Planet Egypt: Secrets of the Pharaoh's Empire

The history of Egypt is one of unparalleled success. But how was the Kingdom of Egypt united in the first place? To solve the mystery of how Egypt was born, we follow archaeologists as they examine the very beginning of the rule of the Pharaohs. It’s the time now known as “Dynasty Zero” – Egypt’s pre-dynastic period – a previously little known episode that sets Egypt on course for some of the greatest achievements in the history of mankind. The film discovers that, through both war and peace, it was the mysterious King Narmer who laid the foundations for the continuing rule of the Pharaohs – a success story lasting more than 3000 years.

For centuries the Pharaohs managed to shield Egypt from the outside world. But in the second millennia BC, foreign tribes began to infiltrate the north. From now on, foreign kings would regularly threaten the Nile Kingdom. How did the Egyptians go about defending themselves against their rivals? What were the military secrets behind the Egyptian success story? The film focuses on one of the most brilliant war leaders of Antiquity: Thutmose III. He employed new weapons technology and a standing army to expand the Empire. After defeating his neighbours, he shrewdly entered into alliances with them, thus securing Egypt’s borders for centuries to come.

Egypt without is unimaginable without its gods. Over the course of centuries, the priests steadily gained in power - until the year 1350 BC, when King Akhenaten comes to the throne. He breaks with the cult that has kept the country together for more than 1500 years. He sweeps away the power of the priesthood and their temples. It is the greatest cultural revolution in the history of Egypt. The old imperial God Amun is banned – a challenge to the religious tradition underpinning the Egyptian civilization. This episode depicts the dramatic rise and fall of Akhenaten and the central role religion played in the 3000-year success story of the Pharaohs.

From the days of the first Pharaoh’s tombs to the end of their era, Egyptians were united by one burning desire: to extend their lives to all eternity. This is why they built the gigantic pyramids, the splendid temples and the magnificent tombs that have become the hallmark of their civilization. To unravel the secrets of this seemingly morbid obsession with death, episode 4 of Planet Egypt examines Egypt's most elaborate tomb builder – Ramses the Great. The film discovers how the ancient Egyptians crafted an intricate balance between the world of the living and what lies beyond. Strange as it seems, Egypt's celebration of death holds the secret to the culture's longevity.

Die altägyptische Pharaoin Hatschepsut ist die erste bekannte Herrscherin der Geschichte. 20 Jahre lang regierte sie das Reich am Nil. Bis heute gilt ihr Leben als Rätsel. Auch die Umstände ihres Todes sind ungeklärt.

Kleopatra verkörpert wie keine andere Persönlichkeit den Mythos Ägyptens. Sie war der letzte weibliche Pharao und wird als eine machtbewusste und intrigante Frau beschrieben, überragend an Intelligenz, Charme und Schönheit. Sie schreckte auch vor Mord nicht zurück, um an die Herrschaft zu gelangen.