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Who wrote the Bible? Where did the creation story come from? What can archaeology tell us about Abraham, the Exodus, and Jesus? Join archaeologist John Romer (Ancient Lives) on a global search for the Bible’s roots at excavations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Jericho, Jerusalem, and other historic sites.
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Who wrote the Bible? Where did the creation story come from? What can archaeology tell us about Abraham, the Exodus, and Jesus? Join archaeologist John Romer (Ancient Lives) on a global search for the Bible’s roots at excavations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Jericho, Jerusalem, and other historic sites. Romer reveals the Bible as both a record of historical events and a profession of faith. Seen on the Discovery Channel. 7 episodes; SDH subtitles; approx. 363 min. on 3 DVDs plus viewer’s guide.
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Disc 1
Episode 1:Once Upon a Time
At excavations in Mesopotamia and Egypt, Romer explores the cultural and religious milieu that shaped some of the Pentateuch’s most powerful stories: creation, God’s call to Abraham, and the exodus of the Israelites.
Episode 2:Chronicles and Kings
Archaeological digs at Jericho and elsewhere unearth clues about the rise of Israel as a kingdom, its rivalry with the much-maligned Philistines, and its eventual disintegration and conquest by invaders from the north and west.
Episode 3:Mightier Than the Sword
Two events profoundly influenced the writing of the Hebrew Scriptures: the Babylonian exile, which made the Jews an international people, and Alexander the Great’s conquest of the ancient world, which infused all Middle Eastern cultures with Greek ideas.
Disc 2
Episode 4:Gospel Truth?
Exploring excavations at Capernaum, Romer searches for the historical Jesus of Nazareth and his followers. And at Antioch, crossroads of the ancient world, he delves into the rich, diverse traditions that shaped early Christianity.
Episode 5:Thine Is the Kingdom
When the emperor Constantine elevated Christianity to the official religion of the Roman Empire, the once-persecuted sect took on the trappings of imperial power—nowhere more evidently than at the magnificent Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul).
Disc 3
Episode 6:Power and Glory
After barbarian invaders sacked Rome, monks in far-flung outposts such as Scotland and Ireland kept Christianity alive, eventually reconverting the continent and setting the stage for Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire.
Episode 7:Paradise LostA variety of forces—from Renaissance ideas, to the spirit of nationalism, to Hollywood reinterpretation—have eroded the Bible’s influence, despite the valiant efforts of a few passionate advocates to protect its relevance.
Episode 1:Once Upon a Time
At excavations in Mesopotamia and Egypt, Romer explores the cultural and religious milieu that shaped some of the Pentateuch’s most powerful stories: creation, God’s call to Abraham, and the exodus of the Israelites.
Episode 2:Chronicles and Kings
Archaeological digs at Jericho and elsewhere unearth clues about the rise of Israel as a kingdom, its rivalry with the much-maligned Philistines, and its eventual disintegration and conquest by invaders from the north and west.
Episode 3:Mightier Than the Sword
Two events profoundly influenced the writing of the Hebrew Scriptures: the Babylonian exile, which made the Jews an international people, and Alexander the Great’s conquest of the ancient world, which infused all Middle Eastern cultures with Greek ideas.
Disc 2
Episode 4:Gospel Truth?
Exploring excavations at Capernaum, Romer searches for the historical Jesus of Nazareth and his followers. And at Antioch, crossroads of the ancient world, he delves into the rich, diverse traditions that shaped early Christianity.
Episode 5:Thine Is the Kingdom
When the emperor Constantine elevated Christianity to the official religion of the Roman Empire, the once-persecuted sect took on the trappings of imperial power—nowhere more evidently than at the magnificent Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul).
Disc 3
Episode 6:Power and Glory
After barbarian invaders sacked Rome, monks in far-flung outposts such as Scotland and Ireland kept Christianity alive, eventually reconverting the continent and setting the stage for Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire.
Episode 7:Paradise LostA variety of forces—from Renaissance ideas, to the spirit of nationalism, to Hollywood reinterpretation—have eroded the Bible’s influence, despite the valiant efforts of a few passionate advocates to protect its relevance.
- 20-page viewer’s guide with highlights, questions to consider, avenues for further learning, maps, essays on the Gnostic gospels and Bible translations, and production notes by John Romer
- Bearers of the Word: biographies of major figures in the development of the Bible
- Exclusive web extras
Packaging:Boxed set
Run Time:363 minutes
Format:Full screen
Number of discs:3
Language:English
Subtitles:N/A
Color or B&W:Color
CC:No
SDH:Yes
Region Code:1
Aspect Ratio:4:3
Rating:NR
Run Time:363 minutes
Format:Full screen
Number of discs:3
Language:English
Subtitles:N/A
Color or B&W:Color
CC:No
SDH:Yes
Region Code:1
Aspect Ratio:4:3
Rating:NR
"Extraordinary investigation into the origins and background of the Bible"—The Observer(U.K.)
"Stunning photography and a remarkable commentary"—The Observer(U.K.)
"Stunning photography and a remarkable commentary"—The Observer(U.K.)
One of the world’s foremost archaeologists, John Romer led the Brooklyn Museum’s expedition to excavate the tomb of Ramesses XI. Since 1979, he has served as president of the Theban Foundation, an organization for the preservation of Egyptian royal tombs.
