Cities of the Underworld

Season 42007

Don Wildman travels to the farthest and deepest reaches of the globe, using cutting-edge technology to explore mysteries buried deep underground.

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14 Episodes

E01 Istanbul

Istanbul is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic and exotic cities in the world. Once the capital city of three of the world's most powerful empires--The Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman--its strategic location made it the perfect spot for empires to rise, fall...and rise again. Residents of Istanbul walk on top of remnants of these fallen civilizations...literally. Taxis drive over parts of Constantine's Lost Great Palace; children play on cobblestone streets concealing a massive Byzantine dungeon; a high school sits on a 3rd century wall leading to the bowels of a 100,000 seat ancient Roman Hippodrome; and basement's of old Ottoman homes lead to subterranean tunnels and secret cisterns. Join host Eric Geller as he leaves the buzz of the city streets behind and follows the pull of the past. Teamed with leading archeologists and experts, Eric peels back the layers of the past--to reveal a hidden history that hasn't seen the light of day for ages.

March 2, 2007

E02 Scotland's Sin City

Constrained for space by a stone defensive wall and steep terrain, the people of Edinburgh build both high rises and subterranean dwellings to provide living space. Out of sight, the underworld attracts all manor of seedy activities.

April 23, 2007

E03 Hitler's Underground Lair

This program reviews Adolf Hilter's and Albert Speer's plans for a building boom that would turn Berlin into the capital city of the world. The plan included substantial below ground ...

April 30, 2007

E04 Rome's Hidden Empire

Much of modern Rome is built upon the foundations of the first century Roman city and was above Goraud at that time. Eric visits some of these ruins and his guides explain the activities that occurred there two thousand years ago.

May 7, 2007

E05 Catacombs of Death

Eric finds some knowledgeable guides to take him on a clandestine tour of the catacombs of Paris. Originally a limestone quarry, the vacant space produced its own utility and a rich history in war and in peace to hide things better kept unseen. But the catacombs also represent cracks in the foundation that threaten the stability of the city above the surface.

May 14, 2007

E06 City of Caves

Budapest is built upon on network of natural limestone caves that have been in use since humans first moved into the area. While exploring the caves Eric shares their color history which includes several violent periods in Budapest's past.

May 21, 2007

E07 New York

New York City's underground harbors secrets and surprises befitting the most important city on earth. Eric shares these secrets in tours under Grand Central Terminal, the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center and New York's original aqueduct.

June 4, 2007

E08 London's Lost Cities

For thousands of years London has been among the most powerful cities in the world, below the busy streets and marketplaces another city hides--a city of Roman baths, secret crypts, lost rivers, indestructible bunkers that could hold up to 8,000 people, Winston Churchill's hidden war-rooms; host Eric Geller.

June 11, 2007

E09 Beneath Vesuvius

The bombardment of Naples during World War Two revealed a forgotten underground world of ancient buildings, caverns and tunnels. This was fortunate because the underground provided shelter from the bombing as well as a window into Naples past all the back to the Greek Empire.

June 18, 2007

E10 Freemason Underground

Discover the fascinating and unknown history that lies below major cities around the world today. Explore these layers, which are often hundreds of feet deep. Discover everything form dank dungeons to underground shipwrecks that have been lost for centuries.

June 25, 2007

E11 Dracula's Underground

Visit the city of Bucharest, Romania and learn about its most famous citizen, Vlad the Impaler, more commonly known as Dracula. Travel underground as secret prisons, caves and dungeons are revealed. Only through the bleak subterranean stretches can one come face-to-face with the truth about this infamous Romanian ruler.

July 9, 2007

E12 Secret Pagan Underground

4000 years ago, a mysterious pagan society called the Hittites dug deep into the soft volcanic rock to carve out an intricate underworld. But after almost 800 years of rule, the Hittite Empire vanished without a trace. Where did their people go and what clues have they left behind in their complex subterranean world?

July 16, 2007

E13 Underground Bootleggers

100 years ago Portland, Oregon was a city full of vice, considered the most dangerous port in the world. It was a place where you could get drugs or booze or wake up trapped in a cell beneath the earth.

July 23, 2007

E14 Rome: The Rise

What was the secret to the success of ancient Rome? Aqueducts, underground neighborhoods and one of the oldest sewer systems reveal many secrets. The largest and most influential empire in history leaves clues to her greatness under nearly every street.

July 30, 2007

Cities of the Underworld

E01 Istanbul

E02 Scotland's Sin City

E03 Hitler's Underground Lair

E04 Rome's Hidden Empire

E05 Catacombs of Death

E06 City of Caves

E07 New York

E08 London's Lost Cities

E09 Beneath Vesuvius

E10 Freemason Underground

E11 Dracula's Underground

E12 Secret Pagan Underground

E13 Underground Bootleggers

E14 Rome: The Rise

Mysteries at the Museum

Secrets of the Castle

Berkeley Square

Haunting: Australia

Game of Thrones

Squid Game

Mr. Bean

Arcane

Attack on Titan

The Witcher

WandaVision

FROM

Fallout

Naruto

The Office

House of the Dragon

Stranger Things

Sherlock

Chernobyl

The Boys

E01 Istanbul

E02 Scotland's Sin City

E03 Hitler's Underground Lair

E04 Rome's Hidden Empire

E05 Catacombs of Death

E06 City of Caves

E07 New York

E08 London's Lost Cities

E09 Beneath Vesuvius

E10 Freemason Underground

E11 Dracula's Underground

E12 Secret Pagan Underground

E13 Underground Bootleggers

E14 Rome: The Rise