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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,880 (narrator) It may be the most sought-after cult object in history: 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:06,440 the Holy Grail. 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:11,440 Christians, crusaders, and Nazis have all tried to find it. 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,640 The Grail promises power, influence, and eternal life. 5 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,000 I believe the Holy Grail could exist. 6 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:23,880 Which cup is the real Grail? 7 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,000 Will the lead take us to King Arthur? 8 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,320 Or is the crucial clue hidden in da Vinci's masterpiece? 9 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,640 Researchers are trying to solve this millennia-old myth. 10 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,640 The great myths of mankind. 11 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,120 Mysteries passed on over thousands of years. 12 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,000 Inexplicable events, 13 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:02,040 places shrouded in legend, 14 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,040 and superhuman heroes: even scientists are fascinated. 15 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,560 Is there any truth to these ancient legends? 16 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,200 Researchers across the globe work hard to solve 17 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,680 the greatest mysteries of our time. 18 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,200 (mysterious melody) 19 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:37,680 To Spaniards, this is the Santo Cáliz, the Holy Grail. 20 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,120 Valencia Cathedral has been its home for centuries. 21 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,040 Believers think this vessel 22 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:48,200 is the cup Jesus Christ handed his disciples at the Last Supper. 23 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,040 But is this truly the real Holy Grail? 24 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,080 Art historian Ana Mafé García is trying to find out. 25 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:03,960 (García in Spanish) 26 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,840 (dubbed in English) I am convinced it's the chalice of Jesus, the Holy Grail. 27 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:12,120 She's new to the quest for the Grail, 28 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:16,400 adopting new approaches, like using images of the Grail. 29 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,840 They inspired me to look for the Holy Grail in art history. 30 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,680 In her search, she pores over paintings featuring the Grail. 31 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:41,680 Paintings of the Last Supper, the origin of all stories linked to the Holy Grail. 32 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,560 The Bible describes the eve of the crucifixion, 33 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:48,840 when Jesus asked his disciples to drink from a cup of wine, 34 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,840 saying this was his blood that would be shed for everyone. 35 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,000 A key moment for Christianity. 36 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,400 Jesus promises to remain present in bread and wine. 37 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,400 The supper stands for community. 38 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,400 Those who drink from the cup are part of this community, 39 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,560 and can hope for life after death. 40 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:15,280 The Holy Grail is like a condensed conduit for the power of creation, 41 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,280 which can be used to heal, to restore sanity. 42 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:23,280 It comes in the form of a cornucopia, which delivers the sustenance of life, 43 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,280 in the womb from which life comes. 44 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:32,000 You name it, the Grail, in its essence, represents the source of creation itself. 45 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,400 The chalice disappeared over the centuries. 46 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,280 In medieval times, the Crusaders revive the legend. 47 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,840 They want to conquer the Holy Land and bring relicts to Europe. 48 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,120 The myth of the Holy Grail is born in this era. 49 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:56,400 (battle cries) 50 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:00,280 Christian orders of knights travel to Constantinople and Jerusalem 51 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,400 to free the Holy City from Islamic rule. 52 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,600 On their way, they pillage cities and temples. 53 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:13,600 At the time, relicts, purportedly sacred objects, were highly sought-after items, 54 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:19,040 like wood splinters or nails said to come from Jesus' cross, or the bones of saints. 55 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:24,040 One object is particularly coveted: the Grail, the Lord's chalice. 56 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:27,240 I certainly believe the Holy Grail could exist. 57 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:32,240 So much associated with Christ was preserved at the time. 58 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,920 The idea that the cup from the Last Supper 59 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,800 is still there is perfectly believable. 60 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:44,600 But the real question is whether it still actually exists in a private collection, 61 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,240 perhaps even in a museum, and no one knows what it is. 62 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,600 Vessels that prompt speculation surface time and time again. 63 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,480 Which goblet is the real Grail? 64 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,160 Bowls made of wood, or of precious stone? 65 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:05,800 Celtic cups which allegedly can feed thousands of men, or raise the dead. 66 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:10,920 Elaborately decorated vessels, laden with ritual significance. 67 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,720 What's fascinating about all of the different cups 68 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,360 that claim to be the Holy Grail is they're all very different 69 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,160 and they're made of different materials. 70 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:32,360 It makes you wonder what properties you need to have to be the Holy Grail. 71 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:37,040 Today, we know that the object known as Nanteos Cup from England 72 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:41,720 is actually a fruit bowl which dates back no more than 600 years. 73 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:47,480 The Sacro Catino, made from emerald, is a medieval Islamic bowl. 74 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,240 Valencia. 75 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,240 Perhaps this is where the real Grail can be found. 76 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:59,720 This Spanish seaport was an important trading hub in the Middle Ages. 77 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,600 Could the Holy Grail have ended up here? 78 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:11,040 July 2006, Pope Benedict XVI presents the mysterious cup 79 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,360 to more than one million worshippers in Valencia. 80 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:20,600 It is a special moment for Christians from all four corners of the world. 81 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,240 But to this very day, there is no scientific evidence 82 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,800 that the Valencian chalice is the real Holy Grail. 83 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:37,920 (church bells toll) 84 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:43,040 This is where the Santo Cáliz has been preserved for the past 600 years, 85 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:44,800 the Valencia Cathedral. 86 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:52,920 Closely guarded in a side chapel, behind glass and secured with alarms. 87 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,920 Ana Mafé García and German historian Michael Hesemann 88 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,720 have the chance to look at the cup up close. 89 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,240 Up until now, both have only studied the Grail in theory. 90 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:10,360 They know how charged the debate is regarding the authenticity of the vessel. 91 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,160 Finding and proving the Holy Grail is real is important, 92 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,240 because it's evidence. 93 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,360 If we find the Holy Grail, it tells us that Jesus was real, 94 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:26,600 that the stories about him were real. 95 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,720 And that the religions that rely on these stories are not just symbolic, 96 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:32,600 but can be taken literally. 97 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:38,600 The Valencian cup can only be observed under strict security measures. 98 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:42,800 García and Hesemann are looking for clues that have been overlooked. 99 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,720 The cup is definitely old enough. 100 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:54,720 It was probably made about 2,000 years ago by Middle Eastern craftspeople. 101 00:07:55,720 --> 00:08:00,800 The researchers gather insights and facts to solve the mystery of the Holy Grail. 102 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,600 (soundtrack drowns out speech) 103 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:11,800 (camera shutter clicks) 104 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,600 The Santo Cáliz from Valencia. 105 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,600 Could it really be the cup from the Last Supper? 106 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,440 Ana Mafé García needs more evidence. 107 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:33,480 She meets Daniel Benito, an art historian. 108 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,240 He takes her to the Colegio del Patriarca, 109 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:40,120 a seminary founded hundreds of years ago. 110 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:45,720 García is looking for representations of the Holy Grail in art. 111 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,480 She wants to trace it back to the artists who saw it. 112 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,600 What did they know about it? 113 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:59,120 The refectory is decorated with a 1599 depiction of the Last Supper. 114 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:04,240 It shows a chalice, bearing a striking resemblance to the Santo Cáliz. 115 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,120 (in Spanish) 116 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:16,120 (dubbed in English) Here we see a conventional depiction of the refectory. 117 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:20,480 It's the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples before the Passion. 118 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:26,120 It is usually portrayed from a theological perspective, focusing on the Eucharist. 119 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:30,120 This is an archaeological, and not theological, reconstruction 120 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:33,240 of how this supper might really have happened. 121 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:38,240 Most interesting is that the Valencian chalice 122 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,600 has a central position in this image. 123 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,600 No matter which painting García examines, 124 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:46,840 if there is a cup on the table, 125 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,600 artists seem to agree as to what the real cup looked like. 126 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,840 500 years ago, there was broad consensus in Christianity 127 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:56,480 on the Grail's appearance. 128 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,600 From the 16th century onwards in the world of art history, 129 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,720 one single relict is depicted in paintings. 130 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,840 It is the Holy Chalice of Valencia Cathedral. 131 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:21,720 But how did the Grail travel from Jerusalem to Spain, 132 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,120 across the entire Roman Empire? 133 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:34,000 García's hypothesis is the cup came to Rome at some point during the 1st century. 134 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:46,480 There, an early and persecuted Christian community hides it, 135 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,600 maybe in the catacombs beneath the metropolis. 136 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:55,480 We can still see images of Christian ceremonies on the walls to this day. 137 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,240 And indeed, the catacombs of Rome show a cup 138 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:09,240 that at least bears some resemblance to the Valencian chalice. 139 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:22,480 When research of the Holy Grail began, it was fascinating to learn 140 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:25,000 there was a primitive representation 141 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:29,120 of the upper part of the Holy Chalice in the catacombs of Rome. 142 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:37,240 García corroborates her theory that the Grail must have been in Rome 143 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,000 with another piece of evidence. 144 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:45,360 The first popes used this cup to celebrate Holy Mass in the underground. 145 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:48,360 It's the era of the persecution of Christians. 146 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,720 An old Latin texts bears witness to how Christians used the cup 147 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:54,480 for Holy Communion. 148 00:11:56,480 --> 00:12:00,480 In this text, the early Christians refer to the cup literally. 149 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:05,480 During the ceremony, they say that Jesus used "hunc praeclarum calicem," 150 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,480 this precious chalice. 151 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,360 They mean the Santo Cáliz. 152 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,480 Could the upper part of the chalice be the original, 153 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,720 with the lower part added at a later date? 154 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:29,480 And if this is true, how did the cup travel from Rome to Spain? 155 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:36,240 For 20 years, Michael Hesemann has been looking for evidence. 156 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,240 He believes he is close to a breakthrough. 157 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:45,240 His key to the Grail: a medieval verse romance about Perceval. 158 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:49,600 Written in the 12th and 13th century by Chrétien de Troyes in France 159 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:53,360 and Wolfram von Eschenbach in Germany. 160 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:57,600 Hesemann is certain these ancient texts will provide crucial clues 161 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,000 in the search of the real Grail. 162 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:03,840 (in German) 163 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,360 (dubbed in English) Parzival is a treasure map. 164 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:09,000 Follow it and you will find the Grail. 165 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,600 Perceval's story is unique in Europe. 166 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,360 To fulfil his dream of becoming a knight, 167 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:23,000 the young hero has to pass countless tests. 168 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,360 One of them is to find the Grail. 169 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:33,000 Perceval arrives at the Castle of the Grail, 170 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:37,480 a mysterious place inhabited by the terminally ill Fisher King, 171 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:39,840 who can only be kept alive by the Grail. 172 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,840 The King invites Perceval to his castle. 173 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,360 (low chatter) 174 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:51,720 (clink of cutlery) 175 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,480 The young hero witnesses miraculous events. 176 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:17,360 Food and drinks galore said to be provided by the Grail. 177 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,360 Eventually, he sees the chalice being carried through the room. 178 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:26,120 The text describes it as a shining star from the heavens. 179 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:29,720 Is this merely medieval fiction? 180 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,480 Hesemann is convinced there's more to this story. 181 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:41,840 Reading Parzival, you will find the place where the Grail was hidden 182 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,480 in the 11th or 12th century. 183 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:50,600 Hesemann has found a suspicious location in the text. 184 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:54,360 Young Perceval receives a description of the castle 185 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,240 where he will meet both the King and the Grail. 186 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,000 It's called Montsalvatge. 187 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:07,000 Michael Hesemann seeks to find this legendary castle in Spain. 188 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:15,120 His quest for the Grail takes him to the Spanish Pyrenees, 189 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:18,240 where the castle Montsalvatge could be located. 190 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:25,120 Hesemann wants to retrace the path the Grail has taken. 191 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,360 He thinks that after Jesus died, 192 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,480 the Grail was taken from Jerusalem to Rome, 193 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:35,120 and later St. Lawrence, a 3rd century deacon, brought it to Spain. 194 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:49,000 Hesemann drives to an old country house where the family of St. Lawrence lived. 195 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:53,000 St. Lawrence tried to save the church possessions from Rome 196 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,000 during the persecution of the Christians. 197 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:59,720 When the Roman Emperor persecuted the Christians 198 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:01,840 and seized all treasures of the Church, 199 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,840 Lawrence managed to entrust the Grail to a Spanish legionnaire, 200 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:10,120 who brought it safely to this place, Lawrence's parents' manor. 201 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,480 The Grail remains hidden in the Pyrenees for centuries. 202 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,120 Nobody knows its exact location. 203 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:24,000 Hesemann believes the guardians of the Grail used landmarks for guidance. 