Season 3

The legend of El Dorado began when Spanish conquistadors set off in search of the place where all their dreams of immeasurable wealth would come true, hidden deep in the jungles of South America. To this day, no one has found it. Yet, adventurers and scientists continue searching for the origins of the legend. And in order to solve the mystery, they follow up on historical sources and use state-of-the-art technology to try to uncover new unexplored paths. French explorer Thierry Jamin thinks the city is in present-day Peru, while archaeologist José Pérez-Gómez searches in Venezuela and Juan Pablo Quintero has his eyes set on Colombia. But regardless of where the search leads, the quest for El Dorado's gold is a journey through the uncharted and most inaccessible regions of the world.

Cleopatra is the embodiment of beauty, luxury and dangerous femininity, and is arguably the most famous woman in history. She was a legend even in ancient times. For over than 2000 years, countless stories have circulated about the Egyptian ruler. But which ones are true? Will the latest archaeological discoveries give insight into the real life story of Egypt’s final queen? Her life is portrayed as a Hollywood blockbuster. But what did her life actually look like? Kathleen Martinez is determined to find Cleopatra's tomb. She hopes to reveal the truth about who the queen really was. For years, she has been conducting numerous excavations all around what used to be ancient Alexandria. Scientists have long believed that the queen's tomb lies at the bottom of a harbour. But Kathleen Martinez is following a different trail.

Age-old stories and archaeological discoveries reveal magical practices and tell tales of both alluring and terrifying women with special powers. In early modern times, people believed they were working for the devil, bringing about crop failures and illnesses. Women suspected of witchcraft were often burned at the stake. Yet this belief in sorcery endures to this day, attracting an ever-increasing number of young female followers. So, what is behind the myth? Many researchers are trying to unravel it. Celebrated fairy tales and stories, fascinating archaeological discoveries and detailed archival records provide insight into the world and ideas surrounding witchcraft. Psychologists try to find out why magic seems to work on some people - and get some shocking results.

Alexander the Great is the most famous commander of all time. His grave was lost some 1,000 years ago. Researchers around the world have been looking for it ever since. Whoever discovers it will go down in history. Within a span of just three years, Alexander the Great conquered the largest empire in the ancient world. He initiated the age of Hellenism, which still reverberates today. There are many legends surrounding him, but the greatest mystery of all is the whereabouts of his final resting place. However, some people think they know where it is. Andrew Chugg is relentless in his search for the conqueror's grave. The British author collects artifacts and writes books about Alexander the Great. His search for the tomb of the famous commander takes him across the former world empire and beyond - through Egypt and Greece to Venice - to the dawn of Christianity.

The Three Pyramids of Giza, world-famous archaeological marvels. However, it is said there was a fourth pyramid, which was even more impressive. The tomb of the pharaoh Djedefre. So what is the story behind this mysterious pharaoh and his eternal tomb? And why has his pyramid disappeared? Egyptologist Chris Naunton sets out to find the enigmatic structure and unravel the mystery of the pharaoh who built it. Djedefre is an Ancient Egyptian king belonging to the Fourth Dynasty. He is a son and heir to the throne of Cheops. Cheops built the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. There is no fourth pyramid on the plateau of Giza. But not far away, around 10 km to the north in Abu Rawash, archaeologists discover a pyramid frustum.

According to biblical tradition, there were 12 tribes of Israel. The traces belonging to ten of them, however, had already disappeared by the early days of Israeli civilization. But it seems impossible that such a large number of people left no traces behind. Are the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel still living today? Archaeological findings confirm the historical origins of the myth - in the 8th century BC, when large parts of what is now Israel were conquered by the Assyrians. Where were the subjects taken? The path they took might have brought them to the most remote corners of the world. Experts are following their tracks - from the "Holy Land" all the way to South Africa and the Middle East. With the help of state-of-the-art technology, researchers are trying to unravel the millennia-old mystery.

Hidden from the eyes of humankind, mythical creatures are said to live deep in the forests of Central America and high up in the mountains of the Himalayas. They go by the names Bigfoot and Yeti. Throughout history, scientists and explorers have been fascinated by these unknown creatures, which have been the source of inspiration for many films and stories. Amateur researchers like Matt Pruitt and Michael Mayes often roam the forests in the United States for days on end in search of Bigfoot. But even scientists like Jeff Meldrum, Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology at Idaho State University, believe they can prove that creatures like the Yeti really exist. Meldrum thinks they might belong to a species that is already thought to be extinct, the Gigantopithecus, a genus of giant apes. But could this really be true?

For nearly 100 years, these bloodthirsty, walking dead creatures have been giving horror buffs the chills. And since the early 2000s, zombies have received even more attention, be it in movies or on “zombie walks”, as they're called. But the origins of the myth reach far back into the past and lead to distant lands. During the 1980s, the world took notice of the case of Clairvius Narcisse from Haiti. Narcisse is declared dead by two U.S. doctors - only to be seen again by his family 18 years later. Could this story be true? Experts investigate and uncover surprising facts. Reports of a "zombie poison" continue to surface. At the RWTH University Hospital in Aachen, Germany, an experiment is being conducted to find out if there is any truth behind these stories.

Stonehenge - one of England's most famous monuments. Here, massive slabs of stone rest on ashlars up to 8m high for thousands of years. Thousands of visitors come here year after year to see them for themselves. But the stone giants weighing several tonnes are by no means the only structures of their kind. From stone rows and circles to dolmens, megalithic tombs and menhirs, these mysterious megaliths can be found all across Europe. They have long been considered the work of giants, the devil or aliens. Nowadays, researchers know these massive stone monuments were built by Neolithic people over 4,000 years ago. However, they left no written sources behind - how and why these structures were built remains a mystery to this day. Now, researchers are close to uncovering the secret behind them.

Dragons are both fascinating, mysterious creatures. Legends about them stretch from East Asia to Central America. Today, researchers are delving into the origins of the myth. Dragons have been an integral part of culture and history for centuries. Sometimes as fire-breathing monsters, other times as healing spirits. But what is the truth behind the legends? Are dragons based on real-life creatures? Did they really exist, and do they still walk among us today? As early as the ancient times, fossil bones were considered as proof of the existence of dragons. To this day, dragon bones are regarded as a miracle cure in traditional Chinese medicine. Applied as an ointment, in drops or consumed as tea, they are said to bring strength and heal ailments. In Eastern Asian culture, dragons are a symbol for good luck, peace and a long life.