Treasures of Ancient Rome
Series Overview
Treasures of Ancient Rome is a 2012 three-part documentary written and presented by Alastair Sooke. The series was produced by the BBC, and originally aired in September 2012 on BBC Four. In the documentary Sooke sets out to "debunk the myth that Romans didn't do art and were unoriginal". This is based on the view that Romans heavily incorporated Greek style in their art, and hence produced nothing new or original. Sooke has received some criticism from the media owing to the fact that there is no consensus among academics on this topic, and hence no 'myth' exists in the first place.
Broadcast Schedule & Network Information
Airing status, episode counts, upcoming schedule, and network syndication.
1 Season • 3 Episodes
58 min per episode
2012 – 2012
Premiered: Mon, Sep 3, 2012
Alastair SookeLatest Aired Episode
Season 1, Episode 3: “The Empire Strikes Back”
In the third and final part of the series, Alastair Sooke charts the decline and fall of the Roman Empire through some of its hidden and most magical artistic treasures. He travels to Leptis Magna in Libya shortly after the overthrow of Gaddafi and finds one of the best preserved Roman cities in the world and the cradle of later Roman art. Sooke discovers glorious mosaics which have never been filmed before, but also finds evidence of shocking neglect of Libya's Roman heritage by the Gaddafi regime. His artistic tour takes him to Egypt and the northern frontiers of the empire where he encounters stunning mummy paintings and exquisite silver and glassware. As Rome careered from one crisis to another, official art became more hard boiled and militaristic and an obscure cult called Christianity rose up to seize the mantle of Western art for centuries to come.
Seasons & Episodes Breakdown
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
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BBC Four Treasures of Ancient Rome Preview
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-02-17
Cast & Creators
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Alastair Sooke
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Treasures of Ancient Rome.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Treasures of Ancient Rome
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What is Treasures of Ancient Rome about?
Treasures of Ancient Rome is a 2012 three-part documentary written and presented by Alastair Sooke. The series was produced by the BBC, and originally aired in September 2012 on BBC Four. In the documentary Sooke sets out to "debunk the myth that Romans didn't do art and were unoriginal". This is based on the view that Romans heavily incorporated Greek style in their art, and hence produced nothing new or original. Sooke has received some criticism from the media owing to the fact that there is no consensus among academics on this topic, and hence no 'myth' exists in the first place.
How many seasons does Treasures of Ancient Rome have?
Treasures of Ancient Rome comprises 1 season available to explore.
Who stars in Treasures of Ancient Rome?
Key cast members in Treasures of Ancient Rome include Alastair Sooke.
Who created or directed Treasures of Ancient Rome?
Treasures of Ancient Rome was developed and directed by Alastair Sooke.