204 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,000 Behind the clouds is the Pico de Gratal, 205 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:34,240 the mountain of the Grail, 1,563 meters high. 206 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:38,600 This was their marker. Behind it, the land of the Grail began. 207 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,720 This is where we begin our search. 208 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:45,240 Hesemann believes Montsalvatge Castle from the Parzival poem 209 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,600 lies behind those mountains. 210 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,120 The serpentines take him deep into the Pyrenees. 211 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,480 Hesemann thinks the Parzival epos is like a treasure map 212 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,640 that just needs to be interpreted properly. 213 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:05,760 Perceval's first stop in the romance: a river, where he meets the Fisher King. 214 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:16,720 Hesemann thinks he has located the exact place of the encounter. 215 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:24,000 We can see the Rio Aragon here. Perceval rode along its shores. 216 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,240 In the background, there is the Mont Salvatoris, 217 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,240 the Pico de Sant Salvador. 218 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,720 In the local Occitan language spoken in Aragon at the time, 219 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:34,720 it was called Montsalvatge. 220 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:39,480 And later, this became the name of the Castle of the Grail in Parzival. 221 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:46,000 The Castle of the Grail. 222 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:50,240 Does it really exist outside the realm of imagination? 223 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:59,000 (Hesemann) This is the path Perceval took on his horse. 224 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,480 You can't use today's roads, 225 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:05,000 but have to investigate historical roads and trails. 226 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:11,240 Perceval and the Castle of the Grail in north-eastern Spain? 227 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,960 The text comes with directions: 228 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:19,000 "At the foot of that mountain, turn right." 229 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:30,000 At the end of the path lies an ancient building, hidden below a ledge. 230 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,960 The monastery of San Juan de la Peña. 231 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:38,000 It was built in the 10th century, long before Parzival was written. 232 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:42,480 Today, the monastery is a Spanish national monument. 233 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:46,520 Hesemann finds depictions of the Last Supper everywhere, 234 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:50,240 which isn't necessarily unusual for a monastery. 235 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,720 But is this really the place the Grail was hidden? 236 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,720 Hesemann is not the first to follow the clues in Parzival 237 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,000 and to end up in the Pyrenees. 238 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:14,040 Around 1930, German author Otto Rahn takes the ancient text literally. 239 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:19,480 His search takes him to the other side of the mountain range, to France. 240 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:24,040 Rahn believes the Château de Montségur is the Castle of the Grail. 241 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:28,240 Later he looks for the Grail on behalf of the Nazis. 242 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,960 All sorts of people throughout history have hunted for the Grail, 243 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,240 because it's such a mysterious object. 244 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:41,720 If you were the people to actually find it after centuries of being lost, 245 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,000 then you prove you've got the power, 246 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:48,240 you've got the legitimacy, that you were destined to own it. 247 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,720 That's why Hitler and Himmler searched for the Grail 248 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:53,280 during World War II. 249 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:56,720 It would prove they had a right to do what they were doing. 250 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:03,000 Hitler remains skeptical, but Himmler, head of the SS, 251 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:06,240 is obsessed with occult Germanic rites. 252 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:11,480 The mass murderer firmly believes he who has the Grail will be invincible. 253 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:20,240 (Linn) Heinrich Himmler sincerely believed in the occult. 254 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:23,000 He didn't just want to find occult objects, 255 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,000 he wanted to make a mythic reality. 256 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,720 He wanted there to be Nazi knights 257 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,040 of a kind of new Arthurian order. 258 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:35,240 Himmler wants the Grail to be at the center of a new Germanic cult. 259 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,480 He invests means and men in the search for the Grail. 260 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:39,520 But to no avail. 261 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,480 Otto Rahn commits suicide. 262 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:54,480 The SS largely disregards the monastery San Juan de la Peña. 263 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:58,040 The Nazis don't want to share the Grail with the Church. 264 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:01,240 Are they missing out on the most promising lead? 265 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:11,240 If the Grail used to be here, there could still be traces of it today. 266 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,520 Hesemann wants a closer look at the basement. 267 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,240 A local guide takes him through the monastic maze. 268 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,520 The heroic epic provides an exact account of the rooms 269 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:37,720 where Perceval sees the Grail. 270 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:49,000 "In the middle, he saw four pillars, and in between a giant fire was ablaze." 271 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:55,960 And here, he met the King of the Grail, 272 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:59,480 and spoke with him. And then he saw 273 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,720 how a procession entered through the door 274 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:05,720 on the other side of the hall, 275 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:09,000 carried the grail, carried it through the hall, 276 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:13,480 and disappeared through another door on the other side of the room. 277 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:23,000 Perceval witnesses an Easter procession, a mysterious ritual to him. 278 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:27,040 Hesemann is certain this is the right place. 279 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:33,480 We can see one, two, three, four large pillars here, 280 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,720 and one, two, three spaces in between 281 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:41,480 where the braziers were placed, because it was cold down here in April. 282 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:48,000 The Parzival text also describes how the Grail is retrieved from a chamber. 283 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:52,480 Hesemann believes he sees evidence pointing to this romance verse, too. 284 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:54,480 He finds a small side room. 285 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:04,480 This niche, this chapel, is where the Grail was stored for over 300 years. 286 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:17,720 The text contains another important detail. 287 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:20,720 It references a baptism. 288 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,520 What looks like water turned into stone today 289 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,720 are actually calcium deposits of an old spring. 290 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,720 This place was really used for baptisms. 291 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:35,240 In the epic, the Grail is carried up a flight of stairs. 292 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:43,240 (Hesemann) From there, the stairs lead up to the church of San Juan de la Peña. 293 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,960 Hesemann climbs to the church of the monastery. 294 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:54,720 If there is truth to the Perceval story, 295 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:58,520 this is where the monks must have worshipped the Holy Grail. 296 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:07,000 It looks like the description of the Castle of the Grail in the poem 297 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,720 matches San Juan de la Peña. 298 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:14,040 All the places, all the rooms are here, exactly as the text says. 299 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,240 There is some evidence that Hesemann is right 300 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:30,480 and there was a cup that was worshipped here in the Middle Ages. 301 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,240 Is it the one that's in Valencia today? 302 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:36,480 Could it be the real Grail? 303 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,480 It will probably be impossible to prove once and for all 304 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:42,760 that Jesus used this exact chalice. 305 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:49,240 But the Valencian chalice doesn't look like the Grail described in Parzival. 306 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:54,520 It is described as a shining stone from the heavens. 307 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:58,000 How does this relate to the Santo Cáliz? 308 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,960 At the Department of Art History of the University of Valencia, 309 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:08,000 María Gómez, expert for ancient artwork, is preparing an experiment. 310 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:17,480 Ana Mafé García wants to know if anything about the Santo Cáliz 311 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:21,000 could in fact point to a shining star from the heavens. 312 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,480 (low chatter in Spanish) 313 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:33,720 (García) All literary descriptions of the Holy Chalice or Holy Grail 314 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,720 agree on the upper bowl, the chalice, which is in Valencia. 315 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:47,480 I hope exposing the agate to light will show us 316 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:51,760 whether it shines the way it's been described in the medieval texts. 317 00:25:55,240 --> 00:26:00,240 At certain light temperatures, gemstones begin to glow in different colors. 318 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:04,040 (Gómez in Spanish) 319 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,720 (dubbed in English) The colors vary depending on the light. 320 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:12,240 Light has a color, Kelvin, degrees Kelvin. 321 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:14,280 Let me give you an example. 322 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:16,040 A painting made outside, 323 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,960 like the picture Sorolla painted on the beach, 324 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:20,520 was painted in daylight. 325 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:26,480 If we expose this painting to warm light, that is 3,200 degrees Kelvin, 326 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:28,720 it loses its blue color. 327 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:33,480 The color spectrum of the color blue varies and changes. 328 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:43,480 (García) Look, here, the stone has a red shade. 329 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:46,720 We'll increase the temperature. 330 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:49,720 We're increasing, 331 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,520 and it seems like it's losing its color, 332 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:56,000 like it's getting more yellow, opaque. 333 00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:59,480 (Gómez) Browner, even browner. 334 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:01,000 (García) Even browner. 335 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:06,040 Is there a stone that shines like the gem mentioned in the medieval texts? 336 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:11,240 The stone on the light table is an agate. 337 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:15,040 It glows red like fire. 338 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:16,960 The women are certain. 339 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:21,280 (García) We've found the Holy Chalice in this stone. 340 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:23,240 That's it, look. I can see it. 341 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:26,480 (García) That's incredible. 342 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,280 -Eureka! -Yes. 343 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:35,480 The Santo Cáliz. 344 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:37,520 A chalice made of agate. 345 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:43,480 In Parzival, the grail is a stone 346 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:46,480 brought down from the heavens by neutral angels. 347 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:49,000 The only stone to come from the heavens 348 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:50,480 is a meteorite. 349 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:54,720 If it is a meteorite, then it would be the common denominator 350 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:57,240 between Excalibur and the Grail, 351 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:00,720 the two most important objects in the Arthurian tradition. 352 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:03,480 And both are divine right to rule. 353 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:08,720 And that relates to the meteor, which comes as a light from the heavens 354 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:11,000 anointing the finder. 355 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:17,480 Spain isn't the only place where legends about the Grail flourish. 356 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:20,480 Glastonbury, in the southwest of England. 357 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:23,760 With numerous myths attached to this region, 358 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:27,720 many believe the Grail was hidden here in the 1st century. 359 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:38,280 After Jesus died at the cross, the other legend of the Grail suggests 360 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:43,720 Joseph of Arimathea collected his blood in a cup and brought it to England. 361 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:53,960 He's said to have eventually hidden this Grail in Glastonbury. 362 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:58,000 It is the same place where one of the most influential monasteries 363 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,480 of the Middle Ages emerges: Glastonbury Abbey. 364 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:06,000 The magical ruins still attract tourists and esoterics alike. 365 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:07,720 A magnet for myths. 366 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:11,000 Legendary King Arthur is said to be buried here. 367 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:18,480 Archaeologist Roberta Gilchrist tries to find out how much truth 368 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,240 there is to the myths linked to Glastonbury. 369 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:27,720 (Gilchrist) Glastonbury Abbey is a famous medieval monastery. 370 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:30,000 It's associated with two key legends: 371 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:32,000 one of them is King Arthur, 372 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,000 the other, Joseph of Arimathea. 373 00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:38,000 Both provide a kind of origin story for the abbey. 374 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:40,240 And this isn't a new story. 375 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:44,480 These things have been connected with Glastonbury for about 800 years. 376 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:46,720 It‘s a huge part of the abbey‘s heritage. 377 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:52,720 A painting in the chapel of the abbey commemorates Joseph of Arimathea. 378 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:56,000 It shows how he travelled to England with the Grail. 379 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:07,720 After arriving in Glastonbury, he sticks his walking staff into the ground 380 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:11,000 and it turns into a magnificent hawthorn. 381 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:14,040 To this day, it is a landmark of Glastonbury 382 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:17,280 and blooms twice a year, once at Christmas. 383 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:20,520 A divine symbol of the birth of Christ? 384 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:25,000 There are several of these trees around Glastonbury. 385 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:28,480 Joseph is said to have buried the Grail somewhere here. 386 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:31,040 But it has never been found. 387 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:41,000 The second big story of Glastonbury Abbey revolves around legendary King Arthur. 388 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:45,480 The myth says he's buried on an island named Avalon. 389 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:49,240 Some believe Avalon and Glastonbury are the same place. 390 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:52,960 The legends of King Arthur and his Round Table 391 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:56,480 are inextricably linked to the Holy Grail. 392 00:30:56,520 --> 00:31:01,000 Finding it is the primary duty of the noble order of knights. 393 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:08,000 The myth of Arthur being linked with the Holy Grail 394 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:10,240 is an important part of the Arthur story, 395 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:12,240 because it makes him more powerful. 396 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:15,040 It gives him the divine anointment he needs 397 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:19,000 to make him into a true legend which can withstand the years. 398 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:24,000 In Glastonbury, ancient legends take shape. 399 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:35,000 In the 12th century, there are a lot of stories circulating about King Arthur. 400 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:40,240 And the monks of Glastonbury connected the Arthur story with Avalon. 401 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,520 In their chronicles, the monks documented 402 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:46,480 how they find a tomb during renovation works. 403 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:50,480 Inside, they find two skeletons: 404 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:54,520 a very tall man with strong bones and a woman, 405 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,240 King Arthur and his wife Guinevere. 406 00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:01,480 With this, they find a small cross with the name Arthur, 407 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:04,240 and make their abbey a place of pilgrimage. 