Ancient Civilizations: Lost Worlds of the Past

Lyonesse – Tracing the Origins of Arthurian Legend

Explores The legend of Lyonesse, the mythical land said to have once connected Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly before being swallowed by the sea. Deeply entwined with Arthurian legend and the tale of Tristan, Lyonesse represents both loss and immortality. Archaeological evidence of ancient submerged forests and changing sea levels hints at real geological events behind the myth. Today, Lyonesse endures in Cornish folklore as a haunting echo of vanished lands and timeless memory.

Vineta – Myths and Legends of Sunken Cities

The legendary sunken city of the Baltic Sea, often called the “Atlantis of the North.” Said to have been a wealthy medieval trading hub destroyed by divine retribution or natural disaster, Vineta’s legend may reflect memories of real coastal towns lost to floods or storms. Archaeological evidence from Wollin Island and nearby regions hints at historical roots behind the myth. Vineta endures as a haunting symbol of pride, loss, and the relentless power of the sea.

Paititi – Exploring the Andean Quest for Gold

Explores the legend of Paititi, a hidden Inca refuge said to lie somewhere in the Amazon basin. Believed to be the last sanctuary of Inca royalty fleeing Spanish conquest, Paititi became the subject of countless expeditions and enduring obsession. While no single “golden city” has been found, archaeological discoveries in the Peruvian jungle suggest the Incas—or their descendants—may indeed have established hidden settlements. Paititi survives as both a possible lost city and a symbol of resistance and memory.

Kumari Kandam – Theories and Speculations about a Lost Land

Kumari Kandam, a supposed lost continent believed by Tamil tradition to have been the cradle of one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Blending mythology, colonial-era science, and cultural pride, the episode explores whether Kumari Kandam was a real prehistoric land lost to rising seas or a symbolic memory preserved in ancient poetry. While geology disputes the existence of a sunken supercontinent, submerged archaeological sites off India’s coast suggest that real flood events may underlie the legend.

Avalon – Arthurian Legends and the Isle of Apples

Episode 36 journeys into the legend of Avalon, the Isle of Apples tied to the Arthurian cycle. Famous as the place where King Arthur was taken after his final battle, Avalon is depicted as a paradise of healing, prophecy, and eternal youth. Sometimes associated with Glastonbury, Avalon represents both a Celtic otherworld and a Christianized heaven, blending traditions into a powerful myth. It has endured through literature, religion, and popular imagination as a symbol of hope, renewal, and the promise of return.

Xanadu – The Mystical Palace of Kublai Khan

Xanadu, the legendary summer capital of Kublai Khan. Founded in the 13th century as Shangdu, it was carefully planned with grand palaces, gardens, and fortifications. Marco Polo described it as a dazzling center of wealth and culture, while centuries later Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem Kubla Khan transformed Xanadu into a symbol of mystical paradise and fleeting grandeur. Although the city declined after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, its ruins in Inner Mongolia—now a UNESCO World Heritage Site—confirm its historical reality. Xanadu endures as both an archaeological site and a timeless symbol of beauty, power, and imagination.

Agartha – Journeying into the Earth’s Hollow Depths

Episode 34 examines the legend of Agartha, the fabled subterranean world said to lie within the Earth. Rooted in Buddhist and Hindu myths, shaped by the Hollow Earth theory, and embraced by esoteric traditions, Agartha was imagined as a paradise of wisdom and advanced beings, connected to the surface by hidden gateways. While science dismisses its physical reality, the myth persists as a symbol of humanity’s longing for hidden truths, inner journeys, and lost utopias.

Ys – Legends of Submerged Cities and Coastal Catastrophes

Ys, a magnificent city said to have once stood on the coast of Brittany before being swallowed by the sea. Built by King Gradlon for his daughter Dahut, Ys was protected by massive dikes and gates, but the city fell when Dahut—whether through folly, temptation, or betrayal—opened the sea barriers. A storm surged in, drowning the city and leaving only echoes beneath the waves. While Ys is most likely a myth rooted in cultural memories of coastal floods, its story has endured for centuries as a symbol of hubris, divine retribution, and humanity’s fragile relationship with the sea.

Iram of the Pillars – Myths and Realities of the Desert City

Explores Iram of the Pillars, the legendary Arabian city described in the Qur’an and later folklore as the City of a Thousand Pillars. Believed to have been destroyed by divine punishment and buried beneath the sands, Iram has been compared to Atlantis as a symbol of hubris and downfall. Modern discoveries, including the site of Ubar in Oman, suggest a historical basis for the legend. Whether myth, memory, or reality, Iram endures as both a cautionary tale and a beacon for explorers.

Akakor – Exploring the Amazonian Enigma

Akakor, an alleged underground Amazonian city popularized in the 1970s. Based on accounts by the mysterious figure Tatunca Nara, Akakor was described as a legacy of gods who once ruled the Earth. While widely regarded as a hoax, its story has been tied to disappearances, conspiracies, and the murder of journalist Karl Brugger. Recent Amazonian archaeology shows advanced societies once existed in the region, raising questions about the roots of such myths. Akakor endures as an Amazonian enigma, blending myth, fraud, and the lure of hidden civilizations.