Clash of the Gods

• 1. Hercules

  42m

  The tale of the strongest superhero in Greek mythology and his quest for redemption. To atone for committing a heinous crime, Hercules embarks on a series of impossible challenges known as the 12 Labors. Hercules endures as one of history's most influential demi-Gods, but recent archaeological discoveries suggest that mythology's strongest man may have been inspired by a real person.

• 2. Odysseus: Curse of the Sea

  42m

  In part 1 of 2, we take a look at Odysseus, whom Homer made famous in "The Odyssey," including his adventures in light of astronomical and geographical evidence which bases the story on accurate real events.

• 3. Odysseus: Warrior's Revenge

  42m

  Following the Trojan War, a heroic Greek makes a many-year journey home to reclaim his wife and kingdom in Homer's epic tale "The Odyssey."

• 4. Hades

  42m

  The myth of ancient Greece's most feared god, and those mortals who tried to cross his path. This episode takes us behind the veil of the ancient Greek belief in life after death. It is a chilling collection of tales about the god Hades and the underworld bearing his name, with eerie links to real world curses, ghosts, and secret cults.

• 5. Zeus

  42m

  Zeus' epic battles with Cronus, his father, for control of the universe is examined.

• 6. Tolkien's Monsters

  42m

  About J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy and how real-life influenced it.

• 7. Thor

  42m

  Able to wield thunder from his hammer, Thor was the most revered of the Norse gods, from fending humanity from the giants that brought calamity, to his pursuit of the Midgard Serpent. Though, his fate is told to sealed during Ragnarök, it is actually the invasion of Christianity that proves far more damning to this mighty god.

• 8. Minotaur

  42m

  A half-bull, half-man freak of nature, the Minotaur is one of mythology's most terrifying monsters. A bizarre tale of bestiality, human sacrifice, and war, the myth of the Minotaur endures as a symbol of the beast inside all men. But archeological research has uncovered clues suggesting the Minotaur and its terrifying labyrinth were more than just symbols. They may have been inspired by a real place that still exists to this day.

• 9. Beowulf

  42m

  The Norse saga of Beowulf and his battles with Grendel and other monsters.

• 10. Medusa

  42m

  The epic tragedy of Medusa, the most infamous female fiend in Greek mythology, whose look turned every living thing to stone. But what is the true story behind the myth? Find out this evil Gorgon's real world connection to human corpses, and learn what clues the night sky holds about the origins of the tale of Medusa.

Cast

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Tracey-Anne Cooper

Self - St. John's University

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Michael Drout

Self - Wheaton College

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Dimitra Fimi

Self - Cardiff University

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David George

Self - Saint Anselm College

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Blair Jones

Theseus

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Scott A. Mellor

Self - University of Wisconsin

John Rennie

Self - Scientific American

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Stan Bernard

Narrator

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Tate Steinsiek

Minotaur

Greg Ford

Hades