408 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:15,720 (Gilchrist) We suspect it was a forgery, 409 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:20,240 something they copied from material culture about a century earlier. 410 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:23,720 But that gave them a kind of relic, 411 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:28,480 if you like, of Arthur that people could come and look at on the site. 412 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:33,000 Roberta Gilchrist knows that after a fire in the Abbey, 413 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:36,000 the monks were in desperate need for money. 414 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,520 Since then, the story of Arthur's grave has turned Glastonbury 415 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:43,520 into a tourist magnet, which it remains to this very day. 416 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:50,240 It would appear once a myth is attached to an area, 417 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:52,760 other myths start to be attached to it, too. 418 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:55,760 This is partly due to a coincidence of events. 419 00:32:56,000 --> 00:33:00,240 At Glastonbury, ley lines meet, there's the ancient church on the hilltop, 420 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:03,480 and there's the burial of the Holy Grail and King Arthur. 421 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:07,280 Because of this, these places become a place of pilgrimage. 422 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:13,480 Glastonbury is an Eldorado for all those on the search for life's deeper meaning. 423 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:16,720 Goddess movement priestesses follow ancient traditions, 424 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:20,720 which believe in the maternal essence of life and Earth. 425 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:22,960 (soundtrack drowns out speech) 426 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,280 (woman) People come in search of the Holy Grail, 427 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:31,760 but in the Goddess tradition, the Holy Grail is far more intimate. 428 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,720 It is really the sacred part in yourself. It's the creation. 429 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:40,960 So, it's really finding that sacred part in ourselves that we all search for. 430 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:44,000 The Holy Grail. 431 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:47,240 Some believe it's an inner state of mind, 432 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:49,480 but most think it's a real cup. 433 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:51,720 A cup that has forged legends. 434 00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:59,480 But if King Arthur's tomb is just fictional, 435 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:04,480 is it possible the king and his quest for the Grail were never real either? 436 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:07,760 Is the English lead misleading us after all? 437 00:34:12,159 --> 00:34:14,399 Many find this hard to believe. 438 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:19,520 The search continues, like in Tintagel on the western Atlantic coast 439 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,480 where Arthur was purportedly conceived. 440 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:39,160 Archaeologist Win Scutt wants to go over to the peninsula. 441 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:47,160 The bridge stays closed if the winds are too strong. 442 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:53,120 What does the wind gauge say? 443 00:34:55,480 --> 00:34:59,480 It's between two and three at the moment, so, fine to go over. 444 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:07,080 According to the legend, this is where King Arthur's castle is located. 445 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:13,480 It could be true since the oldest remnants date back to the early Middle Ages. 446 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:18,160 (Scutt) We're crossing to the main part of the castle, 447 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:21,440 where Richard of Cornwall would have had his feasts. 448 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:23,560 This was his great feasting hall. 449 00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:32,000 The problem is that the cliff was falling down already in the 13th and 14th century, 450 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:37,360 so soon after he built this great hall it started to fall down the cliff. 451 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:42,000 So, the outer building in front of us here is the first one he built. 452 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:46,480 Part of it fell down the cliff, and then he built a smaller building, 453 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:49,000 and that started to fall down the cliff. 454 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:52,880 And then he built a smaller building and that survived. 455 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:57,640 The hall falls into the sea repeatedly. 456 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:00,480 Every time, it has to be rebuilt. 457 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:03,600 So, the medieval people see ruins constantly 458 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:07,520 and believe they're looking at the ruins of Arthur's castle. 459 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:18,000 But on the island there really are clues pointing to the ancient royal site. 460 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:27,360 (Scutt) Once you leave Richard's castle and go out onto the island, 461 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:31,000 you'll find lots of buildings that have been excavated in the 1930s. 462 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:33,000 But that's just some of them. 463 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:37,600 We now know there's roughly 100 buildings across the island. 464 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:40,920 It's, in fact, bigger than London was at the time. 465 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:43,080 We don't have a site as big as this 466 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:45,000 for the post Roman period. 467 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,000 Three of those houses were excavated in 2017 468 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:50,880 and we found large amounts of pottery there. 469 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:54,640 And a lot of this pottery is from the Mediterranean. 470 00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:59,960 From Greece, from Tunisia, North Africa, 471 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:03,120 and also glassware from Spain and France. 472 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:08,360 It indicates that this site was very prestigious. 473 00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:11,840 It was a very high-status site and really important. 474 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:15,480 We think it's probably a royal site. 475 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:22,440 Tintagel was once ruled by a powerful man, possibly a king. 476 00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:26,000 Perhaps it was Arthur, after all? 477 00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:32,640 (Scutt) The first reference of Tintagel in the legend of King Arthur 478 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:36,000 is when Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century 479 00:37:36,080 --> 00:37:39,120 said that Arthur had been conceived here. 480 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:43,360 This may be entire fiction made up in the later medieval period 481 00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:46,000 in the 12th century or round about then, 482 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:49,080 because they knew this was an important ancient site. 483 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:53,000 They must have been able to see the ruins right across the island. 484 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:58,560 But maybe there was real folklore that associated King Arthur with this sight. 485 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:02,880 So, it is possible if King Arthur was a real person, 486 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:05,480 and lived in the post Roman period, 487 00:38:05,560 --> 00:38:10,440 it's quite possible, since this is such an important, perhaps royal site, 488 00:38:10,480 --> 00:38:14,000 that King Arthur was very closely associated with this. 489 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:16,120 So the legend might well be true. 490 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:19,840 King Arthur might have been a Roman commander, 491 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:23,400 or the chief of a Celtic-Germanic tribe. 492 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:28,480 But there is no hard evidence confirming his existence or that of the Grail. 493 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:32,000 Have people been looking for the wrong thing? 494 00:38:37,480 --> 00:38:42,480 What if the Grail is not a chalice, but something completely different? 495 00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:50,400 Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is said to contain explosive information. 496 00:38:51,560 --> 00:38:54,880 (mysterious melody) 497 00:38:55,960 --> 00:39:00,600 Visitors marvel at the mural in the church Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. 498 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:05,920 It depicts Jesus and his disciples on the eve of the crucifixion. 499 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:16,600 Da Vinci lived in Milan at the end of the 15th century. 500 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:21,880 A universal genius who allegedly put encrypted messages in his art. 501 00:39:26,880 --> 00:39:29,480 Da Vinci is known for hiding messages in his works. 502 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:31,920 He was much more than an artist: 503 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:35,440 He was a visionary, an inventor, and an intellectual. 504 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:38,960 But in doing this, da Vinci is operating a lot like myths. 505 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:42,840 Myths are not meant to be read literally. They are symbolic. 506 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:45,560 As we have to decipher the meaning behind a myth, 507 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:49,600 we also have to decipher the message da Vinci puts in his paintings. 508 00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:54,000 What secret does da Vinci's Last Supper hold? 509 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:58,000 While it shows bread and wine, there is no chalice. 510 00:39:59,120 --> 00:40:02,840 The Grail should be in front of Jesus, but it isn't. 511 00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:07,160 Instead, Jesus and his disciples all have their own glasses. 512 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:10,480 Author Dan Brown puts forward a spectacular theory 513 00:40:10,520 --> 00:40:13,120 in his book The Da Vinci Code. 514 00:40:20,440 --> 00:40:24,880 He states that the painting depicts the Holy Grail, but it isn't a cup. 515 00:40:24,960 --> 00:40:27,480 He points to the strikingly female features 516 00:40:27,480 --> 00:40:30,080 and the posture of the disciple next to Jesus. 517 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:34,000 Could this be someone else other than John the Apostle? 518 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:36,040 And there's more: 519 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:39,480 Jesus and the person next to him form a V, 520 00:40:39,520 --> 00:40:42,080 the symbol of femininity and fertility. 521 00:40:43,120 --> 00:40:47,000 Dan Brown concludes the disciple is in fact a woman: 522 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:48,560 Mary Magdalene. 523 00:40:48,640 --> 00:40:52,520 She's said to be close to Jesus. They even have children. 524 00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:54,440 Is she the Grail? 525 00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:57,000 A scandalous thought for the Church. 526 00:40:59,560 --> 00:41:02,400 If Mary Magdalene is the mother of Jesus' child, 527 00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:06,880 the Catholic Church shouldn't just be afraid of the authority that lineage 528 00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:09,160 might have in competition with their own. 529 00:41:09,400 --> 00:41:15,000 The bigger threat is that it introduces a different path to the heart, 530 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:18,000 to the divine than is offered by the Catholics. 531 00:41:18,040 --> 00:41:20,000 It's a path of romantic love. 532 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:24,480 Dan Brown's theories are based on pure fiction, 533 00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:26,920 but he's sold millions of copies. 534 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:31,920 Mary Magdalene's role, however, is also contested by scientists. 535 00:41:34,880 --> 00:41:38,000 Is it possible to solve the mystery of the Holy Grail? 536 00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:44,480 Many Valencians believe there's no need to since the Santo Cáliz is the Grail. 537 00:41:45,480 --> 00:41:49,480 Historian Michael Hesemann's findings also support this. 538 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:54,400 He believes he has proven the chalice was kept in San Juan de la Peña. 539 00:42:06,920 --> 00:42:09,640 But Hesemann can't provide more than clues. 540 00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:13,640 The historian returns to Valencia to meet Gabriel Songel. 541 00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:20,360 The design professor has found something that could corroborate the Grail legend. 542 00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:25,480 An 11th century list of all the properties of the monastery. 543 00:42:25,480 --> 00:42:27,480 (soundtrack drowns out speech) 544 00:42:32,880 --> 00:42:35,480 Everybody has already read about it. 545 00:42:35,480 --> 00:42:40,160 What I want to see is what people haven't seen: the design that is inside. 546 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:44,000 People have known about the list for a long time. 547 00:42:44,040 --> 00:42:48,400 At first glance, it doesn't make mention of the Santo Cáliz. 548 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:50,560 But Songel has a theory: 549 00:42:50,640 --> 00:42:54,480 A secret encryption code could reveal hidden information. 550 00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:58,400 The bene valete was one of the signals of the popes. 551 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:02,080 It's a very interesting graphic design based on the big N. 552 00:43:03,360 --> 00:43:07,480 Bene valete, "fare well," is a seal of medieval popes. 553 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:10,560 A capital N forms the basis. 554 00:43:10,640 --> 00:43:14,480 The other letters are ornately arranged in the N. 555 00:43:14,560 --> 00:43:17,480 How can this key help us find the Grail? 556 00:43:17,520 --> 00:43:20,120 Songel places it on the text. 557 00:43:20,360 --> 00:43:26,000 This is a very important background to understand how they built this acrostic. 558 00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:28,000 You see the big N. 559 00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:32,480 Especially the letters L, I, S are separated. 560 00:43:32,560 --> 00:43:38,560 And what we see here is the C from the letter C on the glossarium. 561 00:43:39,560 --> 00:43:41,480 "Calis." 562 00:43:41,480 --> 00:43:46,000 We build this vertical line towards "Jerusalem" 563 00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:49,960 and then we find lapis excilis. 564 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:54,080 These are the exact words Wolfram von Eschenbach 565 00:43:54,160 --> 00:43:57,520 uses to describe the Holy Grail in Parzival. 566 00:43:59,080 --> 00:44:01,000 So altogether we're talking about: 567 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:04,600 calis lapis excilis domini. 568 00:44:04,840 --> 00:44:10,480 That means a cáliz of precious stone from the Lord. 569 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:17,000 The medieval poet describes a stone from the heavens, bright like fire. 570 00:44:24,880 --> 00:44:28,480 It's a sensational find dating back to the 11th century. 571 00:44:28,480 --> 00:44:32,560 This is not only the earliest document stating how the Chalice of the Lord 572 00:44:32,640 --> 00:44:35,920 was taken from Jerusalem to San Juan de la Peña, 573 00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:39,000 It also features the term “lapis excilis,” 574 00:44:39,040 --> 00:44:41,920 which Wolfram von Eschenbach used in Parzival, 575 00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:44,960 originally a chalice made of precious stone. 576 00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:47,080 But Wolfram continued his poem, 577 00:44:47,160 --> 00:44:51,480 saying that this could also mean a stone from the stars, from the heavens. 578 00:44:51,560 --> 00:44:53,400 This is his interpretation. 579 00:44:53,480 --> 00:44:58,000 But this document is 150 years older than the Parzival romance, 580 00:44:58,080 --> 00:45:00,400 and it contains this term. 581 00:45:03,120 --> 00:45:07,480 The raw material used and its age could indicate that the upper part 582 00:45:07,560 --> 00:45:11,000 of the Santo Cáliz actually comes from Jerusalem. 583 00:45:12,440 --> 00:45:15,000 But is it really the cup Jesus held? 584 00:45:15,480 --> 00:45:18,000 A chalice made of precious stone? 585 00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:27,600 Very few people know as much about the Santo Cáliz as Antonio Piró. 586 00:45:31,360 --> 00:45:35,440 Decades ago, the goldsmith measured the chalice with his own hands. 587 00:45:35,480 --> 00:45:40,920 Since then, he and his sons have been making handmade replicas of the relict. 588 00:45:41,000 --> 00:45:45,000 Now, Ana Mafé García wants him to make an exact copy. 589 00:45:57,000 --> 00:45:58,840 (in Spanish) 590 00:46:00,080 --> 00:46:03,000 (dubbed in English) This is emotional for me. 591 00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:08,000 As a choir boy, I spent a lot of time in the cathedral 592 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:11,160 and we would also sing in the chapel. 593 00:46:11,400 --> 00:46:14,440 That's how it was brought to my attention. 594 00:46:14,480 --> 00:46:18,160 My dad got married in this cathedral, and so did I, 595 00:46:18,400 --> 00:46:22,920 which is why I have always felt a special affection for the chalice. 596 00:46:34,440 --> 00:46:35,640 Hola, Antonio. 597 00:46:35,880 --> 00:46:39,040 (narrator) The art historian knows what she wants. 598 00:46:39,120 --> 00:46:42,960 To her, only the upper part of the Grail is relevant. 599 00:46:43,000 --> 00:46:45,600 (Piró speaks Spanish) 600 00:46:46,480 --> 00:46:50,000 So this upper part would be the sacred part of the relict. 601 00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:53,440 This here, this is the Holy Chalice. 602 00:46:53,480 --> 00:46:54,560 Right. 603 00:46:54,640 --> 00:46:56,480 Without this part. 604 00:46:56,520 --> 00:46:59,040 I have already inserted this to adjust it. 605 00:46:59,120 --> 00:47:00,480 Fascinating. 606 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:04,480 The chalice the Lord blessed at the Last Supper is this here. 607 00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:12,160 Making the replicas just like the exact model of the original poses a challenge. 608 00:47:12,400 --> 00:47:17,000 There are two main problems: the material and the measurements. 609 00:47:23,440 --> 00:47:28,000 These are the first sketches from the time when we first started. 610 00:47:28,000 --> 00:47:29,120 Wow. 611 00:47:30,440 --> 00:47:34,000 Piró wasn't allowed to touch the Santo Cáliz when he measured it. 612 00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:36,000 He uses simple tools. 613 00:47:41,520 --> 00:47:47,000 That's the stencil that allows you to see the shape of the bowl perfectly. 614 00:47:47,480 --> 00:47:49,480 (García) Very interesting. 615 00:47:49,960 --> 00:47:53,480 Of course. It's the best way to see if the size is right. 616 00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:59,960 For Ana, it's the volume of the chalice that counts most, 617 00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:02,120 because it sheds light on its origins. 618 00:48:02,360 --> 00:48:04,920 The material is also key. 619 00:48:05,000 --> 00:48:09,880 To comply with Jewish purity laws, the cup has to be made of stone. 620 00:48:10,360 --> 00:48:13,400 Wood is too porous, making it hard to clean 621 00:48:13,480 --> 00:48:16,840 and therefore unsuitable as a ritual vessel. 622 00:48:16,920 --> 00:48:19,560 The properties of the Holy Grail are interesting, 623 00:48:19,640 --> 00:48:22,920 especially because if it was a chalice or a cup 624 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:25,000 that was used at the Last Supper, 625 00:48:25,080 --> 00:48:27,360 then it would have to be kosher. 626 00:48:27,440 --> 00:48:29,000 Jesus Christ is Jewish. 627 00:48:29,960 --> 00:48:33,080 He and his Apostles follow Jewish laws and rituals. 628 00:48:40,640 --> 00:48:44,000 When Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, he is sentenced to death 629 00:48:44,040 --> 00:48:46,840 and invites his disciples for one last meal: 630 00:48:46,920 --> 00:48:48,520 the Last Supper. 631 00:48:54,160 --> 00:48:57,080 The vessels used for this event are ritual objects 632 00:48:57,160 --> 00:48:59,560 and have to meet certain criteria. 