalities would seem to confirm these fears. Could this winged creature actually be a messenger of doom, perhaps even a demon from another realm? Cryptozoologists and scientists are trying to solve the mystery. The increasing number of newspaper reports about the Mothman may have also fuelled the legend.

Épisode 5 - The Treasure of the Nibelung

11 janvier 2021

The Nibelungs - To this day, Germany's greatest legend still has modern treasure hunters under its spell. With the help of ancient scripts and divining rods, they set out in search of Siegfried's legendary golden treasure. The magical treasure, which is said to have been sunk in the Rhine, includes gold and silver, in addition to a cloak of invisibility. What's the story behind the myth? Scientists are trying to uncover the myth’s origins. The trail leads to Scandinavia where an archaeologist is looking for one of the saga’s oldest traces. A blacksmith tries to reforge Siegfried's sword using an ancient technique and conducts an experiment with the weapon. The discovery of bones provides an explanation for the dragon. Historians and linguists give insight into who the Nibelungs were and what the treasure might have looked like.

Épisode 1 - The Curse of the Pharaoh

13 décembre 2021

Tutankhamun's burial chamber in the Valley of the Kings. It is one of the largest archaeological discoveries to date. Some even believe that the discovery of the tomb prompted a mysterious series of deaths – Is the tomb cursed? When Howard Carter's research team discovered Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, they became heroes - and ultimately paid a high price for their fame. 17 people associated with the expedition die from mysterious causes over a ten-year period. Many believe there is only one explanation for this: the curse of the Pharaoh, placed upon all those who dare to disturb the resting place of the great king. In fact, old clay tablets provide proof that spells were commonplace in ancient Egypt. It is said that a curse was also placed on Tutankhamun's tomb to protect his legendary riches contained therein.

Épisode 2 - Atlantis

14 décembre 2021

Atlantis - a sunken civilization at the dawn of time. Greek philosopher Plato's descriptions from almost 2,500 years ago depict a utopia. A vast island empire with fascinating architecture and impressive military power. One night, however, the fabled empire is said to have perished in the wake of a devastating catastrophe. Scientists around the world are searching for traces of the sunken city. If it really did exist, there must be vestiges of this civilization just waiting to be discovered.

Épisode 3 - The Flood

15 décembre 2021

A gigantic flood inundates the world and destroys all life on earth. Only Noah and the creatures on his ark will be saved from total extermination - so the Bible says. The Flood is the greatest catastrophe that has ever been described and at the same time one of the greatest mysteries of mankind. Did the flood really exist? And what caused it? Researchers around the world are looking for evidence of the biggest flood of all time. They want to solve the riddle in ancient scripts and with the help of the most modern technology. How devastating was the flood? In which region of the world did it take place? And what is really behind the “myth of the flood”?

Épisode 4 - Ghosts and Spectres

16 décembre 2021

Ghosts and spectres - Mysterious creatures from the afterlife. Since the dawn of time, people have believed in life after death, ancestors coming back to visit us, and unfortunate souls lingering between two worlds. But is it actually possible to come back to Earth as an ethereal spirit? Researchers from all over the world are attempting to add some tangibility to this seemingly incomprehensible notion. Are encounters between humans and supernatural creatures real, or are our senses just playing tricks on us? Even today, new stories of revenants or other ghostly apparitions continue to surface in forgotten places, from the haunted castle in Schallaburg, Austria, to the former tuberculosis sanatoriums near Germany’s capital Berlin, or the abandoned Waldlust Hotel in Southern Germany.

Épisode 5 - Werewolves

17 décembre 2021

Scientists continue to investigate both a centuries-old killing spree and modern-day sightings. Court records and sketches from the 18th century depict an unbelievable case. A creature that slays like an animal, but acts like a human. Could it be a werewolf? Why were some of the bodies found without any clothes? Why were some decapitated? A biotechnologist is testing whether the severity of the attacks could in any way be indicative of who - or what - carried them out. In Lemgo, historian Dr. Utz Anhalt is investigating a case involving a convicted werewolf. Meanwhile, cryptozoologist Ken Gerhard is looking into an alleged encounter with a werewolf in the US. Vivid reports detailing the sightings give historical insight into the origins of this terrifying beast.

Épisode 6 - Myth – The Seven Greatest Riddles

31 décembre 2021