Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey
Greek Odyssey is a four-part documentary series hosted by Joanna Lumley, exploring Greece where western civilisation began; drama, democracy, language, science, philosophy and medicine all originated from here. Joanna Lumley sets out to explore one of the most diverse and surprising countries in Europe, where much of western civilisation began. On her odyssey, Joanna encounters both the ancient and modern aspects of Greece, touching on how the origins of drama, democracy, science, philosophy and medicine can be found here, and how they have left an enduring legacy on the fabric of our everyday life. Following in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks, she visits some of the most significant sites of their empire, exploring the history, gods, beliefs, myths and legends which hail from this profoundly significant chapter in European history. Delphi, Ancient Olympia, the Gates of Hades and Mount Olympus all feature within her travels.
| Episode 1 - The Land of the Ancient Greeks |
Episode 1 - The Land of the Ancient Greeks
Joanna Lumley starts her epic adventure at the Parthenon in Athens, which was made by the ancient Greeks 2,500 years ago. She then travels around the southern region of Greece from Athens to the Peloponnese, looking at different mythical and historic sites created by this great civilization.
Episode 2 - Greece's Borderlands
Joanna travels across the country's most northern regions which is an area that has been influenced by the world around it, more so than anywhere else in Greece. She travels from the western Ionian island of Corfu to the turbulent eastern border it shares with Turkey and Bulgaria.
Episode 3 - The Islands
Joanna explores the country's islands, beginning in Crete - where she spends time in the mountains with shepherds. Joanna moves on to Kos, where she visits the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, and then climbs an active volcano on Nisyros.
Episode 4 - Mount Olympus and Beyond
Joanna begins the final leg of her journey by climbing Mount Olympus, where she meets athletes taking part in the challenge of a marathon on the slopes. Joanna then travels east to a festival where fortunes are read out to large crowds, but the revelations are often quite shocking and rude.
| Related Links |
| Greece - wikipedia Greece is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. It also shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north and Turkey to the northeast. |
| Visions of Europe - Greece This collection includes the cities and countryside in places such as; Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Greece, and many Great Cities in the rest of Europe. |
| Rick Steves' Europe: Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East This is a series of videos that provides a travel guide to Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East from the program Rick Steves' Europe. Rick Steves explores the most interesting places in Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East. |
| Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth This is a three-part BBC documentary series presented by Dr Michael Scott, telling the story of Athens in the ancient world by exploring the sources of Greek drama and the development of the theatre - from the 6th century BC to the 2nd century AD. |
| The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization This is a PBS documentary series narrated by Liam Neeson, chronicling the rise and fall of the civilization of ancient Greece. |
| Who Were the Greeks? This is a two-part BBC documentary presented by Dr Michael Scott, focusing on the realities of life in the ancient Greek world, its legacies, and its continued importance for our own world today. |
| Ancient Worlds This is a BBC documentary series presented by Richard Miles, exploring the roots of Western civilization from the first cities of Mesopotamia to the fall of the Roman Empire. |