633 00:49:02,000 --> 00:49:05,480 Ana Mafé García checks the volume of the chalice. 634 00:49:05,960 --> 00:49:10,040 Its capacity can tell her whether it was used as a ritual cup. 635 00:49:15,080 --> 00:49:19,040 The chalice of the Holy Grail represents a Jewish supper. 636 00:49:20,400 --> 00:49:22,080 A Passover meal. 637 00:49:22,160 --> 00:49:26,120 2,000 years ago, Jews had a family chalice that had to be filled 638 00:49:26,360 --> 00:49:28,520 with a minimum amount of wine 639 00:49:28,600 --> 00:49:32,000 to allow them to celebrate the rite of Passover, 640 00:49:32,000 --> 00:49:34,480 just like they do to this very day. 641 00:49:36,960 --> 00:49:38,560 This cup holds four fingers, 642 00:49:38,640 --> 00:49:40,640 which is half a span. 643 00:49:40,880 --> 00:49:43,600 And these are Jewish units. 2.5 revi'it. 644 00:49:44,480 --> 00:49:46,480 That's about this much. 645 00:49:48,040 --> 00:49:53,000 The minimum they have to drink is one revi'it, 86 milliliters. 646 00:49:53,040 --> 00:49:55,480 Another revi'it is for the family. 647 00:49:56,480 --> 00:50:01,120 According to García's calculations, the chalice can hold 2.5 revi'it. 648 00:50:02,000 --> 00:50:07,000 So it's possible that the Santo Cáliz was really used as a ritual cup. 649 00:50:11,480 --> 00:50:13,120 Another part of the puzzle. 650 00:50:13,360 --> 00:50:16,040 A valuable ritual cup dating back to Antiquity. 651 00:50:17,000 --> 00:50:19,640 Whether Jesus held it remains unknown. 652 00:50:22,560 --> 00:50:27,000 The longing for the Grail has left its mark on Christian Europe. 653 00:50:27,040 --> 00:50:30,600 It's reflected in myths and legends, in poems and songs. 654 00:50:31,880 --> 00:50:35,000 Is there at least some truth to all this fiction? 655 00:50:41,000 --> 00:50:43,000 In Valencia, people commemorate 656 00:50:43,080 --> 00:50:46,080 the festival of the Santo Cáliz every year. 657 00:50:47,160 --> 00:50:50,480 To many Christians, this stone bowl is nothing less 658 00:50:50,480 --> 00:50:52,600 than the cup of the Last Supper. 659 00:50:53,520 --> 00:50:58,000 Michael Hesemann and Ana Mafé García are convinced of this, too. 660 00:50:58,600 --> 00:51:02,960 The Santo Cáliz is the real chalice used during the Last Supper. 661 00:51:12,840 --> 00:51:15,840 (Hesemann) The Holy Grail is here in Valencia. 662 00:51:20,360 --> 00:51:24,160 (García) The Holy Chalice's message has to be understood by everyone 663 00:51:24,400 --> 00:51:26,000 with their hearts. 664 00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:31,440 The yearning for salvation and an ancient myth. 665 00:51:31,480 --> 00:51:35,920 From a scientific point of view, there's still no evidence. 666 00:51:36,000 --> 00:51:39,440 The search for the Grail will most likely continue. 667 00:51:49,280 --> 00:51:53,520 (narrator) It's the greatest German legend: the saga of the Nibelungs. 668 00:51:54,320 --> 00:51:57,520 Heroes, dragons, and a lot of gold. 669 00:51:59,520 --> 00:52:02,360 I think the treasure's still there. 670 00:52:03,200 --> 00:52:07,040 Researchers and adventurers search for the legendary treasure. 671 00:52:07,240 --> 00:52:09,280 The Nibelung treasure could exist. 672 00:52:11,040 --> 00:52:12,880 (metal detector beeps) 673 00:52:12,920 --> 00:52:15,920 A huge amount of gold and silver. Unfathomable. 674 00:52:16,680 --> 00:52:19,680 How much truth to the myth is there? 675 00:52:19,680 --> 00:52:22,960 What is with Siegfried's wonder sword? 676 00:52:25,040 --> 00:52:27,040 You can tell where it got hit. 677 00:52:28,680 --> 00:52:31,360 Scientists unearth the origins of the saga. 678 00:52:31,360 --> 00:52:34,040 The traces lead them to Scandinavia. 679 00:52:37,120 --> 00:52:42,080 Sigurd's horse Grani with the legendary, cursed treasure on its back. 680 00:52:44,600 --> 00:52:47,800 The search for the Nibelung treasure. 681 00:52:51,320 --> 00:52:53,960 The great myths of mankind. 682 00:52:54,080 --> 00:52:57,600 Mysteries passed on over thousands of years. 683 00:53:00,600 --> 00:53:02,320 Inexplicable events, 684 00:53:02,320 --> 00:53:06,440 places shrouded in legend, and superhuman heroes: 685 00:53:06,520 --> 00:53:08,880 even scientists are fascinated. 686 00:53:12,080 --> 00:53:14,320 Is there any truth to these ancient legends? 687 00:53:15,080 --> 00:53:18,320 Researchers across the globe are working hard to solve 688 00:53:18,440 --> 00:53:20,720 the greatest mysteries of our time. 689 00:53:22,160 --> 00:53:24,240 (mysterious melody) 690 00:53:35,520 --> 00:53:37,160 The Rhine. 691 00:53:37,720 --> 00:53:39,960 Stream of sagas and myths. 692 00:53:40,080 --> 00:53:43,120 And center stage for the tale of the Nibelungs. 693 00:53:43,720 --> 00:53:48,280 Allegedly, their legendary treasure was sunk near the German city of Worms. 694 00:53:48,320 --> 00:53:50,720 Could it still be there today? 695 00:53:55,720 --> 00:53:59,440 Hans Jörg Jacobi is a Nibelung hobbyist. 696 00:53:59,440 --> 00:54:01,040 A former city architect, 697 00:54:01,160 --> 00:54:04,880 he has been looking for the Rhine gold since childhood. 698 00:54:05,880 --> 00:54:06,880 (in German) 699 00:54:07,040 --> 00:54:11,160 (dubbed in English) You have to believe what's in the Nibelungenlied 700 00:54:11,320 --> 00:54:12,880 might be correct. 701 00:54:15,600 --> 00:54:20,160 He believes in the Nibelungenlied, the song of the Nibelungs. 702 00:54:20,160 --> 00:54:24,720 He used to scour the Rhine with his dad. Today, he's following a lead. 703 00:54:29,040 --> 00:54:32,160 We asked ourselves, "How would we pull it off?" 704 00:54:32,160 --> 00:54:37,160 And surprisingly, there is one approach that seems pretty logical. 705 00:54:37,160 --> 00:54:39,880 In my opinion, the treasure's still there. 706 00:54:44,160 --> 00:54:47,160 The legend says the shores of the Rhine were once home 707 00:54:47,160 --> 00:54:50,040 to the mysterious Burgundian kingdom. 708 00:54:51,440 --> 00:54:55,880 One day, an unknown warrior arrives at the royal court of Worms. 709 00:54:57,160 --> 00:54:59,440 It is Siegfried of Xanten, 710 00:54:59,440 --> 00:55:00,880 a legendary warrior. 711 00:55:02,440 --> 00:55:06,880 He is said to have seized the treasure of King Nibelung in the high north. 712 00:55:08,160 --> 00:55:13,320 40 cartloads of gold and silver, and a cloak of invisibility to top it off. 713 00:55:17,720 --> 00:55:21,040 Siegfried kills a dragon with his wonder sword. 714 00:55:22,880 --> 00:55:26,600 He bathes in the dragon's blood and becomes invulnerable. 715 00:55:26,720 --> 00:55:32,440 But a fallen leaf from a lime tree leaves an unprotected spot between his shoulders. 716 00:55:34,880 --> 00:55:38,600 The victorious hero pledges allegiance to King Gunther. 717 00:55:38,720 --> 00:55:42,160 As a reward he can marry Gunther's sister, Kriemhild. 718 00:55:44,720 --> 00:55:49,600 They are the protagonists in this epic poem of love, betrayal, and murder. 719 00:55:50,320 --> 00:55:54,640 Siegfried and his wife Kriemhild, her brother, King Gunther, 720 00:55:54,640 --> 00:55:57,840 and Hagen von Tronje, the King's adviser. 721 00:55:58,840 --> 00:56:03,640 He sees Siegfried as a threat and puts King Gunther at odds with the hero. 722 00:56:05,080 --> 00:56:09,080 In the name of the King, he sets a trap for Siegfried and kills him 723 00:56:09,200 --> 00:56:13,960 by thrusting a spear into the only unprotected part of his skin. 724 00:56:17,200 --> 00:56:21,640 Hagen gets the gold and throws it into the Rhine to hide it from Kriemhild. 725 00:56:25,640 --> 00:56:28,280 The river has kept the secret ever since. 726 00:56:28,280 --> 00:56:33,200 The Nibelung treasure is one of many tales of the Rhine, shrouded in legend. 727 00:56:39,400 --> 00:56:43,640 The Hagen monument in Worms is a reminder of the Nibelungs. 728 00:56:43,760 --> 00:56:47,960 But if the treasure didn't exist and there was no hope to find it, 729 00:56:48,080 --> 00:56:51,840 this tale would have likely been forgotten long ago. 730 00:56:51,960 --> 00:56:56,400 Humans are fascinated by treasure partly because of the monetary value, 731 00:56:56,520 --> 00:56:59,080 but treasures in myth tend to be more than that. 732 00:56:59,200 --> 00:57:01,840 They have a magical value to them. 733 00:57:01,960 --> 00:57:05,400 They have a personality. They're a character in the story. 734 00:57:05,520 --> 00:57:09,400 Take in the Nibelungen Siegfried's invisibility cloak: 735 00:57:09,520 --> 00:57:12,400 we like the idea of there being something 736 00:57:12,520 --> 00:57:16,960 that connects us to a realm beyond our own, so it's a magical power. 737 00:57:17,960 --> 00:57:22,640 The forests along the Rhine are enchanted by the Nibelungs' magic to this day. 738 00:57:22,760 --> 00:57:26,080 Benjamin Czerny is a passionate treasure hunter. 739 00:57:26,080 --> 00:57:30,760 Using a metal detector, he searches for the riches of the past. 740 00:57:30,760 --> 00:57:31,960 (in German) 741 00:57:32,080 --> 00:57:37,200 (dubbed in English) I think there are tons of precious metals buried in Germany, 742 00:57:37,200 --> 00:57:39,520 just waiting to be found. 743 00:57:42,760 --> 00:57:46,960 It is illegal to unearth treasures in Germany without a permit. 744 00:57:47,080 --> 00:57:53,200 If he finds something of value, Czerny needs to report it to the authorities. 745 00:57:53,280 --> 00:57:55,760 But that doesn't stop him. 746 00:57:55,840 --> 00:57:57,760 (metal detector beeps) 747 00:57:59,080 --> 00:58:03,200 It takes you back to childhood. You never know what you'll find. 748 00:58:03,200 --> 00:58:06,200 You could dig up something special any day. 749 00:58:07,080 --> 00:58:10,080 Czerny has made a great find once before. 750 00:58:10,200 --> 00:58:12,200 But he dreams even bigger. 751 00:58:13,080 --> 00:58:16,640 (Czerny) The Nibelungs treasure is one of the biggest myths 752 00:58:16,640 --> 00:58:21,280 a treasure hunter can discover: a mound of gold and silver, cartloads. 753 00:58:21,400 --> 00:58:24,840 You couldn't even fathom that in your wildest dreams. 754 00:58:25,520 --> 00:58:28,520 He, too, thinks the treasure is near the Rhine. 755 00:58:28,640 --> 00:58:33,080 Early settlers lived along its shores, and left behind their chattels. 756 00:58:33,760 --> 00:58:37,640 This is the Old Rhine, running through Speyer and Römerberg 757 00:58:37,760 --> 00:58:39,640 to Germersheim and Neupotz. 758 00:58:39,760 --> 00:58:43,400 This forest area is interesting with a creek running through it. 759 00:58:43,520 --> 00:58:46,640 I think we might be able to find a few things there. 760 00:58:48,400 --> 00:58:53,200 But without a specific lead, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. 761 00:58:59,200 --> 00:59:00,840 St. Gall, Switzerland. 762 00:59:00,840 --> 00:59:03,080 There's an important clue here. 763 00:59:06,640 --> 00:59:09,760 The Benedictine monastery is home to one of 764 00:59:09,760 --> 00:59:12,280 the oldest Nibelungenlied manuscripts. 765 00:59:13,280 --> 00:59:16,760 It dates back to the second half of the 13th century. 766 00:59:24,640 --> 00:59:29,640 Medievalist Joachim Heinzle knows the Nibelung saga better than most. 767 00:59:35,640 --> 00:59:39,080 He believes the text is based on events that took place 768 00:59:39,200 --> 00:59:42,640 many centuries before the manuscript was written. 769 00:59:48,640 --> 00:59:50,400 (in German) 770 00:59:50,520 --> 00:59:53,960 (dubbed in English) Heroic legends were considered historical, 771 00:59:54,080 --> 00:59:56,080 a form of passing on history. 772 00:59:57,760 --> 01:00:02,400 To preserve the ancient knowledge, the Nibelungenlied was recited in rhymes. 773 01:00:04,200 --> 01:00:07,480 In Germany, its first lines are legendary: 774 01:00:07,520 --> 01:00:12,000 "Uns ist in alten mæren wunders vil geseit 775 01:00:12,120 --> 01:00:17,120 von helden lobebæren, von grôzer arebeit." 776 01:00:18,400 --> 01:00:19,520 (in German) 777 01:00:19,640 --> 01:00:22,640 (dubbed in English) Narrating is key for humans. 778 01:00:22,640 --> 01:00:26,400 It is a social act that demonstrates our shared identity. 779 01:00:26,520 --> 01:00:29,520 We tell stories not only for entertainment, 780 01:00:29,640 --> 01:00:32,640 but also to share our values and our history, 781 01:00:32,760 --> 01:00:35,880 creating a cultural memory in doing so. 782 01:00:38,520 --> 01:00:41,760 There's truth to heroic legends. 783 01:00:41,880 --> 01:00:46,400 Heinrich Schliemann, a 19th century archaeologist is also convinced. 784 01:00:48,040 --> 01:00:52,160 He analyses locations provided by Greek poet Homer... 785 01:00:53,280 --> 01:00:55,520 and looks for the ancient city of Troy. 786 01:00:58,160 --> 01:01:02,760 Following the leads, he actually manages to find the city ruins. 787 01:01:02,880 --> 01:01:05,640 The discovery of a century. 788 01:01:11,760 --> 01:01:15,280 Does the Nibelungenlied also contain tangible clues 789 01:01:15,400 --> 01:01:18,040 leading to the treasure of the Nibelungs? 790 01:01:24,400 --> 01:01:28,880 After Siegfried's death, his widow Kriemhild seeks revenge. 791 01:01:29,040 --> 01:01:34,160 She turns away from the Burgundians and marries Etzel, king of the Huns. 792 01:01:39,280 --> 01:01:42,880 Kriemhild moves to Etzel's empire by the Danube, 793 01:01:43,040 --> 01:01:47,160 where she plans her vendetta against Siegfried's murderers. 794 01:01:50,040 --> 01:01:54,040 Upon her invitation, Burgundian king Gunther and his entourage 795 01:01:54,040 --> 01:01:56,520 travel to the court of the Hun king. 796 01:01:56,520 --> 01:01:59,880 They all die in an unparalleled bloodbath. 797 01:02:00,040 --> 01:02:03,160 The Burgundians have been eradicated. 798 01:02:04,880 --> 01:02:08,640 Pure legend, or historically accurate? 799 01:02:09,640 --> 01:02:13,640 Truth is, in the Middle Ages, the Nibelungenlied was also popular 800 01:02:13,760 --> 01:02:15,520 beyond German borders. 801 01:02:15,640 --> 01:02:20,760 In Scandinavia, where Siegfried allegedly obtained the Nibelung treasure, 802 01:02:20,760 --> 01:02:24,040 the saga of the dragon slayer has also lived on. 803 01:02:29,640 --> 01:02:35,280 Sigmund Oehrl pours over the story of the Nibelungs on Swedish island Gotland. 804 01:02:35,400 --> 01:02:40,040 The archaeologist knows the Swedish sources like the back of his hand. 805 01:02:45,040 --> 01:02:48,280 It turns out there are astonishing parallels 806 01:02:48,400 --> 01:02:51,760 between the Norse tradition and the Nibelungenlied. 807 01:02:55,280 --> 01:02:57,280 (in German) 808 01:02:57,400 --> 01:03:02,280 (dubbed in English) The main characters are the same in both traditions. 809 01:03:04,160 --> 01:03:07,640 The German name Siegfried is Sigurd in the north. 810 01:03:07,640 --> 01:03:12,760 We also have King Gunther, whose name in Old Norse tradition is Gunnar, 811 01:03:12,880 --> 01:03:16,520 and Hagen von Tronje, who appears as Högni. 812 01:03:18,640 --> 01:03:23,880 An 11th century depiction portrays the details of the Norse saga of Sigurd. 813 01:03:27,880 --> 01:03:31,160 This is clearly Sigurd the dragon slayer. 814 01:03:31,280 --> 01:03:35,520 Old Icelandic sources claim he did not fight against the dragon, 815 01:03:35,520 --> 01:03:41,280 but dug a pit and waited inside until the worm heaved its body across it 816 01:03:41,400 --> 01:03:45,280 and that's when he jerked up his sword and stabbed the dragon. 817 01:03:48,040 --> 01:03:49,520 11th century. 818 01:03:49,640 --> 01:03:52,400 Is this the earliest record of the myth? 819 01:03:53,520 --> 01:03:58,040 There are even older traces in Visby, on the island of Gotland. 820 01:03:58,160 --> 01:04:03,280 During the Viking years, Gotland was a hub for trading goods, news, and legends. 821 01:04:04,520 --> 01:04:09,520 At the Museum Fornsalen, Sigmund Oehrl studies ancient sources. 822 01:04:09,640 --> 01:04:12,280 The famous picture stones of Gotland, 823 01:04:12,280 --> 01:04:15,880 some of them dating back more than 1500 years. 824 01:04:15,880 --> 01:04:19,040 They tell of Viking gods and heroes. 825 01:04:19,160 --> 01:04:21,640 Could they also hold clues to the Nibelungs? 826 01:04:25,160 --> 01:04:29,400 Using photo technology, Sigmund Oehrl examines a stone 827 01:04:29,400 --> 01:04:32,280 dating back to the 5th or 6th century. 828 01:04:37,520 --> 01:04:42,880 Here, we can actually see a depiction of a worm-like, a dragon-like monster, 829 01:04:43,040 --> 01:04:45,400 and a human figure in front of it. 830 01:04:48,640 --> 01:04:50,880 Is it Sigurd, the dragon slayer? 831 01:04:55,520 --> 01:04:58,760 The experts create a computer model of the stone... 832 01:04:59,640 --> 01:05:02,280 bringing invisible parts to light. 833 01:05:03,280 --> 01:05:08,040 The artist may very well have depicted a dragon slayer 1500 years ago. 834 01:05:10,160 --> 01:05:12,520 But he carries an axe. 835 01:05:17,040 --> 01:05:19,760 This doesn't match the legend of Sigurd. 836 01:05:19,760 --> 01:05:22,280 In the Old Norse tradition, 837 01:05:22,400 --> 01:05:26,760 Sigurd does not fight the dragon with a hammer or axe,he stabs it from below. 838 01:05:28,280 --> 01:05:32,280 It turns out the old stone does not show Sigurd, or Siegfried. 839 01:05:34,280 --> 01:05:37,640 The search continues in Bunge, Gotland, 840 01:05:37,760 --> 01:05:41,760 where other picture stones from the 9th century are kept, 841 01:05:41,760 --> 01:05:44,400 some of them in good condition. 842 01:05:46,040 --> 01:05:49,760 The researcher actually finds what he's been looking for: 843 01:05:49,880 --> 01:05:53,400 a picture that could tie into the saga of Sigurd. 844 01:05:58,880 --> 01:06:04,040 Sigurd's horse Grani with the legendary, cursed treasure on its back. 845 01:06:06,160 --> 01:06:11,040 This is the image that became a metaphor in the language of the Vikings. 846 01:06:12,040 --> 01:06:15,040 They called gold “Grani's burden,” 847 01:06:15,040 --> 01:06:18,040 and this is exactly what we see here. 848 01:06:23,280 --> 01:06:25,400 Another detail fits the Norse legend: 849 01:06:26,280 --> 01:06:30,880 Sigurd's death, indicated by the figure underneath the horse. 850 01:06:31,040 --> 01:06:33,880 A crucial sign for Sigmund Oehrl. 851 01:06:39,160 --> 01:06:43,160 If this was really the depiction of the fallen hero Sigurd, 852 01:06:43,160 --> 01:06:48,280 it would mean that we had the earliest record of the Sigurd and Nibelung saga 853 01:06:48,400 --> 01:06:52,040 right here on the Baltic island of Gotland. 854 01:06:55,880 --> 01:07:01,280 The oldest likely source of the Nibelung saga roughly dates back to the year 800, 855 01:07:01,400 --> 01:07:05,160 400 years before the story was written in Germany. 856 01:07:06,760 --> 01:07:10,040 A valuable clue in the search for the true story. 857 01:07:13,400 --> 01:07:15,040 It is during this era 858 01:07:15,040 --> 01:07:19,520 that the serious repercussions of the migration period are seen. 859 01:07:19,520 --> 01:07:23,520 With the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, 860 01:07:23,520 --> 01:07:28,760 the continent is shaped for generations by the migration of entire tribes. 861 01:07:32,280 --> 01:07:36,160 During this period of transition, it is also the golden age 862 01:07:36,280 --> 01:07:39,880 for the historical inspiration for the Nibelung saga, 863 01:07:40,040 --> 01:07:42,520 the Burgundian Empire on the Rhine. 864 01:07:42,520 --> 01:07:47,040 The first records of the Germanic Burgundians are from the 1st century, 865 01:07:47,160 --> 01:07:51,040 when they were settling in a region now belonging to Poland. 866 01:07:52,880 --> 01:07:58,280 The Burgundians set up on the Rhine at the start of the migration. 867 01:07:58,400 --> 01:08:03,880 And the heart of their Empire is exactly where the Nibelungen saga is set: Worms. 868 01:08:06,160 --> 01:08:10,520 And just as in the saga, the real Burgundians are doomed. 869 01:08:11,400 --> 01:08:15,280 In around 435, they are defeated by Roman troops. 870 01:08:16,040 --> 01:08:18,640 They were forced to flee and resettle. 871 01:08:18,760 --> 01:08:22,160 The name Burgundy now lives on in France. 872 01:08:22,160 --> 01:08:24,640 (battle cries) 873 01:08:27,160 --> 01:08:28,880 (horse neighs) 874 01:08:29,040 --> 01:08:33,160 King Gunther's character is based on an historical figure, 875 01:08:33,279 --> 01:08:36,039 the real Burgundian king Gundahar. 876 01:08:39,960 --> 01:08:43,520 There are more parallels between reality and legend. 877 01:08:43,680 --> 01:08:48,920 According to Roman sources, the Empire got military support from the Huns. 878 01:08:49,040 --> 01:08:51,760 (battle cries) 879 01:08:53,520 --> 01:08:56,000 Etzel, has a real counterpart, too. 880 01:08:56,040 --> 01:08:57,280 Attila... 881 01:08:58,040 --> 01:09:00,000 legendary leader of the Huns. 882 01:09:04,040 --> 01:09:08,040 Like Etzel, Attila is said to have been married to a Germanic woman. 883 01:09:09,040 --> 01:09:13,279 She could be the historical inspiration for Kriemhild. 884 01:09:13,279 --> 01:09:17,759 Her name, Ildico would be Hildchen, little Hild in German. 885 01:09:21,520 --> 01:09:24,280 The Nibelungenlied mixes reality with fiction. 886 01:09:24,319 --> 01:09:27,039 The Burgundians were real people. 887 01:09:27,040 --> 01:09:30,760 This is a story about the fall of those groups of people. 888 01:09:30,760 --> 01:09:35,279 We also have the Hun, who are mythologized as being incredibly scary. 889 01:09:35,279 --> 01:09:38,759 The fact that it has this central core of reality 890 01:09:38,760 --> 01:09:42,279 means we can actually believe all aspects of the myth, 891 01:09:42,279 --> 01:09:44,279 which makes it more powerful. 892 01:09:45,319 --> 01:09:48,279 With so many characters having traceable roots, 893 01:09:48,279 --> 01:09:50,759 it makes it even easier to conclude 894 01:09:50,760 --> 01:09:54,520 that the legendary treasure must truly exist. 895 01:09:54,520 --> 01:09:57,280 The Nibelung treasure can exist. 896 01:09:57,280 --> 01:09:59,800 Between the third and the sixth centuries, 897 01:10:00,040 --> 01:10:02,280 people buried things constantly. 898 01:10:02,320 --> 01:10:07,520 Particularly precious metals, gold, silver, jewelry, dishes, weapons. 899 01:10:07,560 --> 01:10:10,520 They've been found repeatedly over the years. 900 01:10:10,520 --> 01:10:13,520 Hoards of the most majestic treasure. 901 01:10:13,520 --> 01:10:17,760 The idea that the Nibelung treasure is still out there is very real. 902 01:10:23,760 --> 01:10:29,320 For treasure hunter Hans Jörg Jacobi, the traceable roots serve as confirmation. 903 01:10:30,520 --> 01:10:35,520 During the migration period, it was common for each group to carry treasure. 904 01:10:35,760 --> 01:10:38,040 They had to pay their people. 905 01:10:38,040 --> 01:10:40,800 That's why every tribe had treasure. 906 01:10:44,040 --> 01:10:49,520 In the Rhine, countless divers have searched for the treasure to no avail. 907 01:10:49,760 --> 01:10:53,040 Hans Jörg Jacobi is convinced of one thing: 908 01:10:53,040 --> 01:10:56,000 they were looking in the wrong place. 