'TimeScanners: Jerusalem'
(DVD / NR / 2016 / PBS)
Overview: Join structural engineer Steve Burrows and his team of laser-scanning experts as they set out to explore the epic building legacy of Jerusalem. Their focus is on two of the most impressive engineering creations of the ancients: the Temple Mount, a holy icon larger than 20 football fields, and the man-made mountain of Herodium, an opulent palace built on top of millions of tons of hand carved rock.
DVD Verdict: OK, from the off, those not in the know should know exactly more about the biblical city of Jerusalem. So, Jerusalem is located on a plateau in the Judean Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is considered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Israelis and Palestinians both claim Jerusalem as their capital, as Israel maintains its primary governmental institutions there and the State of Palestine ultimately foresees it as its seat of power; however, neither claim is widely recognized internationally.
As is detailed to us throughout this incredible new PBS DVD documentary, during its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. The oldest part of the city was settled in the 4th millennium BCE. In 1538, walls were built around Jerusalem under Suleiman the Magnificent. Today those walls define the Old City, which has been traditionally divided into four quarters—known since the early 19th century as the Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Quarters. The Old City became a World Heritage Site in 1981, and is on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Modern Jerusalem has grown far beyond the Old City's boundaries.
Here in 'TimeScanners: Jerusalem,' structural engineer Steve Burrows and his team of laser-scanning experts set out to explore the actual creation of Jerusalem. Their focus is on two of the most impressive engineering creations of the ancients: the Temple Mount, a holy icon larger than 20 football fields, and the man-made mountain of Herodium, an opulent palace built on top of millions of tons of hand carved rock.
Both structures were created by King Herod the Great - one of history's most reviled figures, also known for his visionary engineering. From the iconic Wailing Wall to deep into the dangerous West Bank, Steve and his team travel across Jerusalem and beyond on the trail of King Herod's remarkable building ambitions.
There have been studies but now a new form of laser photography can actually provide the answers. This is the goal of the laser photo experts – who call themselves “time scanners” - and they have done these analyses for other historic sites. Thus, the results are all here now for Jerusalem in this PBS series Time Scanners” (60 minutes). This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.
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