The Naked Archaeologist
The Naked Archaeologist
Featuring amateur archaeologist, enthusiast, and multi-award-winning investigative filmmaker, Simcha Jacobovici, The Naked Archaeologist is an irreverent, entertaining, and eye-opening journey into the fascinating archaeology of the ancient world.
Delilah's People
Calling someone a Philistine is the ultimate insult - but archaeology turns the insult into a compliment. We examine the tribe of Delilah and Goliath, their fertility cults, and a temple like the one Samson may have destroyed with his bare hands.
Who Invented the Alphabet?
Everyone assumes the Greeks invented the alphabet, but what are its real origins? From desert caves to urban graffiti, we trace the origins and evolution of simple shapes that democratized communication as it spread through the ancient world.
Jerusalem & The Black Prince
It's been an enduring mystery for two thousand years; what stopped the brutal Assyrian army from sacking Jerusalem in 701 BCE? Scholars around the world have puzzled over this mystery for hundreds of years.
What Killed Herod?
One of the most brutal and brilliant leaders of ancient times, the first century King left a disconcerting legacy. And, he died the most gruesome and mysterious death.
Real or Fake?
The antiquities market has always been plagued by fakes and forgeries. We also discover an early and sensational fake, the fabrication of an entire culture complete with artifacts that made their way into some of the world's greatest museums.
Fame or Forgery?
The antiquities market has always been plagued by fakes and forgeries. We also discover an early and sensational fake, the fabrication of an entire culture complete with artifacts that made their way into some of the world's greatest museums.
Accidental Archaeology
In North America it would be pretty unusual to have a bulldozer hit anything besides a hidden gas line or cable...but in Israel, the cumbersome building tool often unearths ancient treasures.
Biblical Food
The Bible is full of references to the kinds of food ancients ate - but there are no recipes. Simcha learns what archaeology tells us about what people ate in ancient times; shops in Jerusalem for ingredients noted in the Bible and attempt to cook a meal
Jesus: The Early Years
The Gospels sometimes contradict each other in their descriptions of Jesus' early years and not much is known about how he spent his childhood. Now archaeology can help uncover some clues about his early influences and even his birth.
John The Baptist
New archaeology has revealed what may be the cave where St. John baptized new converts to Christianity. Simcha checks out the cave and learns more about this major Christian saint.
True Blue
Why is a debate about a colour so intensely important to some Orthodox Jews? How did the recipe for the true Royal Blue become lost?
Return of the Hilazon
Why is a debate about a colour so intensely important to some Orthodox Jews? How did the recipe for the true Royal Blue become lost?
Last Man Standing
The first-century historian, Flavius Josephus, is the most frequently quoted scholar when it comes to the history of Jesus' time. His vivid descriptions of historic events give us a clear picture of Roman times.
Crucifixion
In ancient times, before the crucifixion, it was common practice to use this method of execution to deter others from opposing Roman rule. Despite the fact that so many were crucified, little physical evidence of it remains.
King David
The Bible paints a picture of King David as a mighty hero - capable of slaying giants, conquering enemies, and starting the messianic line that leads to Jesus. But for decades archaeologists have been struggling to find evidence of David's mighty kingdom.
Jezebel: Bible Bad Girl
How did this Phoenician princess become one of the Bible's best, or worst, femme fatales? Jezebel married Israelite King Ahab. But the Israelites' new queen didn't move into the bridal chamber alone.
The Oldest Leper
Ancients suffered from hundreds of ailments, some of which still plague us today. Leprosy is mentioned in the Bible frequently, and now archaeology has uncovered what may be the bones of the oldest leper.
Joshua
Joshua: One of the Bible's greatest generals. The Bible says he conquered Canaan, the land God promised the Israelites. But did the Old Testament's fiercest warrior even exist? It's hard to find traces of Joshua.
Masada
After the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, legend has it that a group of about 1,000 politicized Jews made a legendary last stand on the Herodian palace in the desert, Masada.
Who Wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls?
In the 1950s a Bedouin shepherd's sheep stumbled upon some ancient scrolls in a cave on the shores of the Dead Sea. This accidental find would prove to be the greatest archaeological discovery of the twentieth century.
Holy Hot Spot
For Jews, Christians, and Muslims the Temple Mount or Al-Haram al-Sharif, is one of the holiest places on the planet. These overlapping claims also make it one of the most dangerous flash points in the Middle East.
Biblical Epicentre
For Jews, Christians, and Muslims the Temple Mount, or Al-Haram al-Sharif, is one of the holiest places on the planet. These overlapping claims also make it one of the most dangerous flash points in the Middle East.
The Mother of Archaeology
St. Helena was the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine. She convinced him to establish Christianity as the official state religion in the 4th century. She was also the first Christian pilgrim.
Who Wrote the Bible?
The Bible is made up of dozens of books, but tradition has it that the first five books were dictated to Moses, by God. But could Moses have really written down the words that God spoke, including the Ten Commandments?
Where Is Mount Sinai?
For thousands of years, people have wondered which peak in the Sinai Peninsula is the legendary mountain where Moses is supposed to have received the 10 commandments.
The Real Mount Sinai
For thousands of years, people have wondered which peak in the Sinai Peninsula is the legendary mountain where Moses is supposed to have received the 10 commandments.