909 01:10:57,800 --> 01:11:02,520 The Nibelungenlied gives the exact location of the sunken treasure. 910 01:11:04,280 --> 01:11:08,040 One line in the Nibelungenlied has caught his attention: 911 01:11:10,760 --> 01:11:13,520 "Hagen sunk the treasure near Loche." 912 01:11:15,280 --> 01:11:17,760 Is this the location of the treasure? 913 01:11:21,520 --> 01:11:24,000 Jacobi studies old maps of the region 914 01:11:24,040 --> 01:11:27,320 and finds a place that has long since disappeared. 915 01:11:27,520 --> 01:11:29,560 Lochheim. Loche. 916 01:11:30,760 --> 01:11:34,760 Not only the name stands up, the location seems perfect, too. 917 01:11:38,320 --> 01:11:42,320 A bit further down the Rhine there is a large bend in the river, 918 01:11:42,520 --> 01:11:48,000 where the water is very deep, down about 16 or 18 meters at average water level. 919 01:11:48,040 --> 01:11:51,040 Today, it is called "The Dark Place". 920 01:11:53,520 --> 01:11:56,080 The bend is still obvious to this day. 921 01:11:56,280 --> 01:11:59,760 But Jacobi has a theory about why divers couldn't find anything. 922 01:12:02,320 --> 01:12:05,520 The river course has changed over the centuries. 923 01:12:05,560 --> 01:12:09,520 Bends have been straightened, tributaries have dried up. 924 01:12:13,280 --> 01:12:16,040 The riverbed has moved many times. 925 01:12:16,280 --> 01:12:20,040 What used to be the bottom of the Rhine is dry land today. 926 01:12:25,040 --> 01:12:28,760 Might this also affect the spot that Hagen once chose? 927 01:12:30,040 --> 01:12:33,280 Benjamin Czerny also searches on land. 928 01:12:33,280 --> 01:12:38,040 The forest he's scouring lies right next to a small tributary of the Rhine. 929 01:12:38,280 --> 01:12:40,800 Unlike in fields and populated areas, 930 01:12:41,040 --> 01:12:44,560 many things remain buried in the ground, untouched. 931 01:12:48,760 --> 01:12:51,040 (metal detector beeps) 932 01:12:55,760 --> 01:12:58,000 (detector continues beeping) 933 01:13:02,760 --> 01:13:05,000 I'm getting a good signal here. 934 01:13:05,040 --> 01:13:08,280 -(detector beeps) -I'm definitely going to dig here. 935 01:13:14,760 --> 01:13:17,800 I've already found something. There it is. 936 01:13:19,040 --> 01:13:20,760 There. Look. 937 01:13:21,760 --> 01:13:23,760 Man, that's crazy. 938 01:13:26,800 --> 01:13:29,040 Look. That's incredible. 939 01:13:30,000 --> 01:13:32,080 An old brooch made of silver. 940 01:13:34,520 --> 01:13:35,800 That's really cool. 941 01:13:36,520 --> 01:13:40,800 It's definitely an art nouveau brooch, dating back to around 1910. 942 01:13:41,040 --> 01:13:44,280 They used to make a lot of things with these flowers. 943 01:13:44,520 --> 01:13:47,280 That‘s beautiful. A great find, for sure. 944 01:13:50,040 --> 01:13:51,800 Not from the time of the Nibelungs, 945 01:13:52,040 --> 01:13:54,760 but the first sign he's on the right track. 946 01:13:58,520 --> 01:14:02,760 The ground is deeper here, which stretches out along this line, 947 01:14:02,760 --> 01:14:04,520 from here to there. 948 01:14:04,520 --> 01:14:07,760 I suppose this used to be a path a long time ago. 949 01:14:07,760 --> 01:14:10,560 There could be more. Let's keep looking. 950 01:14:12,320 --> 01:14:15,040 He follows the former road attentively. 951 01:14:15,040 --> 01:14:18,280 And it's not long before he gets the next signal. 952 01:14:19,040 --> 01:14:20,280 (detector beeps) 953 01:14:27,760 --> 01:14:30,280 Wow, I think that's a coin. 954 01:14:31,040 --> 01:14:34,760 It's tarnished and green, but you can see red at the edges, 955 01:14:35,000 --> 01:14:37,040 so it's probably copper. 956 01:14:38,760 --> 01:14:41,040 It seems pretty old, too. 957 01:14:43,040 --> 01:14:47,280 They had copper coins 2,000 years ago: copper, bronze, and so on. 958 01:14:47,280 --> 01:14:49,520 They had that very early on. 959 01:14:51,280 --> 01:14:55,040 Czerny can only determine the exact age of the coin 960 01:14:55,040 --> 01:14:59,760 and whether it will lead him to the Nibelung treasure once he's home. 961 01:15:04,760 --> 01:15:09,520 While Hans Jörg Jacobi believes he has already found the right place. 962 01:15:12,760 --> 01:15:15,760 We suppose the Rhine used to run closer to here 963 01:15:15,760 --> 01:15:18,040 and moved slowly over time, 964 01:15:18,040 --> 01:15:21,520 maybe even by as much as its own width. 965 01:15:21,560 --> 01:15:27,760 That's when we said, "We actually have to go down there and see what we find." 966 01:15:29,520 --> 01:15:31,760 Jacobi followed his hunch. 967 01:15:31,760 --> 01:15:36,040 In the 1970s, with some heavy machinery, he drills a shaft. 968 01:15:36,800 --> 01:15:39,760 But the treasure hunt proves complicated. 969 01:15:41,760 --> 01:15:46,040 At ten meters down, the drill hits hard rock. 970 01:15:46,040 --> 01:15:49,040 Jacobi orders to stabilize the shaft with pipes. 971 01:15:50,080 --> 01:15:52,280 But the structure isn't safe. 972 01:15:57,040 --> 01:15:59,280 We sent a diver in, 973 01:15:59,520 --> 01:16:02,520 who immediately knocked against the wall, 974 01:16:02,560 --> 01:16:05,520 and we pulled him up again with great effort. 975 01:16:07,080 --> 01:16:11,520 The endeavor is too dangerous, and Jacobi aborts the mission. 976 01:16:11,520 --> 01:16:13,760 The failure still boosts his hopes. 977 01:16:15,800 --> 01:16:18,520 He believes the impermeable layer of rock 978 01:16:18,760 --> 01:16:21,760 could be a cover Hagen placed over the treasure. 979 01:16:23,280 --> 01:16:28,520 He suspects there is a cavity beneath it, filled with the gold of the Nibelungs. 980 01:16:33,560 --> 01:16:37,520 It's possible there are amphoras, standing side by side. 981 01:16:37,520 --> 01:16:40,800 Maybe there is some sort of stone cover on top of them. 982 01:16:42,040 --> 01:16:45,520 Jacobi can't secure any funding for other excavations. 983 01:16:45,560 --> 01:16:49,520 To this day, he hasn't been able to prove his theory. 984 01:16:49,560 --> 01:16:53,040 I think one day, it will be found, but it won't be so easy. 985 01:16:54,760 --> 01:16:58,520 Or was the gold of the Nibelungs already found long ago? 986 01:17:06,080 --> 01:17:09,760 One of the most precious finds from the Rhine lies here, 987 01:17:09,760 --> 01:17:12,040 on Museum Island in Berlin. 988 01:17:14,760 --> 01:17:18,080 The museum is filled with showpieces of centuries past. 989 01:17:18,280 --> 01:17:24,040 And Heino Neumayer, museum curator, has a real sensation in store: 990 01:17:25,040 --> 01:17:27,040 the hoard of Neupotz. 991 01:17:30,280 --> 01:17:35,280 In 1967, the first of these pieces appear in a gravel pit in the Rhine. 992 01:17:36,040 --> 01:17:38,520 A dredger brings them up. 993 01:17:38,560 --> 01:17:41,280 Historians feel incredibly lucky. 994 01:17:42,000 --> 01:17:44,760 Because they were encased in riverbed sand, 995 01:17:44,760 --> 01:17:48,520 large parts have been well preserved over the centuries. 996 01:17:49,280 --> 01:17:52,760 (dubbed in English) It was lucky the workers realized 997 01:17:52,760 --> 01:17:54,520 the importance of their find. 998 01:17:56,000 --> 01:17:59,560 Divers closely examine the ground of the gravel quarry. 999 01:17:59,760 --> 01:18:02,760 They want to make sure they don't miss a single piece. 1000 01:18:05,280 --> 01:18:09,760 The treasures unearthed by the dredgers exceed all expectations. 1001 01:18:10,520 --> 01:18:14,760 Mirrors, weapons, and vessels brimming with ornaments. 1002 01:18:14,800 --> 01:18:18,040 Silver, bronze, copper, iron. 1003 01:18:18,040 --> 01:18:22,040 The value of the raw materials alone is quite impressive. 1004 01:18:24,800 --> 01:18:27,760 What we have here is extraordinary, unique. 1005 01:18:27,800 --> 01:18:32,080 It's the biggest hoard from Roman times ever found north of the Alps. 1006 01:18:35,080 --> 01:18:38,760 Together, the objects weigh over 1500 pounds. 1007 01:18:39,000 --> 01:18:40,760 A real treasure. 1008 01:18:40,800 --> 01:18:43,040 Just like in the Nibelungenlied. 1009 01:18:45,760 --> 01:18:49,280 The divers also retrieve military equipment and tools, 1010 01:18:49,520 --> 01:18:52,040 and the hinges of rotting cartwheels. 1011 01:18:52,080 --> 01:18:58,040 Another consistency, because the treasure of the Nibelungs is loaded on carts, too. 1012 01:19:03,280 --> 01:19:08,520 The Nibelungenlied also states bullock carts moved this treasure out of Worms. 1013 01:19:08,520 --> 01:19:10,760 There are a few things that add up. 1014 01:19:13,040 --> 01:19:15,520 Many details seem fitting. 1015 01:19:15,520 --> 01:19:19,040 But there are also some confusing discoveries. 1016 01:19:20,040 --> 01:19:24,280 We also discovered skulls, skeleton parts in the Rhine... 1017 01:19:25,320 --> 01:19:30,040 although we can never determine for sure if they belong to the treasure. 1018 01:19:30,040 --> 01:19:32,520 They could point to a battle. 1019 01:19:33,560 --> 01:19:38,040 In Roman times, the Rhine was a demarcation line subject to fighting. 1020 01:19:39,520 --> 01:19:43,520 The Romans used battle ships to protect their Empire 1021 01:19:43,520 --> 01:19:45,280 against Germanic attacks. 1022 01:19:48,280 --> 01:19:50,040 With limited success. 1023 01:19:50,040 --> 01:19:54,560 Germanic pillagers incessantly attack wealthy Roman settlements. 1024 01:19:54,760 --> 01:19:56,320 (battle cries) 1025 01:19:58,040 --> 01:20:00,760 And return east with lots of loot. 1026 01:20:03,760 --> 01:20:05,040 (in German) 1027 01:20:05,280 --> 01:20:10,320 (dubbed in English) Maybe the Roman fleet intercepted the Teutons on their return. 1028 01:20:10,520 --> 01:20:14,280 We know the Romans trapped returning Teutons in Raetia, 1029 01:20:14,280 --> 01:20:16,760 but also in Colonia, and defeated them. 1030 01:20:18,320 --> 01:20:22,760 But the Teutons can't outrun the fast boats of the Romans. 1031 01:20:22,760 --> 01:20:28,080 The treasure of Neupotz might have sunk in the Rhine during one of their battles. 1032 01:20:29,560 --> 01:20:34,280 The Roman coins that were found along with the treasure seem to confirm this. 1033 01:20:36,040 --> 01:20:40,320 It is striking that there are no coins minted after 260 CE. 1034 01:20:41,560 --> 01:20:44,520 We have to assume they all went into the Rhine 1035 01:20:44,520 --> 01:20:47,520 before or around the year 260. 1036 01:20:51,040 --> 01:20:55,800 This is right when the Teutons launch what was then their most major attack. 1037 01:20:56,040 --> 01:21:00,800 Around the year 259, they cross large parts of the Limes 1038 01:21:01,040 --> 01:21:03,760 and advance deeply into Roman territory. 1039 01:21:06,040 --> 01:21:08,520 Sources document these pillages. 1040 01:21:08,760 --> 01:21:11,280 In combination with the series of coins, 1041 01:21:11,320 --> 01:21:15,520 this leads us to a very concrete event in 259/260. 1042 01:21:16,320 --> 01:21:21,280 It is clear: The hoard of Neupotz can't be the treasure of the Nibelungs. 1043 01:21:23,800 --> 01:21:27,280 The Nibelungenlied is set around the year 500, 1044 01:21:27,320 --> 01:21:30,080 while this event took place 250 years earlier. 1045 01:21:40,760 --> 01:21:44,280 Is the Nibelung treasure still waiting to be found? 1046 01:21:44,520 --> 01:21:46,320 Or is it merely a myth? 1047 01:21:50,280 --> 01:21:54,560 The treasure hunt begins when old manuscripts were rediscovered. 1048 01:21:54,760 --> 01:21:59,000 The Nibelungenlied got hardly any attention for centuries, 1049 01:21:59,040 --> 01:22:02,040 but was found again at just the right moment. 1050 01:22:05,080 --> 01:22:10,520 The Nibelungenlied had fallen into oblivion until 1755. 1051 01:22:11,520 --> 01:22:13,760 That's when it was rediscovered. 1052 01:22:13,760 --> 01:22:17,760 That's when the modern history of the Nibelungenlied begins. 1053 01:22:20,760 --> 01:22:26,040 Late in the 18th century, medieval legends suddenly become hugely popular. 1054 01:22:28,520 --> 01:22:32,280 In the same period, Germany is nothing more than a patchwork 1055 01:22:32,280 --> 01:22:34,760 of kingdoms and principalities. 1056 01:22:34,760 --> 01:22:39,520 The feeling of a national identity or a common culture is still weak, 1057 01:22:39,760 --> 01:22:42,040 and is shaken by an invasion. 1058 01:22:44,000 --> 01:22:48,040 Napoleon successfully wages war against Germany's monarchs. 1059 01:22:49,560 --> 01:22:52,280 In 1806, he invades Berlin. 1060 01:22:52,280 --> 01:22:56,080 Many German cities fall under French military rule. 1061 01:23:05,760 --> 01:23:09,520 The Nibelung saga became very important in the 1800s, 1062 01:23:09,520 --> 01:23:12,760 because Napoleon was rampaging through Europe. 1063 01:23:12,800 --> 01:23:15,280 He was conquering everywhere he went. 1064 01:23:15,520 --> 01:23:20,280 When you have conquerors doing that, what happens is there's a real desire 1065 01:23:20,320 --> 01:23:23,520 for people to find their own national identity, 1066 01:23:23,520 --> 01:23:26,560 especially stories which are all about honor, 1067 01:23:26,760 --> 01:23:29,280 all about strength and resistance. 1068 01:23:29,320 --> 01:23:31,760 That's why the Nibelung was so important. 1069 01:23:31,800 --> 01:23:35,040 Copies of it were given to troops on the battlefront 1070 01:23:35,040 --> 01:23:37,520 to inspire them against their new foe. 1071 01:23:39,760 --> 01:23:42,760 Composer Richard Wagner takes up the story. 1072 01:23:43,280 --> 01:23:49,000 The opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen becomes a worldwide success. 1073 01:23:49,040 --> 01:23:53,520 (Richard Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries" plays) 1074 01:23:58,040 --> 01:24:02,280 In 1924, cinema legend Fritz Lang creates the first motion picture 1075 01:24:02,520 --> 01:24:04,560 of the legendary characters. 1076 01:24:04,760 --> 01:24:09,560 In his five-hour-long silent film, he writes cinematographic history, 1077 01:24:09,760 --> 01:24:14,040 with the Nibelungs rising to the status of national heroes. 1078 01:24:20,040 --> 01:24:23,280 The Nazis use the tale for their own purposes. 1079 01:24:23,280 --> 01:24:28,040 It doesn't matter to them that the story depicts the downfall of a tribe. 1080 01:24:28,040 --> 01:24:33,080 Siegfried's valor and the Burgundian loyalty until death are idolized. 1081 01:24:33,280 --> 01:24:38,520 Nazi propaganda is home to anything that can be presented as "typically German." 1082 01:24:39,520 --> 01:24:43,560 For the Nazis, the Nibelungenlied represented real treasure: 1083 01:24:43,760 --> 01:24:47,280 something to exploit for their own propaganda. 1084 01:24:47,280 --> 01:24:52,280 It features concepts like honor, vengeance, battles, blind loyalty. 1085 01:24:52,280 --> 01:24:57,760 These are themes the Nazis often used for their own purposes and their warmongering. 1086 01:24:57,760 --> 01:25:01,280 Siegfried becomes the quintessential German hero. 1087 01:25:01,280 --> 01:25:05,280 His victory over the dragon fans the flames of the fantasy. 1088 01:25:05,280 --> 01:25:08,800 A mysterious sword is said to have led him to triumph. 1089 01:25:15,280 --> 01:25:18,760 But is there truth to this part of the Nibelungenlied? 1090 01:25:19,520 --> 01:25:23,520 Bladesmith Stefan Roth wants to get to the bottom of this myth. 1091 01:25:23,560 --> 01:25:28,760 He has mastered the forging technology that was used more than 1,000 years ago. 1092 01:25:33,040 --> 01:25:34,280 (Roth in German) 1093 01:25:34,320 --> 01:25:38,520 (dubbed in English) In the Middle Ages, bladesmiths were specialists, 1094 01:25:38,560 --> 01:25:41,520 who made every high-tech product of their time, 1095 01:25:41,760 --> 01:25:44,400 equal to the weapons that are perhaps manufactured 1096 01:25:44,520 --> 01:25:47,520 in hidden laboratories or at Area 51 today. 1097 01:25:47,520 --> 01:25:51,040 Back in the early Middle Ages, these smiths did this work. 1098 01:25:54,040 --> 01:25:57,520 Back in the 5th century, swords were high-tech weapons, 1099 01:25:57,560 --> 01:26:00,520 luxury goods, and status symbols alike. 1100 01:26:00,560 --> 01:26:03,520 They are featured in countless legends. 1101 01:26:07,480 --> 01:26:12,880 Like in the Norse Thidrekssaga, which has striking parallels to the Nibelungenlied. 1102 01:26:17,040 --> 01:26:21,560 Wieland forges a powerful sword by rasping an old sword to powder, 1103 01:26:21,640 --> 01:26:25,000 which he mixes with the feed for his geese. 1104 01:26:25,040 --> 01:26:28,520 The blacksmith then takes the digested steel 1105 01:26:28,520 --> 01:26:33,040 and using a hammer and an anvil, he creates a wonder sword. 1106 01:26:34,520 --> 01:26:38,040 Does the legend contain a secret medieval formula? 1107 01:26:39,880 --> 01:26:43,520 The transmutation of metallurgical recipes into mythic stories 1108 01:26:43,520 --> 01:26:45,680 was common for alchemists of the time. 1109 01:26:45,920 --> 01:26:48,480 You might have seen this as more normal 1110 01:26:48,520 --> 01:26:50,680 than the writing down of a recipe. 1111 01:26:53,560 --> 01:26:56,520 Stefan Roth wants to fact check this. 1112 01:26:56,520 --> 01:27:00,680 He and his son Darius make a sword following the ancient instructions 1113 01:27:00,920 --> 01:27:03,160 as closely as possible. 1114 01:27:03,400 --> 01:27:06,880 We simply mixed the iron ore with dried bird feces. 1115 01:27:08,680 --> 01:27:13,400 Bird feces contain a lot of nitrogen, which could make the steal harder. 1116 01:27:14,520 --> 01:27:16,640 Does the technique really work? 1117 01:27:21,040 --> 01:27:25,640 Using a bloomery, the men set out to produce the medieval wonder steel, 1118 01:27:25,880 --> 01:27:29,440 so they can get started with the actual forging process. 1119 01:27:35,040 --> 01:27:39,120 They start by tackling the ball of steel with nothing but a hammer. 1120 01:27:41,040 --> 01:27:45,640 (Roth) We don't just forge the steel to shape it. It's a purification process. 1121 01:27:45,880 --> 01:27:49,520 We want to get rid of the slag, charcoal rests, and the ashes. 1122 01:27:51,040 --> 01:27:55,400 After many hours of work, they end up with a rectangular block. 1123 01:27:58,080 --> 01:28:02,040 They go on and fold this basic shape several times, 1124 01:28:02,120 --> 01:28:07,120 working it again and again with the hammer until they create a long blade. 1125 01:28:08,560 --> 01:28:12,520 Stefan Roth forges a second sword to compare with the Wieland sword. 1126 01:28:13,400 --> 01:28:16,640 This weapon does not contain bird feces. 1127 01:28:16,880 --> 01:28:19,040 Which sword will be better? 1128 01:28:24,080 --> 01:28:27,520 They will test both blades in an old factory building. 1129 01:28:28,960 --> 01:28:30,640 -Hi, Stefan. -Hi. 1130 01:28:30,880 --> 01:28:33,600 (Roth) Here they are, our beautiful swords. 1131 01:28:34,480 --> 01:28:39,520 Sixt Wetzler from the German Blade Museum wants to put the Wieland to the test. 1132 01:28:42,040 --> 01:28:43,120 (in German) 1133 01:28:43,200 --> 01:28:46,040 (dubbed in English) A fascinating experiment: 1134 01:28:46,040 --> 01:28:51,040 trying to find out if mixing bird feces into the steel changes its properties. 1135 01:28:51,080 --> 01:28:54,440 I'm really excited to see what we'll find. 1136 01:28:55,040 --> 01:29:00,000 Wetzler is not only an archaeologist and expert for ancient blade weapons, 1137 01:29:00,040 --> 01:29:02,520 he is also an excellent swordsman. 1138 01:29:02,520 --> 01:29:06,400 In our experiment, he will wield the conventional sword, 1139 01:29:06,480 --> 01:29:09,120 the blade without any bird feces. 1140 01:29:09,200 --> 01:29:14,160 Roth brandishes the sword he forged according to Wieland's technique. 1141 01:29:14,400 --> 01:29:17,000 He, too, is an experienced swordsman. 1142 01:29:21,960 --> 01:29:24,600 What's behind the legend of the wonder weapon? 1143 01:29:24,680 --> 01:29:27,680 The two experts put the swords to the test. 1144 01:29:30,520 --> 01:29:32,480 Challenge number one: 1145 01:29:32,520 --> 01:29:34,960 sever a rope with a two-inch diameter. 1146 01:29:36,200 --> 01:29:40,040 A test that only a particularly sharp blade can withstand. 1147 01:29:42,080 --> 01:29:45,680 The sword has to rip into the rope, making a clean cut. 1148 01:29:45,920 --> 01:29:49,400 If it is too blunt, it will merely displace the rope. 1149 01:29:51,000 --> 01:29:54,040 Sixt goes first with the conventional sword. 1150 01:29:59,040 --> 01:30:01,520 The test goes off without a hitch. 1151 01:30:05,520 --> 01:30:07,560 Next up, the legendary sword. 1152 01:30:08,960 --> 01:30:10,520 (he grunts) 1153 01:30:10,520 --> 01:30:14,040 The rope stands no chance against Stefan Roth. 1154 01:30:14,040 --> 01:30:17,040 Interim conclusion after the first round: 1155 01:30:17,040 --> 01:30:19,120 I'd say it's a tie. 1156 01:30:20,480 --> 01:30:22,200 It's time to up the game. 1157 01:30:22,440 --> 01:30:25,520 Sixt will now have to cut through a steel pipe. 1158 01:30:35,120 --> 01:30:39,120 The medieval blade only makes a dent in the modern steel. 1159 01:30:41,520 --> 01:30:44,520 Will the alleged wonder sword be more powerful? 1160 01:30:49,520 --> 01:30:51,520 Not at first glance. 1161 01:30:51,520 --> 01:30:54,400 But the blacksmith detects a visible cut. 1162 01:30:57,120 --> 01:31:00,200 The Wieland sword performed better. A clear-cut case. 1163 01:31:05,520 --> 01:31:08,520 The final hurdle is a real stress test: 1164 01:31:08,560 --> 01:31:12,000 175 pounds of massive ice. 1165 01:31:13,440 --> 01:31:15,120 I'm excited. 1166 01:31:15,200 --> 01:31:19,680 I don't know what'll happen, how the ice will react, so, we'll see. 1167 01:31:21,520 --> 01:31:24,520 Not only is ice extremely hard, 1168 01:31:24,520 --> 01:31:27,040 it also poses a risk to the blade, 1169 01:31:27,120 --> 01:31:30,680 which can become brittle and break due to the cold. 1170 01:31:32,080 --> 01:31:34,520 (he grunts) 1171 01:31:42,480 --> 01:31:46,040 The regular sword withstands the test, but not unscathed. 1172 01:31:48,040 --> 01:31:50,160 You can see where it got hit. 1173 01:31:50,400 --> 01:31:52,480 It's pretty bent right there. 1174 01:31:55,480 --> 01:32:01,120 The ice block shows that a sword doesn't just have to be sharp, but stable as well. 1175 01:32:01,200 --> 01:32:05,640 Will the nitrogen from the bird feces prove effective once again? 1176 01:32:12,200 --> 01:32:15,520 Stefan Roth shows no mercy on the ice. 1177 01:32:16,520 --> 01:32:18,560 It takes fewer blows to destroy it. 1178 01:32:22,000 --> 01:32:23,960 The crucial question is: 1179 01:32:24,040 --> 01:32:28,400 How did his sword withstand exposure to the cold? 1180 01:32:28,480 --> 01:32:30,400 The edges are perfectly fine. 1181 01:32:30,480 --> 01:32:34,160 I'm surprised myself how much such a sword can withstand. 1182 01:32:34,400 --> 01:32:36,920 It's a really brutal test. 1183 01:32:37,000 --> 01:32:38,640 And the winner is... 1184 01:32:40,520 --> 01:32:43,640 Congratulations. Stefan won two rounds. 1185 01:32:44,920 --> 01:32:48,480 The Wieland sword scored slightly better. 1186 01:32:48,520 --> 01:32:51,400 As wondrous as the mythical formula sounds, 1187 01:32:51,480 --> 01:32:54,480 it seems to have been based on actual knowledge. 1188 01:32:55,040 --> 01:33:00,480 Maybe people found out by accident, and the stories lived on in the legend. 1189 01:33:00,520 --> 01:33:05,520 Our test has shown legendary swords are more than just a fantasy. 1190 01:33:07,040 --> 01:33:09,000 Swords are powerful in myth. 1191 01:33:09,040 --> 01:33:13,400 They tend to be associated with power and with a particular hero. 1192 01:33:13,480 --> 01:33:16,520 Take for example Excalibur and King Arthur. 1193 01:33:16,520 --> 01:33:19,200 These swords were often highly decorated 1194 01:33:19,440 --> 01:33:22,040 People wouldn't have seen anything like this. 1195 01:33:22,040 --> 01:33:25,560 It made them feel like this was an important, magical symbol. 1196 01:33:28,120 --> 01:33:31,520 Siegfried achieves his greatest feat with a sword. 1197 01:33:35,520 --> 01:33:39,600 He defeats the dragon, an opponent far superior. 1198 01:33:48,000 --> 01:33:52,520 In the Middle Ages, dragons are more than just mythical creatures. 1199 01:33:52,600 --> 01:33:55,960 People actually believe that they exist. 1200 01:33:56,040 --> 01:33:59,040 They represent the ultimate evil. 1201 01:33:59,040 --> 01:34:00,920 (dragon screeches) 1202 01:34:01,480 --> 01:34:05,080 Churchgoers believe they have been sent by the devil. 1203 01:34:05,160 --> 01:34:10,640 Stories of dragon slayers like St. George depict the victory of good over evil. 1204 01:34:24,520 --> 01:34:29,040 The myth is fueled by bones that are inexplicable to our ancestors. 1205 01:34:32,160 --> 01:34:37,520 Not until the modern period do researchers start to investigate these bones. 1206 01:34:37,520 --> 01:34:40,520 At first, they believe they are elephant femurs 1207 01:34:40,560 --> 01:34:43,520 or the teeth of prehistoric giants. 1208 01:34:45,880 --> 01:34:50,520 In 1824, British geologist William Buckland is the first to attribute 1209 01:34:50,520 --> 01:34:54,520 a jawbone to an entirely new animal species. 1210 01:34:56,040 --> 01:35:01,600 He says his find is part of a gigantic reptile that he calls "megalosaurus." 1211 01:35:01,680 --> 01:35:04,040 Dinosaur research is born. 1212 01:35:06,640 --> 01:35:09,520 Can you imagine finding dinosaur bones? 1213 01:35:09,560 --> 01:35:12,160 It happened the world over in ancient times. 1214 01:35:12,400 --> 01:35:15,520 They didn't know about dinosaurs or evolution. 1215 01:35:15,560 --> 01:35:18,040 It was easy for them to project dragons on them. 1216 01:35:19,400 --> 01:35:20,920 The dragon. 1217 01:35:21,000 --> 01:35:22,520 The sword. 1218 01:35:22,520 --> 01:35:24,040 Siegfried's feat. 1219 01:35:24,080 --> 01:35:29,040 If we can find explanations for some of the most fantastic details of the myth, 1220 01:35:29,120 --> 01:35:31,600 the gold has to exist for certain. 1221 01:35:35,120 --> 01:35:39,680 He also firmly believes the Nibelung treasure is somewhere out there: 1222 01:35:40,200 --> 01:35:42,440 Helmut Siegert from Heidelberg. 1223 01:35:43,680 --> 01:35:48,160 The former engineer is a real expert when it comes to finding treasure. 1224 01:35:51,040 --> 01:35:52,040 (in German) 1225 01:35:52,120 --> 01:35:56,080 (dubbed in English) I've known the Nibelungen saga since I was a child. 1226 01:35:56,160 --> 01:35:58,480 It's always fascinated me. 1227 01:36:00,200 --> 01:36:03,680 Siegert has developed his own method to hunt for treasure. 1228 01:36:04,880 --> 01:36:09,440 He has detected hundreds of water sources with a home-made dowsing rod. 1229 01:36:09,520 --> 01:36:13,400 Now he believes he has located the Nibelung treasure, too. 1230 01:36:14,520 --> 01:36:19,440 He is using a thin wire rod meant to pick up electromagnetic vibrations. 1231 01:36:20,520 --> 01:36:27,400 I sat down and I said, "OK, Worms. Where can I find anything?" 1232 01:36:29,520 --> 01:36:33,040 And the rod was here, and nothing happened. 1233 01:36:34,480 --> 01:36:36,640 That's when I said "OK." 1234 01:36:36,880 --> 01:36:39,440 Taking the adjacent map, 1235 01:36:39,520 --> 01:36:43,480 and you can already see what is happening: 1236 01:36:43,520 --> 01:36:45,480 the rod is moving to the left. 1237 01:36:46,400 --> 01:36:49,520 So I drew this line here and turned the map. 1238 01:36:51,040 --> 01:36:55,120 And then the rod slowly moves further over here. 1239 01:36:57,520 --> 01:37:01,040 There is even a sign on the map marking the location 1240 01:37:01,040 --> 01:37:03,160 very close to the Rhine. 1241 01:37:03,400 --> 01:37:06,600 Will it lead Siegert to the treasure of the Nibelungs? 1242 01:37:09,160 --> 01:37:12,160 His discovery exceeds all of his hopes. 1243 01:37:22,880 --> 01:37:26,040 I'm standing in front of ruins of an old fortress. 1244 01:37:26,040 --> 01:37:29,520 This used to be a Roman burgus with a harbor 1245 01:37:29,600 --> 01:37:34,040 where they loaded stones from the Odenwald mountain range onto ships. 1246 01:37:36,960 --> 01:37:40,040 An ideal hiding spot for the Nibelung treasure. 1247 01:37:42,040 --> 01:37:45,480 Taking a small tributary, a ship can soon cover the distance 1248 01:37:45,520 --> 01:37:49,920 between the Rhine and the castle, even if it's heavily loaded. 1249 01:37:50,640 --> 01:37:53,640 The fortress lies protected deep in the woods. 1250 01:37:57,160 --> 01:38:01,560 According to Siegert's theory, Hagen loaded the treasure onto two boats, 1251 01:38:01,640 --> 01:38:05,040 which then travelled to the former Roman harbor basin, 1252 01:38:05,040 --> 01:38:08,080 where they were sunk along with the treasure. 1253 01:38:09,160 --> 01:38:13,040 To retrieve it, he would have only needed to drain the basin. 1254 01:38:17,040 --> 01:38:22,040 To check his theory, Siegert is using a ground-penetrating radar, 1255 01:38:22,080 --> 01:38:24,480 which detects metal in the ground. 1256 01:38:27,480 --> 01:38:32,200 The device picks up vibrations exactly where he suspects the treasure to be. 1257 01:38:32,440 --> 01:38:36,000 Something seems to be buried four meters beneath the surface. 1258 01:38:36,040 --> 01:38:40,520 Siegert is sure it's one of two gold-laden boats. 1259 01:38:40,560 --> 01:38:44,520 For him, this is proof that Hagen sunk the Nibelung treasure 1260 01:38:44,560 --> 01:38:46,520 in this very location. 1261 01:38:46,560 --> 01:38:49,040 It was the most logical thing to do. 1262 01:38:49,080 --> 01:38:52,960 You could conduct a clandestine operation at night here: 1263 01:38:53,040 --> 01:38:55,520 bring two ships here and sink them. 1264 01:38:55,520 --> 01:38:57,600 You could block the branch of the Rhine. 1265 01:38:57,680 --> 01:39:02,040 You still could access the treasure, also mentioned in the Nibelungenlied 1266 01:39:02,040 --> 01:39:04,520 since they wanted to retrieve it. 1267 01:39:07,440 --> 01:39:11,560 Everything fits perfectly. This is where the Nibelung treasure is. 1268 01:39:12,640 --> 01:39:15,440 But Siegert can't confirm his theory. 1269 01:39:15,520 --> 01:39:18,560 The site is listed as a cultural heritage. 1270 01:39:18,640 --> 01:39:21,200 Excavations are prohibited. 1271 01:39:23,680 --> 01:39:28,480 At least he has had a notary attest to a finder's fee, just in case. 1272 01:39:34,520 --> 01:39:38,400 In 2014, another find near the Rhine makes headlines. 1273 01:39:38,480 --> 01:39:42,440 In a forest area in Rülzheim, located in the same region, 1274 01:39:42,520 --> 01:39:47,440 a detectorist finds gold and silver jewelry worth more than a million euros. 1275 01:39:48,000 --> 01:39:50,040 Is this the Nibelung treasure? 1276 01:39:51,040 --> 01:39:54,600 In the Rülzheim forest, Czerny takes us to the place 1277 01:39:54,680 --> 01:39:58,520 where he made the find of his life back in 2014. 1278 01:40:06,000 --> 01:40:08,040 And this is where we found it. 1279 01:40:08,040 --> 01:40:10,520 You can still see a little depression. 1280 01:40:11,400 --> 01:40:16,040 Czerny has nearly made his way back home when his detector goes off. 1281 01:40:16,080 --> 01:40:19,960 He and his companions immediately take out their spades. 1282 01:40:21,680 --> 01:40:26,000 We started digging. First, we found some rods, 50 centimeters deep. 1283 01:40:26,040 --> 01:40:29,520 Silver rods that looked like they were from a garden fence. 1284 01:40:30,160 --> 01:40:33,680 They unearth more and more pieces, one by one. 1285 01:40:33,920 --> 01:40:39,680 We felt a certain adrenaline rush as we found all the individual parts 1286 01:40:39,920 --> 01:40:43,040 and saw how they shimmered, all silver and golden. 1287 01:40:43,080 --> 01:40:46,160 It's the best outcome for any treasure hunter. 1288 01:40:49,520 --> 01:40:56,040 He films the entire hoard at his home and proudly presents his discovery online. 1289 01:40:58,040 --> 01:41:00,080 (Czerny) The most beautiful piece. 1290 01:41:00,160 --> 01:41:04,120 Unfortunately, the gems are missing, they probably fell out. 1291 01:41:06,160 --> 01:41:11,520 The video attracts the attention of the authorities, who then seize the treasure. 1292 01:41:14,920 --> 01:41:20,440 The Barbarian treasure of Rülzheim ends up in the State Museum of Koblenz. 1293 01:41:20,520 --> 01:41:25,120 What Czerny thought to be a garden fence is a rare Roman folding chair. 1294 01:41:27,200 --> 01:41:29,520 But the real sensation is the bowl. 1295 01:41:30,640 --> 01:41:34,480 These bowls are typical of treasures linked to the Huns. 1296 01:41:36,520 --> 01:41:40,480 It's the archaeological proof that the Huns were near the Rhine 1297 01:41:40,520 --> 01:41:43,040 at the same time as the Burgundians. 1298 01:41:44,680 --> 01:41:49,520 Is the Barbarian treasure of Rülzheim the legendary Nibelung treasure? 1299 01:41:49,600 --> 01:41:53,200 Scientists still haven't been able to answer this. 1300 01:41:53,440 --> 01:41:55,040 The problem: 1301 01:41:55,040 --> 01:41:57,520 A layman has excavated the pieces. 1302 01:41:57,600 --> 01:42:02,040 A lot of important information was lost in the process. 1303 01:42:02,040 --> 01:42:03,440 (in German) 1304 01:42:03,520 --> 01:42:07,640 (dubbed in English) To archaeologists, a site like this is like a crime scene. 1305 01:42:07,880 --> 01:42:11,400 You can find countless pieces of information there: 1306 01:42:11,480 --> 01:42:14,040 the way the objects lie next to each other 1307 01:42:14,080 --> 01:42:16,040 or scientific samples you can take. 1308 01:42:16,120 --> 01:42:21,160 This changes once someone goes digging about with a spade or a hoe. 1309 01:42:21,400 --> 01:42:25,000 It's as bad as being a detective arriving at a crime scene 1310 01:42:25,040 --> 01:42:28,040 and the cleaner has already tidied up. 1311 01:42:30,520 --> 01:42:34,040 While the pieces are clearly from the Burgundian era, 1312 01:42:34,120 --> 01:42:38,120 it remains uncertain whether they're part of their treasures. 1313 01:42:40,640 --> 01:42:44,520 It's possible this treasure is one of many that went into the ground 1314 01:42:44,600 --> 01:42:50,200 during the migration period, and one that laid the groundwork for future legends. 1315 01:42:51,520 --> 01:42:55,000 Maybe the Nibelung treasure is already in a museum, 1316 01:42:55,040 --> 01:42:57,520 without being labelled as such. 1317 01:43:00,520 --> 01:43:04,040 Or the hoard is still in the ground somewhere in Germany, 1318 01:43:04,080 --> 01:43:08,080 just waiting to be found by detectorists like Benjamin Czerny. 1319 01:43:10,520 --> 01:43:15,440 You only come across a treasure as huge as the Nibelung treasure by chance. 1320 01:43:15,520 --> 01:43:18,680 It takes a lot of luck, like winning the lottery. 1321 01:43:20,040 --> 01:43:24,440 And so he hopes that one day he will make another sensational find. 1322 01:43:31,040 --> 01:43:36,560 Treasure hunter Hans Jörg Jacobi has found bliss in the actual song of the Nibelungs. 1323 01:43:36,640 --> 01:43:39,960 He has even composed his own melody. 1324 01:43:41,040 --> 01:43:44,480 (sings Niebelungenlied in Middle High German) 1325 01:44:17,520 --> 01:44:21,120 The Rhine seems to be the only one that knows for sure 1326 01:44:21,200 --> 01:44:24,520 whether the Nibelung treasure has ever existed. 1327 01:44:24,560 --> 01:44:26,440 The only certainty we have 1328 01:44:26,520 --> 01:44:30,520 is that the old myth is much more than mere fantasy. 1329 01:44:30,560 --> 01:44:33,520 It is the dramatic echo of history. 1330 01:44:35,560 --> 01:44:39,320 (narrator) The Huns. A symbol of fear and terror. 1331 01:44:39,400 --> 01:44:41,000 And their king, Attila. 1332 01:44:42,000 --> 01:44:45,800 Many legends and sagas feature the funeral of Attila. 1333 01:44:46,320 --> 01:44:49,840 To this day, his death is shrouded in mystery. 1334 01:44:50,000 --> 01:44:52,000 They tried to hide the tomb. 1335 01:44:52,000 --> 01:44:53,320 (sound of moving slab) 1336 01:44:53,320 --> 01:44:57,680 Hungarian scientists are searching for the legendary tomb. 1337 01:44:57,880 --> 01:44:59,680 They make fascinating discoveries, 1338 01:44:59,680 --> 01:45:02,000 and are getting closer and closer to the Huns. 1339 01:45:03,240 --> 01:45:07,000 (dramatic orchestral music) 1340 01:45:08,320 --> 01:45:11,040 I'm standing on the wall of Attila's castle. 1341 01:45:11,760 --> 01:45:15,000 Will they uncover the secret of the Hun king? 1342 01:45:15,040 --> 01:45:16,720 Unbelievable. 1343 01:45:16,960 --> 01:45:19,000 Where's Attila's tomb? 1344 01:45:20,320 --> 01:45:22,760 (dramatic orchestral music) 1345 01:45:23,000 --> 01:45:25,000 The great myths of mankind. 1346 01:45:25,680 --> 01:45:28,720 Mysteries passed on over thousands of years. 1347 01:45:31,080 --> 01:45:34,360 Inexplicable events, places shrouded in legend, 1348 01:45:34,960 --> 01:45:36,960 and superhuman heroes. 1349 01:45:37,080 --> 01:45:39,360 Even scientists are fascinated. 1350 01:45:41,440 --> 01:45:44,360 Is there any truth to these ancient legends? 1351 01:45:44,440 --> 01:45:46,080 Researchers across the globe 1352 01:45:46,160 --> 01:45:49,520 are working hard to solve the greatest mysteries of our time. 1353 01:45:49,600 --> 01:45:53,080 (dramatic music) 1354 01:45:54,440 --> 01:45:58,360 (mysterious melody) 1355 01:46:05,520 --> 01:46:09,360 (suspenseful music) 1356 01:46:09,360 --> 01:46:11,360 The Hungarian steppe. 1357 01:46:11,360 --> 01:46:13,520 Home of the Huns in the fifth century. 1358 01:46:14,440 --> 01:46:16,960 From here, they set out to plunder and conquer. 1359 01:46:18,080 --> 01:46:19,960 Ghost riders attacking out of nowhere. 1360 01:46:20,720 --> 01:46:22,880 Forcing entire tribes to flee. 1361 01:46:22,960 --> 01:46:24,720 (horse neighing) 1362 01:46:29,960 --> 01:46:32,520 Their greatest leader: Attila, 1363 01:46:32,640 --> 01:46:34,360 The King of the Huns. 1364 01:46:35,760 --> 01:46:37,960 Who is this legendary ruler, 1365 01:46:38,040 --> 01:46:40,800 responsible for instilling fear across Europe? 1366 01:46:43,520 --> 01:46:48,080 Ádám Baumgartner is fascinated by the myths surrounding the Huns. 1367 01:46:48,680 --> 01:46:50,520 He heads a group south of Budapest 1368 01:46:50,680 --> 01:46:53,240 that examines ancient combat techniques. 1369 01:46:53,960 --> 01:46:56,240 Equipped with horses, armour and weapons, 1370 01:46:56,240 --> 01:46:58,800 they dive deep into the history of the Huns. 1371 01:47:00,800 --> 01:47:02,960 (voices and hammering) 1372 01:47:04,360 --> 01:47:07,360 (Baumgartner) The most fascinating thing about the Huns is that 1373 01:47:07,520 --> 01:47:08,800 they came from nowhere. 1374 01:47:08,960 --> 01:47:12,520 They fought with both Roman empires, defeating one of them. 1375 01:47:12,680 --> 01:47:16,360 We also wanted to recreate this beautiful period of history, 1376 01:47:16,520 --> 01:47:18,800 to recreate the Hunnic lifestyle. 1377 01:47:18,800 --> 01:47:21,080 (folk music) 1378 01:47:21,080 --> 01:47:24,520 To the group, there's more to it than just the folklore. 1379 01:47:24,680 --> 01:47:27,360 Armour, clothes, weapons and combat techniques. 1380 01:47:28,080 --> 01:47:31,360 They want everything to be as true to detail as possible. 1381 01:47:32,080 --> 01:47:35,680 Attila has become a cult legend to many Hungarians. 1382 01:47:35,680 --> 01:47:39,680 (folk music becomes more percussive) 1383 01:47:40,800 --> 01:47:46,360 (suspenseful music) 1384 01:47:46,520 --> 01:47:50,240 Nobody knows exactly what the Hun king looked like. 1385 01:47:50,240 --> 01:47:53,800 His people didn't leave behind written documents. 1386 01:47:53,960 --> 01:47:56,360 Only his enemies write about him, 1387 01:47:56,520 --> 01:47:59,800 and so Attila is remembered mainly as one thing: 1388 01:48:00,800 --> 01:48:02,800 the scourge of God. 1389 01:48:02,960 --> 01:48:04,960 The incarnation of the Devil, 1390 01:48:05,080 --> 01:48:07,960 spreading doom and disaster across the world. 1391 01:48:07,960 --> 01:48:11,960 (suspenseful music) 1392 01:48:12,080 --> 01:48:14,240 Psychological warfare works on the basis 1393 01:48:14,240 --> 01:48:16,800 that we are hugely intelligent, cognitive beings 1394 01:48:16,960 --> 01:48:18,680 with very strong imaginations. 1395 01:48:18,800 --> 01:48:22,360 Which means that imagination and our emotions can be manipulated. 1396 01:48:22,520 --> 01:48:27,240 It works because it takes some of our attention away from the battlefield. 1397 01:48:27,360 --> 01:48:29,800 It was in the Huns' favour to be feared, 1398 01:48:29,800 --> 01:48:32,800 because it meant some of the battle had already been won, 1399 01:48:32,960 --> 01:48:35,680 even before the actual battle commenced. 1400 01:48:35,800 --> 01:48:36,800 (percussive sounds) 1401 01:48:37,680 --> 01:48:40,920 (horn rings out) 1402 01:48:41,040 --> 01:48:43,720 In the West, in the 4th century CE, 1403 01:48:43,840 --> 01:48:46,720 the Huns appear on the world stage for the first time. 1404 01:48:46,840 --> 01:48:49,040 As part of bloody campaigns, 1405 01:48:49,160 --> 01:48:52,720 martial horsemen advance deep into the heart of Europe. 1406 01:48:52,840 --> 01:48:55,040 Their greatest enemies are the Romans, 1407 01:48:55,160 --> 01:48:57,160 still ruling over half the continent. 1408 01:48:57,840 --> 01:49:00,280 But the empire struggles to fend off 1409 01:49:00,280 --> 01:49:02,840 the quick advances of these new opponents. 1410 01:49:02,840 --> 01:49:06,920 The Huns overrun and raid vast stretches of land. 1411 01:49:07,040 --> 01:49:11,400 (dramatic music) 1412 01:49:11,480 --> 01:49:16,280 In the 4th century, the Roman Empire is divided into two separate empires. 1413 01:49:16,400 --> 01:49:19,480 One in the West, and one in the East. 1414 01:49:19,600 --> 01:49:22,920 After subjecting a large number of Goths to their rule, 1415 01:49:22,920 --> 01:49:26,040 the Huns move on to Roman legions. 1416 01:49:26,040 --> 01:49:31,400 (suspenseful percussive music) 1417 01:49:31,400 --> 01:49:34,480 We don't know exactly why the Huns started to move. 1418 01:49:34,600 --> 01:49:36,400 Perhaps it was climate change, 1419 01:49:36,480 --> 01:49:39,160 perhaps they were searching for new fertile land 1420 01:49:39,280 --> 01:49:41,160 for their growing numbers of horsemen. 1421 01:49:41,280 --> 01:49:43,480 We are certain that when they started to move, 1422 01:49:43,600 --> 01:49:46,600 they pushed in front of them tens of thousands of people, 1423 01:49:46,720 --> 01:49:48,920 and they fought those tribes as well, 1424 01:49:49,040 --> 01:49:52,480 pushing them up against the walls of the Roman Empire. 1425 01:49:53,840 --> 01:49:57,280 Scientists still debate the origins of the Huns to this day. 1426 01:49:57,840 --> 01:49:59,840 The only thing they agree on 1427 01:49:59,840 --> 01:50:02,720 is that they came from the huge Asian steppes. 1428 01:50:02,720 --> 01:50:05,840 Nomads living off husbandry and hunting. 1429 01:50:05,920 --> 01:50:09,920 Their departure to the West is closely tied to one name. 1430 01:50:10,480 --> 01:50:11,600 Attila. 1431 01:50:11,720 --> 01:50:14,400 Born around 400 CE. 1432 01:50:14,480 --> 01:50:19,280 In the 5th century, he and his allies took regions by storm. 1433 01:50:19,400 --> 01:50:22,280 To this very day, Hungarians celebrate him 1434 01:50:22,400 --> 01:50:24,400 as their national hero. 1435 01:50:26,040 --> 01:50:28,480 Myths tend to get exaggerated over time, 1436 01:50:28,600 --> 01:50:32,600 as they come from an oral tradition, so that each retelling is different. 1437 01:50:32,720 --> 01:50:36,600 Further, many of them were performed, so to hold the audience's attention, 1438 01:50:36,720 --> 01:50:39,480 it's important to make them as entertaining as possible. 1439 01:50:39,600 --> 01:50:41,480 The heroic become more heroic, 1440 01:50:41,600 --> 01:50:43,400 the magic becomes more magical, 1441 01:50:43,480 --> 01:50:45,720 and the power becomes more powerful. 1442 01:50:47,160 --> 01:50:49,840 His death is shrouded in legends, 1443 01:50:49,920 --> 01:50:53,280 helping to solidify his mythical image. 1444 01:50:53,400 --> 01:50:57,480 To this day, nobody knows how and where he was buried. 1445 01:50:57,600 --> 01:51:01,840 His dead body is said to be protected by three layers of iron, 1446 01:51:01,920 --> 01:51:03,920 silver and gold. 1447 01:51:06,480 --> 01:51:09,400 Allegedly, Attila's followers cut off their hair 1448 01:51:09,400 --> 01:51:11,840 and wounded their faces to mourn his death 1449 01:51:11,920 --> 01:51:13,480 with blood in place of tears. 1450 01:51:14,840 --> 01:51:18,400 Legend has it that the men who dug the pit were then killed 1451 01:51:18,480 --> 01:51:22,720 to ensure the tomb would forever remain undiscovered. 1452 01:51:26,040 --> 01:51:29,600 The practical answer for why the undertaking slaves were killed 1453 01:51:29,720 --> 01:51:32,920 is that they didn't want anybody to find the treasure or tomb. 1454 01:51:33,040 --> 01:51:35,400 But the more religious reason might be 1455 01:51:35,480 --> 01:51:37,720 that he wanted to take these people with him. 1456 01:51:37,840 --> 01:51:40,280 This was a common motif. This happened worldwide, 1457 01:51:40,400 --> 01:51:43,600 where fallen kings would want to leave with their servants. 1458 01:51:43,720 --> 01:51:49,040 (quiet, suspenseful music) 1459 01:51:49,160 --> 01:51:52,600 Most experts believe Attila was buried in Hungary, 1460 01:51:52,720 --> 01:51:55,920 in an undisclosed location near the Danube. 1461 01:52:06,720 --> 01:52:09,840 The search for the legendary location inspires researchers 1462 01:52:09,920 --> 01:52:11,920 and hobby treasure hunters alike. 1463 01:52:11,920 --> 01:52:13,600 Time and time again, 1464 01:52:13,720 --> 01:52:15,720 someone claims to have found him. 1465 01:52:15,840 --> 01:52:18,160 But they are never right. 1466 01:52:29,400 --> 01:52:31,280 Musician Levente Szörényi 1467 01:52:31,280 --> 01:52:34,840 has been looking for traces of Attila and the Huns for quite some time. 1468 01:52:35,480 --> 01:52:37,840 He's on his way to an excavation site 1469 01:52:37,840 --> 01:52:39,400 in the Pilis mountains. 1470 01:52:39,920 --> 01:52:41,920 (Levente laughs and grunts) 1471 01:52:42,040 --> 01:52:43,840 We are going to hell! 1472 01:52:44,720 --> 01:52:45,920 (Levente laughs) 1473 01:52:45,920 --> 01:52:50,280 His search for the Hun treasures is financed with private means. 1474 01:52:50,400 --> 01:52:53,280 He has had a decade-long fascination with Attila 1475 01:52:53,400 --> 01:52:56,400 and a brilliant career as a rock star. 1476 01:52:56,520 --> 01:52:58,880 In Hungary, since the 1960s, 1477 01:52:58,920 --> 01:53:02,920 Levente Szörényi has been as famous as John Lennon. 1478 01:53:03,000 --> 01:53:08,160 (60s Hungarian rock 'n' roll music) 1479 01:53:12,680 --> 01:53:13,680 (Levente laughs) 1480 01:53:13,800 --> 01:53:16,400 (suspenseful music) 1481 01:53:16,520 --> 01:53:18,680 Today, he's visiting the place 1482 01:53:18,680 --> 01:53:21,680 where he believes he'll find traces of the Huns. 1483 01:53:21,800 --> 01:53:23,800 The Moonshine quarry. 1484 01:53:23,920 --> 01:53:27,280 Here, Levente Szörényi and his excavation team 1485 01:53:27,400 --> 01:53:30,400 have unearthed several treasures from the Hun era. 1486 01:53:31,280 --> 01:53:32,680 Any new discovery 1487 01:53:32,680 --> 01:53:35,280 could bring him one step closer to Attila. 1488 01:53:36,520 --> 01:53:38,040 Levente Szörényi 1489 01:53:38,160 --> 01:53:41,400 thinks the Huns used the area as a burial site. 1490 01:53:42,520 --> 01:53:44,280 And he's hoping to find clues 1491 01:53:44,400 --> 01:53:47,160 leading to the legendary Hun king. 1492 01:53:47,280 --> 01:53:50,680 (suspenseful electronic sounds) 1493 01:53:51,280 --> 01:53:52,920 (Levente speaks Hungarian) 1494 01:53:53,040 --> 01:53:55,400 (dubbed in English) This used to be a Roman quarry. 1495 01:53:55,400 --> 01:53:57,920 When the Huns arrived, they changed everything. 1496 01:53:58,040 --> 01:53:59,800 But nobody knows why. 1497 01:54:00,920 --> 01:54:04,040 Recently, the team has found some bones 1498 01:54:04,160 --> 01:54:06,680 dating back 1500 years. 1499 01:54:06,680 --> 01:54:10,800 A first clue as to how the Huns might have used this former quarry. 1500 01:54:10,920 --> 01:54:13,160 (suspenseful cello music) 1501 01:54:16,680 --> 01:54:18,920 Researchers have found a complete skeleton 1502 01:54:18,920 --> 01:54:20,400 beneath this rock. 1503 01:54:20,520 --> 01:54:22,400 It belonged to a cow. 1504 01:54:23,680 --> 01:54:26,280 They discovered more bones deeper down. 1505 01:54:26,280 --> 01:54:27,680 A human skeleton. 1506 01:54:28,520 --> 01:54:32,040 This is a typical Pagan burial ritual. 1507 01:54:37,800 --> 01:54:41,160 The place seems to be a sacred site to the Huns. 1508 01:54:41,160 --> 01:54:43,400 Could Attila's tomb be close? 1509 01:54:43,520 --> 01:54:45,400 Levente Szörényi and his team 1510 01:54:45,400 --> 01:54:47,920 will continue their search in a few months. 1511 01:54:48,040 --> 01:54:50,160 If Attila's tomb was to be found, 1512 01:54:50,160 --> 01:54:53,400 it will probably be here in the Hungarian plain. 1513 01:54:53,520 --> 01:54:55,400 But without any written clues, 1514 01:54:55,520 --> 01:54:59,040 it's nearly impossible to pinpoint exactly where it could be. 1515 01:54:59,920 --> 01:55:03,400 Studying the Huns is very difficult, because they were nomadic. 1516 01:55:03,520 --> 01:55:05,400 The only way you can find out about them 1517 01:55:05,520 --> 01:55:09,160 is to see what other peoples wrote about them when they had contact. 1518 01:55:09,280 --> 01:55:13,520 Other peoples like the Romans, who described the Huns in some detail. 1519 01:55:15,280 --> 01:55:18,040 Eastern Roman historian Priscus of Panium 1520 01:55:18,160 --> 01:55:20,160 describes a visit with Attila. 1521 01:55:24,040 --> 01:55:27,920 Based on that, we know what Attila and the court looked like, 1522 01:55:28,040 --> 01:55:31,040 and how the traditions of the Huns looked. 1523 01:55:31,160 --> 01:55:35,040 So Priscus said that Attila is a very noble man. 1524 01:55:35,040 --> 01:55:39,040 And he's very simple, compared to the other Hunnic lords. 1525 01:55:39,520 --> 01:55:43,040 Priscus presents Attila in a soft light. 1526 01:55:43,160 --> 01:55:46,520 "He showed himself temperate. His cup was made of wood, 1527 01:55:46,680 --> 01:55:50,920 while to the guests were given goblets of gold and silver." 1528 01:55:50,920 --> 01:55:54,040 But Attila has more than one face. 1529 01:55:54,160 --> 01:55:57,280 He kills his brother Bleda to come into power. 1530 01:55:57,800 --> 01:56:02,040 Both rule as kings, but Attila is only second in line. 1531 01:56:02,400 --> 01:56:04,520 He wants to be the sole ruler, 1532 01:56:04,680 --> 01:56:08,160 and bring his brother's devotees into his own army. 1533 01:56:08,160 --> 01:56:10,520 It remains unclear whether the fratricide 1534 01:56:10,680 --> 01:56:12,520 really took place as recorded, 1535 01:56:12,680 --> 01:56:16,680 or if Attila's enemies were merely attempting to slander him. 1536 01:56:20,920 --> 01:56:23,040 (sound of metal) 1537 01:56:23,040 --> 01:56:27,920 But we know Attila wins the loyalty of the most important tribal chiefs. 1538 01:56:27,920 --> 01:56:31,040 Germanic tribes also fight alongside him. 1539 01:56:31,160 --> 01:56:35,800 Contemporaries estimate his army consists of half a million warriors, 1540 01:56:35,800 --> 01:56:38,400 which is probably exaggerated. 1541 01:56:38,520 --> 01:56:41,800 Jointly, they wage war against the Romans. 1542 01:56:42,800 --> 01:56:46,680 Attila starts by fighting the Eastern Roman empire. 1543 01:56:46,800 --> 01:56:49,520 Emperor Theodosius pays dearly for peace, 1544 01:56:49,680 --> 01:56:51,920 and agrees to tribute payments. 1545 01:56:52,680 --> 01:56:56,040 Attila goes on to turn against the Western Roman empire. 1546 01:56:56,040 --> 01:57:00,800 The empire of the Hun king stretches from the Caspian Sea to the Alps. 1547 01:57:01,280 --> 01:57:02,400 (in German) 1548 01:57:02,520 --> 01:57:05,680 (dubbed in English) Despite what some historians claim, 1549 01:57:05,800 --> 01:57:08,040 Attila wasn't just some ruthless Barbarian. 1550 01:57:08,160 --> 01:57:11,040 He must have also possessed some fairly exceptional skills 1551 01:57:11,040 --> 01:57:14,280 to have been able to organise a cavalry this large. 1552 01:57:14,400 --> 01:57:16,680 He must have spoken several languages, 1553 01:57:16,800 --> 01:57:19,680 since the Huns were people of various ethnicities. 1554 01:57:20,280 --> 01:57:22,800 So he was knowledgeable, he was strategic, 1555 01:57:22,920 --> 01:57:26,400 and he knew how to negotiate with other rulers. 1556 01:57:28,920 --> 01:57:33,040 Remains of the Huns are scattered all over Hungary. 1557 01:57:33,160 --> 01:57:34,920 Archaeologist Gábor Wilhelm 1558 01:57:35,040 --> 01:57:38,520 specialises in excavating antique tools. 1559 01:57:38,680 --> 01:57:42,520 To him, each grave is just a piece of the puzzle. 1560 01:57:43,680 --> 01:57:46,520 Archaeological finds are crucial sources 1561 01:57:46,520 --> 01:57:49,680 when it comes to reconstructing the history of the Huns, 1562 01:57:49,680 --> 01:57:52,160 their spread and their wars. 1563 01:57:53,400 --> 01:57:55,040 Starting in Central Asia, 1564 01:57:55,160 --> 01:57:56,800 a map shows how the Huns 1565 01:57:56,920 --> 01:58:00,520 ravaged almost all of Europe and Asia. 1566 01:58:00,520 --> 01:58:03,800 Some finds even point to Attila himself. 1567 01:58:09,280 --> 01:58:13,800 One particularly spectacular object is here in the Kecskemet Museum. 1568 01:58:13,800 --> 01:58:16,920 It is the skull of a warrior whose ostentatious tomb 1569 01:58:17,040 --> 01:58:19,520 was only discovered quite recently. 1570 01:58:22,800 --> 01:58:27,160 This warrior lived in the first half of the 5th century, just like Attila, 1571 01:58:27,160 --> 01:58:29,920 and he was buried in a Hun ritual. 1572 01:58:30,520 --> 01:58:32,520 (dramatic strings) 1573 01:58:33,800 --> 01:58:36,520 (in Hungarian) 1574 01:58:36,680 --> 01:58:39,280 (dubbed in English) This tomb is an important find, 1575 01:58:39,280 --> 01:58:42,920 because there are still many unanswered questions about the Huns. 1576 01:58:43,920 --> 01:58:45,520 Thanks to written tradition, 1577 01:58:45,680 --> 01:58:48,280 we know a few things about Attila, 1578 01:58:48,280 --> 01:58:50,800 but finds from this era are rare. 1579 01:58:53,800 --> 01:58:55,520 Even the smallest artefacts 1580 01:58:55,680 --> 01:58:57,800 help us to complete this mosaic, 1581 01:58:57,800 --> 01:58:59,280 this puzzle. 1582 01:59:00,160 --> 01:59:01,920 (Bernadett speaks Hungarian) 1583 01:59:02,040 --> 01:59:05,680 (dubbed in English) We got the skull back from the anthropologist. 1584 01:59:06,800 --> 01:59:10,280 He pointed out that the nasal bridge is very large. 1585 01:59:10,400 --> 01:59:12,160 This is a crucial detail. 1586 01:59:12,680 --> 01:59:14,680 It's a typical Mongolian feature. 1587 01:59:15,520 --> 01:59:17,280 Right after the excavation, 1588 01:59:17,280 --> 01:59:20,920 he also said there are traces of the upper bandage up here. 1589 01:59:21,520 --> 01:59:25,160 We were also able to see this in the first pictures. 1590 01:59:30,400 --> 01:59:33,520 A very particular custom of ancient tribes 1591 01:59:33,680 --> 01:59:36,160 is artificial cranial deformations. 1592 01:59:40,400 --> 01:59:41,920 To elongate the skull, 1593 01:59:42,040 --> 01:59:45,160 the Huns wrapped their babies' heads in bandages 1594 01:59:45,160 --> 01:59:47,400 while their bones are still malleable. 1595 01:59:49,280 --> 01:59:52,040 These deformations were likely most practised 1596 01:59:52,160 --> 01:59:54,040 amongst aristocratic families 1597 01:59:54,160 --> 01:59:57,160 to demonstrate their superior status. 1598 02:00:02,800 --> 02:00:04,280 (Gábor) Brilliant. 1599 02:00:04,800 --> 02:00:08,160 (Bernadett) One of the most deformed skulls he's ever seen. 1600 02:00:09,280 --> 02:00:10,920 (Gábor) He must've been handsome. 1601 02:00:15,920 --> 02:00:18,800 But who is this mysterious Hun warrior? 1602 02:00:20,520 --> 02:00:24,680 The tomb is unusually exquisite. Could this be Attila himself? 1603 02:00:25,680 --> 02:00:28,680 Bountiful burial objects could mean Attila is close. 1604 02:00:29,280 --> 02:00:31,400 Golden jewellery, belt buckles. 1605 02:00:31,520 --> 02:00:33,040 an iron sword: 1606 02:00:33,160 --> 02:00:37,400 no doubt this has to be the grave of a powerful man. 1607 02:00:37,520 --> 02:00:39,680 But one detail doesn't add up. 1608 02:00:40,400 --> 02:00:42,280 This warrior died young. 1609 02:00:42,400 --> 02:00:45,800 Attila, however, probably lived till he was about 50. 1610 02:00:45,920 --> 02:00:50,160 Nevertheless, the archaeologists link the find directly to Attila. 1611 02:00:51,680 --> 02:00:54,040 This young man was part of the Hun elite. 1612 02:00:54,160 --> 02:00:56,400 So it's very likely that he knew Attila. 1613 02:00:57,920 --> 02:01:01,800 It is quite possible that the young warrior fought alongside Attila. 1614 02:01:03,920 --> 02:01:06,160 As the supreme ruler of the Huns, 1615 02:01:06,160 --> 02:01:09,040 Attila always leads his people into battle. 1616 02:01:13,800 --> 02:01:17,800 It's not only the Huns' legendary morale that gets the Roman rulers 1617 02:01:17,920 --> 02:01:19,280 into dire straits. 1618 02:01:20,040 --> 02:01:22,920 Ádám Baumgartner's men train with weapons of antiquity. 1619 02:01:23,400 --> 02:01:26,520 Swords, spears, arrows and bows. 1620 02:01:26,680 --> 02:01:29,680 They're première class, fighting on horseback 1621 02:01:29,840 --> 02:01:31,400 like in Attila's time. 1622 02:01:31,400 --> 02:01:33,840 (Ádám) The Huns train their whole life. 1623 02:01:33,840 --> 02:01:35,840 They train with different weapons. 1624 02:01:35,840 --> 02:01:39,160 They train to use the spears and use the bows. 1625 02:01:39,920 --> 02:01:41,680 (percussive music) 1626 02:01:41,720 --> 02:01:43,920 The bow is the basic weapon, 1627 02:01:43,920 --> 02:01:47,160 and it's used to break up the formations of the enemies, 1628 02:01:47,400 --> 02:01:49,400 and also strike them from far away. 1629 02:01:50,200 --> 02:01:52,160 (percussive music) 1630 02:01:52,160 --> 02:01:56,680 (dramatic orchestral music) 1631 02:01:59,160 --> 02:02:01,680 (dubbed in English) The Huns are coming! 1632 02:02:02,920 --> 02:02:05,400 The Huns are specialised in taking 1633 02:02:05,440 --> 02:02:07,400 their opponents by surprise. 1634 02:02:08,640 --> 02:02:12,400 Baumgartner's group is rehearsing an attack on a Roman camp. 1635 02:02:13,440 --> 02:02:17,920 The secret of Hunnic warfare is that they fight from a running horse, 1636 02:02:17,920 --> 02:02:20,160 and they use a very powerful bow. 1637 02:02:20,400 --> 02:02:24,680 (dramatic orchestral music swells up and goes silent) 1638 02:02:24,680 --> 02:02:27,200 The Huns retreat after every attack, 1639 02:02:28,920 --> 02:02:31,640 only to strike again unexpectedly 1640 02:02:31,680 --> 02:02:33,640 at a later date. 1641 02:02:33,680 --> 02:02:35,680 Everybody fears what they don't understand. 1642 02:02:35,920 --> 02:02:38,920 Especially when it can sneak up fast and kill you at a distance. 1643 02:02:38,920 --> 02:02:41,920 The Huns were very foreign and somewhat unknown. 1644 02:02:41,920 --> 02:02:45,400 And not only that. They had practices of ripping their faces open 1645 02:02:45,400 --> 02:02:48,160 when somebody died in battle, as though they felt no pain. 1646 02:02:48,400 --> 02:02:50,920 When they rushed into war, they showed no fear. 1647 02:02:52,400 --> 02:02:56,680 When you're thinking about having to face that kind of a force, 1648 02:02:56,720 --> 02:02:59,960 it might be really scary to think you might not have inside of you 1649 02:03:00,160 --> 02:03:02,200 what you need to match it. 1650 02:03:02,400 --> 02:03:04,920 (suspenseful music) 1651 02:03:05,920 --> 02:03:08,920 The Huns use a new technique to wage war. 1652 02:03:09,400 --> 02:03:12,400 Their secret weapon is the Hun bow, 1653 02:03:12,400 --> 02:03:14,920 which at the time was unheard of in Europe. 1654 02:03:17,400 --> 02:03:20,400 The ancient high-tech bow is made from various materials: 1655 02:03:20,640 --> 02:03:23,160 wood, horn, sinew and bone. 1656 02:03:23,160 --> 02:03:26,680 Glued together in multiple layers. 1657 02:03:30,960 --> 02:03:32,400 (in Hungarian) 1658 02:03:32,400 --> 02:03:35,160 (dubbed in English) The inside of the bow is animal horn. 1659 02:03:35,160 --> 02:03:38,920 The centre has a wooden core. On the outside there are animal sinews. 1660 02:03:39,160 --> 02:03:40,920 Here we see that the horn and the grip 1661 02:03:40,920 --> 02:03:43,160 have been reinforced with bone plates. 1662 02:03:45,720 --> 02:03:48,400 All these features reinforce the bow 1663 02:03:48,400 --> 02:03:50,680 while making it highly flexible. 1664 02:03:51,160 --> 02:03:53,400 The bow is drawn further back, 1665 02:03:53,440 --> 02:03:57,400 and its various components are able to store more energy. 1666 02:03:58,400 --> 02:04:02,400 The composite bow used by the Huns also has a special shape. 1667 02:04:03,680 --> 02:04:06,160 The Huns used asymmetrical composite bows 1668 02:04:06,400 --> 02:04:08,400 equipped with rigid horns. 1669 02:04:08,400 --> 02:04:11,680 We can see that the lower limb is a bit shorter than the upper limb, 1670 02:04:11,720 --> 02:04:14,160 making it much easier to move on horseback. 1671 02:04:14,920 --> 02:04:16,960 (suspenseful electronic music) 1672 02:04:17,920 --> 02:04:21,440 This type of composite bow helps Attila win. 1673 02:04:22,160 --> 02:04:25,920 The deadly arrows are accelerated by the horses' speed, 1674 02:04:25,920 --> 02:04:28,920 which further increases the force of their impact. 1675 02:04:29,400 --> 02:04:32,920 The nimble composite bows allow the Huns to shoot backwards, 1676 02:04:32,920 --> 02:04:35,960 even when galloping in the opposite direction, 1677 02:04:36,160 --> 02:04:38,160 meaning they can weaken their enemy 1678 02:04:38,200 --> 02:04:40,200 even in retreat mode. 1679 02:04:41,920 --> 02:04:43,680 (suspenseful music) 1680 02:04:43,720 --> 02:04:47,680 We want to put the impact of these ancient arrows to the test. 1681 02:04:47,680 --> 02:04:50,400 Our target: two pumpkins. 1682 02:04:52,440 --> 02:04:54,400 Our weapons: a longbow. 1683 02:04:54,400 --> 02:04:57,400 The typical long-range weapon used in Roman times 1684 02:04:57,640 --> 02:04:59,400 and into the Middle Ages. 1685 02:05:01,920 --> 02:05:04,680 Next to it: the composite bow of the Huns. 1686 02:05:08,680 --> 02:05:11,160 Bows can only be drawn right before they're shot, 1687 02:05:11,400 --> 02:05:14,920 otherwise, the force exerted at rest would be too great. 1688 02:05:17,160 --> 02:05:19,680 Which type of weapon is more destructive? 1689 02:05:24,920 --> 02:05:27,160 The bows are shot from the same distance, 1690 02:05:27,200 --> 02:05:29,680 using the same type of arrow. 1691 02:05:29,680 --> 02:05:31,920 The longbow's up first. 1692 02:05:46,160 --> 02:05:47,920 (Ádám:) The longbow went through. 1693 02:05:50,400 --> 02:05:52,400 Next up, the composite bow. 1694 02:05:53,160 --> 02:05:55,680 It stores almost twice as much energy when drawn. 1695 02:06:06,920 --> 02:06:08,720 Whoa! You smashed it. 1696 02:06:09,400 --> 02:06:10,920 (Ádám chuckles) 1697 02:06:13,680 --> 02:06:16,400 The result is clear: the arrow from the Hun bow 1698 02:06:16,400 --> 02:06:19,400 penetrates the pumpkin almost completely. 1699 02:06:19,920 --> 02:06:21,720 The composite bow is the winner. 1700 02:06:26,720 --> 02:06:29,200 The composite bow makes the Huns 1701 02:06:29,400 --> 02:06:31,400 the superpower of late antiquity. 1702 02:06:31,440 --> 02:06:33,400 And their merciless warfare 1703 02:06:33,400 --> 02:06:35,920 becomes part of collective memory. 1704 02:06:37,920 --> 02:06:42,160 The rumours about the brutal horsemen were quite demoralising. 1705 02:06:42,160 --> 02:06:45,160 Their goal is to force the enemy to surrender 1706 02:06:45,160 --> 02:06:48,160 and have frightened soldiers join their ranks. 1707 02:06:48,680 --> 02:06:50,920 A myth that survives the centuries. 1708 02:06:51,920 --> 02:06:54,160 The expression "The Huns are coming" 1709 02:06:54,200 --> 02:06:56,160 remains a symbol for calamity 1710 02:06:56,400 --> 02:06:58,400 up until the 20th century. 1711 02:07:03,440 --> 02:07:06,640 In 1900, German soldiers are deployed 1712 02:07:06,680 --> 02:07:08,640 to China to thwart a rebellion. 1713 02:07:09,160 --> 02:07:13,160 Emperor Wilhelm II gives his infamous "Hun Speech", 1714 02:07:13,200 --> 02:07:16,960 asking his soldiers to show no mercy to their opponents. 1715 02:07:17,160 --> 02:07:19,920 He wants the Chinese to fear the Germans 1716 02:07:19,920 --> 02:07:22,640 like the world once feared Attila the Hun. 1717 02:07:25,160 --> 02:07:26,680 Based on Wilhelm's address, 1718 02:07:26,920 --> 02:07:30,160 the Hun becomes the new epithet for the Germans. 1719 02:07:30,200 --> 02:07:32,160 British and American newspapers 1720 02:07:32,160 --> 02:07:34,920 happily use this image during World War I. 1721 02:07:35,680 --> 02:07:39,680 In World War II, Nazi propaganda tries to instrumentalise 1722 02:07:39,680 --> 02:07:42,400 the old fear of enemy attacks from the East, 1723 02:07:42,400 --> 02:07:45,720 comparing the Soviet Army to the Huns. 1724 02:07:45,920 --> 02:07:47,920 In December 1941, 1725 02:07:47,960 --> 02:07:51,920 Hitler declares the Soviet Union is trying to destroy Europe 1726 02:07:51,960 --> 02:07:53,920 as the Huns once did. 1727 02:07:53,960 --> 02:07:55,680 And therefore, to save Europe, 1728 02:07:55,920 --> 02:07:57,680 he must invade Russia. 1729 02:07:57,680 --> 02:07:59,160 (crowd cheers) 1730 02:07:59,200 --> 02:08:02,680 The Huns became a very valuable tool for later propaganda purposes, 1731 02:08:02,680 --> 02:08:04,960 because if you needed to label a people 1732 02:08:05,160 --> 02:08:08,200 as unpredictable, as violent, as ferocious, 1733 02:08:08,400 --> 02:08:10,680 then you simply called them "The Huns". 1734 02:08:10,680 --> 02:08:13,920 And to do so brought with it this air of mystery, 1735 02:08:13,920 --> 02:08:16,400 of wildness and of violence. 1736 02:08:19,200 --> 02:08:20,680 The Huns. 1737 02:08:20,680 --> 02:08:23,200 Fearless and merciless warriors. 1738 02:08:23,400 --> 02:08:27,160 An image that lives on for over 1500 years. 1739 02:08:27,160 --> 02:08:32,920 (suspenseful percussive music) 1740 02:08:33,160 --> 02:08:36,920 In another experiment, we are trying to find out from which range 1741 02:08:36,920 --> 02:08:38,920 the weapons are effective. 1742 02:08:38,920 --> 02:08:42,920 In battles, penetrating power isn't the only deciding factor. 1743 02:08:42,960 --> 02:08:45,400 Reach also plays a key role. 1744 02:08:47,640 --> 02:08:51,680 On a field near the riding arena, the men mark out 200 metres 1745 02:08:51,920 --> 02:08:55,680 by placing a pumpkin on the ground every 20 metres. 1746 02:08:55,720 --> 02:08:59,160 The Roman longbow is once again going head to head 1747 02:08:59,200 --> 02:09:01,160 with the composite bow. 1748 02:09:03,400 --> 02:09:05,400 At 32 metres per second, 1749 02:09:05,440 --> 02:09:08,160 the Roman arrow covers 100 metres. 1750 02:09:12,160 --> 02:09:14,920 What force will the composite bow unleash? 1751 02:09:17,680 --> 02:09:21,680 The Hun arrow reaches a speed of 42 metres per second, 1752 02:09:21,680 --> 02:09:25,160 and hits the ground at 170 metres. 1753 02:09:25,160 --> 02:09:27,160 A difference of 70 metres. 1754 02:09:27,400 --> 02:09:30,160 A clear advantage in attacks on the Romans. 1755 02:09:34,160 --> 02:09:36,160 With their superior long-range weapon, 1756 02:09:36,680 --> 02:09:40,400 the Huns under Attila weaken the Roman empires 1757 02:09:40,400 --> 02:09:42,400 in the East and the West. 1758 02:09:42,400 --> 02:09:44,400 They advance by the thousands, 1759 02:09:44,400 --> 02:09:46,720 and break their adversaries' line of defence 1760 02:09:46,920 --> 02:09:48,400 with a deadly rain of arrows. 1761 02:09:48,400 --> 02:09:49,720 (shouts) 1762 02:09:51,400 --> 02:09:53,400 The Roman army is helpless. 1763 02:09:54,920 --> 02:09:58,400 The Hun arrows decide battle after battle. 1764 02:10:02,680 --> 02:10:06,920 The Huns are legendary because of this novel military technique. 1765 02:10:06,960 --> 02:10:10,680 Soon, every child in Europe knows Attila's name. 1766 02:10:10,920 --> 02:10:14,400 But his death still remains a mystery to this day. 1767 02:10:14,400 --> 02:10:16,920 Nobody knows where he was buried. 1768 02:10:18,920 --> 02:10:21,960 Some believe Attila's tomb has to be in the riverbed 1769 02:10:22,160 --> 02:10:23,680 of the Danube or the Tisa, 1770 02:10:23,680 --> 02:10:25,400 one of its tributaries. 1771 02:10:25,440 --> 02:10:28,160 The exact location: unknown. 1772 02:10:31,400 --> 02:10:35,680 Descriptions only tell us how the burial reportedly took place. 1773 02:10:37,160 --> 02:10:41,400 The details bare great resemblance to the funeral of Visigoth King Alaric 1774 02:10:41,400 --> 02:10:44,680 who ruled only a few decades before Attila. 1775 02:10:44,680 --> 02:10:48,680 Allegedly, he is buried in a drained riverbed as well. 1776 02:10:50,400 --> 02:10:54,920 Attila's final resting place is also meant to remain a secret forever. 1777 02:10:55,640 --> 02:10:57,920 He is said to have been buried per request 1778 02:10:57,920 --> 02:11:00,400 under a river, in a secret ceremony. 1779 02:11:02,400 --> 02:11:06,400 So, can we find Attila's tomb in one of the Hungarian rivers? 1780 02:11:13,920 --> 02:11:16,920 Attila Tóth is an underwater archaeologist. 1781 02:11:17,400 --> 02:11:21,160 The Hungarian rivers are like a second home to him and his team. 1782 02:11:23,400 --> 02:11:26,920 If Attila's grave really were to be found on the bottom of the Danube, 1783 02:11:26,920 --> 02:11:28,680 or one of its tributaries, 1784 02:11:28,680 --> 02:11:31,440 Attila Tóth would be the one to find it. 1785 02:11:36,640 --> 02:11:39,960 From his boat, the scientist scours the riverbed 1786 02:11:40,160 --> 02:11:42,640 for hidden objects using a side scan sonar. 1787 02:11:46,400 --> 02:11:48,680 There are big trees in the water. 1788 02:11:49,400 --> 02:11:51,160 It's a bit dangerous today... 1789 02:11:52,400 --> 02:11:54,400 not to hit a tree trunk. 1790 02:11:56,920 --> 02:11:59,160 Can he find Attila's tomb? 1791 02:12:00,160 --> 02:12:01,920 Actually we don't know 1792 02:12:02,160 --> 02:12:03,680 where Attila's tomb is. 1793 02:12:03,680 --> 02:12:06,920 It is possible that it's under the Danube, 1794 02:12:06,920 --> 02:12:09,680 because of course he was a very important person. 1795 02:12:09,680 --> 02:12:15,680 The centre of his empire was in present-day Hungary somewhere. 1796 02:12:15,680 --> 02:12:19,400 So probably they tried to hide the tomb. 1797 02:12:19,640 --> 02:12:21,400 So it could actually be true. 1798 02:12:24,920 --> 02:12:28,920 Riverbeds are wonderful locations for preserving historic material. 1799 02:12:28,960 --> 02:12:32,200 There is no air, and that means the material can be preserved 1800 02:12:32,400 --> 02:12:33,680 for centuries. 1801 02:12:33,720 --> 02:12:36,440 So there's every chance that if we found the right place, 1802 02:12:36,680 --> 02:12:40,680 then Attila's burial chamber would be preserved just perfectly. 1803 02:12:41,160 --> 02:12:47,160 (dramatic orchestral music) 1804 02:12:47,160 --> 02:12:50,400 But how could a king be buried under a river? 1805 02:12:50,640 --> 02:12:54,680 The Danube or Tisa would have had to be dammed or drained. 1806 02:12:54,920 --> 02:12:56,680 The Hun warriors on horseback 1807 02:12:56,920 --> 02:13:00,920 could only have achieved this by using topographical features. 1808 02:13:01,960 --> 02:13:04,920 With islands to shorten the dam. 1809 02:13:04,920 --> 02:13:06,680 A natural barrier would mean 1810 02:13:06,680 --> 02:13:09,640 the water only needs to be dammed on one side, 1811 02:13:09,680 --> 02:13:12,920 while the other side serves as a natural drain 1812 02:13:13,680 --> 02:13:16,680 This way, Attila's men might be able to dig a grave 1813 02:13:16,680 --> 02:13:19,400 that could be inundated at a later date. 1814 02:13:22,160 --> 02:13:26,160 We found Roman materials and far older relics along the Danube. 1815 02:13:26,160 --> 02:13:28,960 I don't see why we wouldn't find memories of the Huns, 1816 02:13:29,160 --> 02:13:30,920 if not Attila's grave itself. 1817 02:13:33,920 --> 02:13:36,680 Will the underwater archaeologist track down 1818 02:13:36,680 --> 02:13:38,640 Attila's hidden tomb? 1819 02:13:38,680 --> 02:13:42,160 The Danube is full of cultural remains, 1820 02:13:42,160 --> 02:13:45,960 starting from prehistory up to the modern period. 1821 02:13:46,160 --> 02:13:48,680 Because this was the highway of Europe. 1822 02:13:49,400 --> 02:13:51,400 (suspenseful music) 1823 02:13:51,400 --> 02:13:54,160 It's highly likely that it was crossed by a Hun army 1824 02:13:54,400 --> 02:13:56,400 1500 years ago. 1825 02:13:57,920 --> 02:14:00,960 On the screen we can see what is under the water. 1826 02:14:01,160 --> 02:14:04,680 It's like a map, a flat map of the Danube, 1827 02:14:04,920 --> 02:14:07,160 right and left of the boat, 1828 02:14:07,160 --> 02:14:12,160 and we see everything that emerges from the riverbed just a bit. 1829 02:14:12,160 --> 02:14:15,400 (suspenseful electronic music) 1830 02:14:15,400 --> 02:14:18,400 Ultrasonic waves and GPS data from the boat 1831 02:14:18,400 --> 02:14:22,400 provide researchers with images of what lies beneath the riverbed. 1832 02:14:22,960 --> 02:14:24,920 Whatever is hidden down there, 1833 02:14:24,920 --> 02:14:28,920 a tomb, ruins, lost treasures, will be visible on the screen. 1834 02:14:30,440 --> 02:14:32,920 Suddenly they discover something. 1835 02:14:33,680 --> 02:14:35,920 (suspenseful sounds) 1836 02:14:35,960 --> 02:14:38,680 We have a very big rock. 1837 02:14:38,680 --> 02:14:41,160 Maybe a piece of wall. 1838 02:14:43,400 --> 02:14:46,160 (Attila Tóth) We are just going over it. 1839 02:14:46,400 --> 02:14:50,400 Two walls forming rectangular structures. 1840 02:14:50,400 --> 02:14:53,920 Maybe, maybe... Oh, it's beautiful. 1841 02:14:53,920 --> 02:14:57,920 I think it was a Roman tower. 1842 02:14:57,960 --> 02:14:59,920 A big tower of fortification. 1843 02:15:03,920 --> 02:15:06,920 An old Roman fort on the outer imperial frontier? 1844 02:15:09,440 --> 02:15:11,680 So this is the position 1845 02:15:11,680 --> 02:15:13,680 where we have to dive. 1846 02:15:13,920 --> 02:15:19,160 And I think it's a very good location, because we have no current. 1847 02:15:19,160 --> 02:15:22,400 The depth is only 4.7 metres. 1848 02:15:22,400 --> 02:15:24,160 Here we saved the position. 1849 02:15:24,160 --> 02:15:28,160 So we dive here, and look at what's under the water. 1850 02:15:28,200 --> 02:15:30,400 (suspenseful percussive music) 1851 02:15:30,640 --> 02:15:32,400 The site is promising. 1852 02:15:32,640 --> 02:15:35,920 This is exactly where the river divided the Roman empire 1853 02:15:35,920 --> 02:15:37,920 from the great empire of the Huns, 1854 02:15:37,920 --> 02:15:39,640 2000 years ago. 1855 02:15:40,160 --> 02:15:41,960 The Danubian Limes. 1856 02:15:42,400 --> 02:15:45,640 The Romans built a series of forts along the stream 1857 02:15:45,680 --> 02:15:49,400 because of the repeated clashes between Huns and Romans. 1858 02:15:54,920 --> 02:15:58,680 Attila's looking to raid and force them into making tribute payments. 1859 02:15:58,680 --> 02:16:01,720 A business model that submits opponents. 1860 02:16:01,920 --> 02:16:05,680 To the Romans, it's the beginning of a long and trying war. 1861 02:16:07,160 --> 02:16:10,160 Neither protective walls nor military equipment 1862 02:16:10,160 --> 02:16:12,200 can shelter them from the Hun attacks. 1863 02:16:13,400 --> 02:16:16,680 (suspenseful music) 1864 02:16:16,920 --> 02:16:20,400 The chain mail is a typical piece of Roman armour. 1865 02:16:20,440 --> 02:16:24,680 Used for centuries, it protects them against cut and thrust weapons. 1866 02:16:24,680 --> 02:16:27,680 But can it also deflect Hun arrows? 1867 02:16:29,160 --> 02:16:31,680 This group wants to put it to the test. 1868 02:16:32,400 --> 02:16:34,160 From a ten-metre distance, 1869 02:16:34,160 --> 02:16:36,680 the penetrating power of an arrow is deadly. 1870 02:16:40,920 --> 02:16:44,160 The chain mail does not stop the projectile. 1871 02:16:47,680 --> 02:16:50,680 The Huns use another kind of protection. 1872 02:16:50,920 --> 02:16:53,160 Lamellar, or scale armour, 1873 02:16:53,160 --> 02:16:55,200 which can even withstand arrows. 1874 02:16:57,160 --> 02:17:01,440 Hun leaders and tribal chiefs went into battle wearing this armour. 1875 02:17:01,680 --> 02:17:03,680 And Attila most probably did too. 1876 02:17:11,400 --> 02:17:14,160 The armour is created from thin plates of lamellar. 1877 02:17:14,200 --> 02:17:15,680 Made from iron. 1878 02:17:15,680 --> 02:17:18,160 It's very light, very moveable. 1879 02:17:18,920 --> 02:17:22,680 You could raise your hand, you could use the bows. 1880 02:17:22,680 --> 02:17:24,680 This is a very protective layer. 1881 02:17:28,920 --> 02:17:31,640 A test will show if the lamellar armour 1882 02:17:31,680 --> 02:17:34,160 can really protect against projectiles. 1883 02:17:34,160 --> 02:17:37,440 Can the thin iron lamellae deflect an arrow? 1884 02:17:49,920 --> 02:17:52,400 The arrow really bounces off. 1885 02:17:53,160 --> 02:17:56,920 The energy spreads across the lamellae, weakening the impact. 1886 02:17:57,400 --> 02:18:01,160 It's clear. The Hun armour provides better protection. 1887 02:18:01,200 --> 02:18:03,920 At least against incoming arrows. 1888 02:18:03,920 --> 02:18:05,680 It's also light and flexible. 1889 02:18:05,680 --> 02:18:08,160 Ideal for fighting high on horseback. 1890 02:18:10,160 --> 02:18:12,920 It went through the chains, and the lamellar blocked it. 1891 02:18:17,160 --> 02:18:21,400 Their weapons, armour and combat technique fuel the myth 1892 02:18:21,400 --> 02:18:23,400 of the invincible Hun. 1893 02:18:31,400 --> 02:18:34,040 The Hun combat technique is superior 1894 02:18:34,160 --> 02:18:36,960 thanks to their bowmen and horses. 1895 02:18:37,040 --> 02:18:40,720 Together, the rider and his horse form a perfect fighting machine, 1896 02:18:40,959 --> 02:18:42,679 nimble and fast. 1897 02:18:42,760 --> 02:18:44,680 Contemporaries scoff at them, 1898 02:18:44,680 --> 02:18:47,800 claiming the Huns lived their entire lives on horseback, 1899 02:18:48,040 --> 02:18:50,680 purportedly even sleeping in the saddle, 1900 02:18:50,680 --> 02:18:52,800 and negotiating on horseback. 1901 02:19:08,680 --> 02:19:11,160 The Huns train on horseback from early childhood. 1902 02:19:12,680 --> 02:19:17,080 The speed of the horse also gives them additional range and power. 1903 02:19:20,639 --> 02:19:25,159 Their horses allow the Huns to cover up to 80 kilometres per day, 1904 02:19:25,160 --> 02:19:28,760 which makes them more than twice as fast as the Roman legions. 1905 02:19:28,840 --> 02:19:32,680 The horseback attacks are also psychologically powerful. 1906 02:19:33,680 --> 02:19:37,560 They used the blood of their enemies to warm up the horses. 1907 02:19:37,639 --> 02:19:39,199 They put it to their noses, 1908 02:19:39,280 --> 02:19:42,280 so they are not afraid of the smell of blood. 1909 02:19:46,680 --> 02:19:49,840 Ghost riders attacking their adversaries out of the blue. 1910 02:19:50,080 --> 02:19:53,680 Lightly armed, but incredibly fast and nimble. 1911 02:19:53,720 --> 02:19:56,680 They instil fear into the hearts of Europeans. 1912 02:20:00,160 --> 02:20:04,120 And one man embodies this terror like no other. 1913 02:20:04,160 --> 02:20:05,200 Attila. 1914 02:20:05,280 --> 02:20:08,160 Almost superhuman. Invincible. 1915 02:20:10,160 --> 02:20:13,160 At the peak of his power in 451, 1916 02:20:13,160 --> 02:20:16,160 Attila attacks Roman cities in Gaul, 1917 02:20:16,200 --> 02:20:19,840 culminating in the decisive Battle of the Catalaunian Plains. 1918 02:20:20,080 --> 02:20:22,160 40,000 Roman warriors 1919 02:20:22,240 --> 02:20:24,720 against 45,000 Huns 1920 02:20:24,800 --> 02:20:26,680 and their devotees. 1921 02:20:27,680 --> 02:20:31,160 In ancient times, it's the battle of the nations. 1922 02:20:32,040 --> 02:20:35,800 The Roman troops manage to push back and surround Attila. 1923 02:20:36,040 --> 02:20:37,600 It's a stalemate. 1924 02:20:37,680 --> 02:20:39,200 For the very first time, 1925 02:20:39,280 --> 02:20:42,680 the dreaded Hun king is forced to admit defeat. 1926 02:20:42,720 --> 02:20:48,720 (tense percussive music) 1927 02:20:48,800 --> 02:20:52,640 Attila loses his reputation for being invincible. 1928 02:20:52,680 --> 02:20:55,680 The following year he invades Italy, 1929 02:20:55,720 --> 02:20:57,680 but can't conquer Rome. 1930 02:20:57,720 --> 02:21:02,160 (emotional orchestral music) 1931 02:21:07,160 --> 02:21:09,160 In 453, 1932 02:21:09,160 --> 02:21:13,080 Germanic princess Ildico arrives at Attila's court. 1933 02:21:13,160 --> 02:21:16,680 He marries her and the Huns celebrate all night. 1934 02:21:16,720 --> 02:21:20,680 But in the morning, there is silence, the legend goes. 1935 02:21:27,160 --> 02:21:30,720 An attendant finds Attila dead in his bed next to his wife. 1936 02:21:31,680 --> 02:21:34,280 He is said to have choked on his own blood. 1937 02:21:34,520 --> 02:21:36,240 Maybe in a drunken stupor. 1938 02:21:37,120 --> 02:21:39,160 Or did Ildico kill him? 1939 02:21:39,680 --> 02:21:42,120 So was he poisoned? 1940 02:21:42,160 --> 02:21:44,160 Did he die in his sleep? 1941 02:21:44,160 --> 02:21:48,160 There would've been motivations to tell a different story if he did. 1942 02:21:48,160 --> 02:21:53,080 One, warrior cultures tend to prioritise warrior deaths. 1943 02:21:53,160 --> 02:21:55,760 So to die of a murder would've been much better 1944 02:21:55,840 --> 02:21:58,040 than to die in your sleep. 1945 02:21:58,120 --> 02:21:59,160 At the same time, 1946 02:21:59,160 --> 02:22:02,200 people want to blame somebody when something bad happens. 1947 02:22:02,280 --> 02:22:05,520 So you can imagine that when you walk in and find your king dead 1948 02:22:05,600 --> 02:22:07,240 and a woman cowering there, 1949 02:22:07,320 --> 02:22:10,640 it would've been easy to blame her whether she did it or not. 1950 02:22:12,160 --> 02:22:14,680 Attila's death is just as mysterious 1951 02:22:14,720 --> 02:22:17,240 as the circumstances of his funeral, 1952 02:22:17,320 --> 02:22:19,640 shrouded in ancient myths. 1953 02:22:20,680 --> 02:22:23,800 The version of the story in which Attila is buried in a river 1954 02:22:24,040 --> 02:22:27,120 makes it into the Hungarian history books. 1955 02:22:27,160 --> 02:22:31,040 But the tomb still hasn't been found to this very day. 1956 02:22:31,120 --> 02:22:34,160 Does it lie on the bottom of the Danube or Tisa? 1957 02:22:34,160 --> 02:22:37,160 And why is the uncertainty so tormenting? 1958 02:22:42,680 --> 02:22:45,160 When there are knowledge gaps that need filling, 1959 02:22:45,160 --> 02:22:47,320 when we aren't able to find out what happened 1960 02:22:47,560 --> 02:22:50,160 to the mortal remains of a famous person like Attila, 1961 02:22:50,160 --> 02:22:52,520 there's always room for speculation. 1962 02:22:52,600 --> 02:22:55,720 There's no tomb we can examine, no skeletons we can look at, 1963 02:22:55,800 --> 02:22:58,600 so there's a lot of room for imagination. 1964 02:22:59,200 --> 02:23:01,160 (suspenseful percussive music) 1965 02:23:01,680 --> 02:23:04,160 Attila Tóth and his team have found the remains 1966 02:23:04,160 --> 02:23:06,160 of a Roman fort in the Danube 1967 02:23:06,160 --> 02:23:08,520 using a sonar device. 1968 02:23:08,600 --> 02:23:11,640 They need special equipment for the dive. 1969 02:23:11,680 --> 02:23:14,640 (Attila Tóth) This metal detector is very useful to us. 1970 02:23:14,680 --> 02:23:17,160 Because the visibility is very short. 1971 02:23:17,160 --> 02:23:20,200 I mean, 20 to 40 centimetres in the Danube. 1972 02:23:20,280 --> 02:23:24,280 When we swing it, we are just scanning the riverbed. 1973 02:23:24,520 --> 02:23:27,160 And it shows every small metal object, 1974 02:23:27,240 --> 02:23:30,680 so you can touch it and look to see 1975 02:23:30,680 --> 02:23:33,160 whether it's an archaeological find or not. 1976 02:23:38,680 --> 02:23:43,120 Attila Tóth's team is one of the most experienced in Hungary. 1977 02:23:43,160 --> 02:23:46,240 They have found many remains from the Huns and Romans. 1978 02:23:46,320 --> 02:23:50,080 Discovering Attila's tomb would fulfil their lifelong dream. 1979 02:24:02,800 --> 02:24:05,160 Of course everything could be possible, 1980 02:24:05,240 --> 02:24:08,280 so we are searching the Danube and the Tisa 1981 02:24:08,520 --> 02:24:11,240 and all rivers here in the Carpathian Basin 1982 02:24:11,320 --> 02:24:12,760 for cultural heritage. 1983 02:24:18,840 --> 02:24:22,800 The divers have reached the site of the former Roman fortifications. 1984 02:24:23,040 --> 02:24:26,120 They go down to where there was once dry land. 1985 02:24:26,720 --> 02:24:29,040 (sound of diver's oxygen tank) 1986 02:24:29,120 --> 02:24:32,160 (water bubbling) 1987 02:24:32,200 --> 02:24:34,680 Patience and the right tools are the only way 1988 02:24:34,720 --> 02:24:36,520 to find something in the mud. 1989 02:24:43,160 --> 02:24:46,640 (water bubbling and quiet, suspenseful music) 1990 02:24:46,680 --> 02:24:48,720 The diver passes the Roman walls 1991 02:24:48,800 --> 02:24:51,680 once providing protection against the Huns, 1992 02:24:51,680 --> 02:24:54,680 diving through the murky water of the Danube. 1993 02:24:55,800 --> 02:24:57,520 (beeping) 1994 02:24:57,600 --> 02:25:00,320 Suddenly the metal detector starts going off. 1995 02:25:03,040 --> 02:25:05,680 There must be an iron object hidden between the stones. 1996 02:25:05,760 --> 02:25:07,840 (suspenseful music) 1997 02:25:14,680 --> 02:25:16,720 Will the diver manage to retrieve it? 1998 02:25:16,800 --> 02:25:21,240 (dramatic orchestral music) 1999 02:25:21,320 --> 02:25:24,680 A piece of iron emerges from the Danube. 2000 02:25:26,680 --> 02:25:30,840 (suspenseful music) 2001 02:25:36,680 --> 02:25:39,120 Looks like a handmade... 2002 02:25:40,080 --> 02:25:42,520 ancient iron nail. 2003 02:25:46,080 --> 02:25:47,640 A Roman nail. 2004 02:25:47,680 --> 02:25:50,560 Not a rare sight for the archaeologists. 2005 02:25:50,640 --> 02:25:53,160 They don't discover any Hun remains this time. 2006 02:26:01,320 --> 02:26:04,680 If in a day, I find an iron coffin 2007 02:26:04,680 --> 02:26:07,080 inside a silver and gold coffin, 2008 02:26:07,160 --> 02:26:10,600 of course, naturally, I will not throw it back in the water. 2009 02:26:10,680 --> 02:26:13,160 We will excavate it and investigate it. 2010 02:26:13,200 --> 02:26:15,040 Everything could be possible. 2011 02:26:18,600 --> 02:26:22,160 Until then, the Danube shall keep the secret for herself. 2012 02:26:23,120 --> 02:26:27,160 A great hero needs a death shrouded by myths. 2013 02:26:28,800 --> 02:26:35,160 (suspenseful, atmospheric music) 2014 02:26:37,720 --> 02:26:41,520 To the Hungarians, Attila is like a national myth. 2015 02:26:41,600 --> 02:26:45,160 He's become a central figure in Hungarian historiography 2016 02:26:45,160 --> 02:26:47,160 because of his power and the way 2017 02:26:47,160 --> 02:26:49,840 he was able to intimidate his opponents. 2018 02:26:57,320 --> 02:27:01,200 Maybe those wanting to find Attila's tomb have to look elsewhere. 2019 02:27:02,120 --> 02:27:04,320 Budapest. Once the heart of Europe. 2020 02:27:05,640 --> 02:27:09,080 The once royal city of Hungary back in Medieval times 2021 02:27:09,160 --> 02:27:11,680 is now a major tourist attraction. 2022 02:27:18,640 --> 02:27:22,760 It is also where the life work of an unknown author is stored. 2023 02:27:22,840 --> 02:27:26,240 The Hungarians refer to him as "Anonymous". 2024 02:27:26,320 --> 02:27:30,160 His oeuvre is titled the "Gesta Hungarorum". 2025 02:27:30,160 --> 02:27:32,240 "The Deeds of the Hungarians." 2026 02:27:36,760 --> 02:27:38,720 The 800-year-old manuscript 2027 02:27:38,800 --> 02:27:41,720 is kept in the National Library in Buda castle. 2028 02:27:41,800 --> 02:27:45,680 Historian László Veszprémy has studied it for years. 2029 02:27:48,680 --> 02:27:51,160 It is the first depiction of Hungarian history 2030 02:27:51,200 --> 02:27:53,040 that goes back to Attila's time. 2031 02:27:53,760 --> 02:27:58,040 Narrations and legends that had previously been passed on orally. 2032 02:27:58,680 --> 02:28:02,680 In Hungary, it's a valuable treasure documenting their past. 2033 02:28:05,560 --> 02:28:08,280 And it turns out the old text really contains 2034 02:28:08,520 --> 02:28:10,760 hidden clues about Attila's tomb. 2035 02:28:19,040 --> 02:28:20,160 (in Hungarian) 2036 02:28:20,160 --> 02:28:23,680 (dubbed in English) It's one of the library's most valuable manuscripts 2037 02:28:23,720 --> 02:28:27,160 Written by Anonymous, a nameless Hungarian chronicler, 2038 02:28:27,160 --> 02:28:29,760 and entitled "The Deeds of the Hungarians". 2039 02:28:29,840 --> 02:28:32,160 It was written around the year 1200, 2040 02:28:32,160 --> 02:28:35,120 and has been preserved in a 13th century manuscript. 2041 02:28:36,720 --> 02:28:42,160 The text tells of Arpad, who ruled 450 years after Attila. 2042 02:28:42,160 --> 02:28:45,160 Is Arpad the key to Attila's tomb? 2043 02:28:45,240 --> 02:28:48,680 To Hungarians, he's the second hero besides Attila. 2044 02:28:48,720 --> 02:28:50,720 He frees his people from foreign rule 2045 02:28:50,800 --> 02:28:53,560 and secures the region around the Danube. 2046 02:28:53,640 --> 02:28:55,680 Before he died in 907, 2047 02:28:55,680 --> 02:28:58,160 he made a special request. 2048 02:29:00,760 --> 02:29:02,640 When the great prince Arpad died, 2049 02:29:02,680 --> 02:29:05,680 which was in 907, according to chronicles, 2050 02:29:05,720 --> 02:29:09,760 it was documented that he wanted to be buried in the city of King Attila. 2051 02:29:09,840 --> 02:29:12,680 "In civitatem Atillae regis." 2052 02:29:16,680 --> 02:29:19,840 But where is this ancient royal city of Attila? 2053 02:29:20,680 --> 02:29:24,160 Some think it could be the old Buda, west of Budapest. 2054 02:29:26,160 --> 02:29:29,680 On Medieval maps, the place is called Sicambria, 2055 02:29:29,720 --> 02:29:31,680 capital of the Hungarians. 2056 02:29:32,520 --> 02:29:35,680 Was this the city of the kings Arpad and Attila? 2057 02:29:36,680 --> 02:29:41,680 (dramatic orchestral music) 2058 02:29:41,720 --> 02:29:44,160 Sicambria is believed to be lost, 2059 02:29:44,200 --> 02:29:48,080 but its ruins might be found in the woods of the Pilis mountains. 2060 02:29:52,040 --> 02:29:54,280 Just a few kilometres outside Budapest, 2061 02:29:54,520 --> 02:29:56,160 near the town of Budakalász, 2062 02:29:56,160 --> 02:29:58,160 everything comes together. 2063 02:29:58,840 --> 02:30:02,760 Ecologist Imre Lánszki has studied the Medieval maps 2064 02:30:02,840 --> 02:30:07,640 and is convinced that the ancient royal city is located in this forest. 2065 02:30:08,200 --> 02:30:09,680 (in Hungarian) 2066 02:30:09,680 --> 02:30:12,120 (dubbed in English) I can't put it any other way. 2067 02:30:12,160 --> 02:30:14,520 This is the atrium of the castle. 2068 02:30:14,600 --> 02:30:17,160 And I'll show you where the walls stood. 2069 02:30:17,160 --> 02:30:19,240 There we can also see the moat. 2070 02:30:29,040 --> 02:30:31,720 Imre Lánszki is sure that he's standing 2071 02:30:31,800 --> 02:30:34,680 amidst the ruins of the palace of Hun king Attila. 2072 02:30:34,680 --> 02:30:37,120 (Dr Lánszki) This rock and this rock. 2073 02:30:37,160 --> 02:30:43,760 I'm standing on the wall of Attila's castle. 2074 02:30:49,680 --> 02:30:51,680 The wall was already here back then. 2075 02:30:56,040 --> 02:30:59,200 If Imre Lánszki's assumption proves to be true, 2076 02:30:59,280 --> 02:31:04,280 Attila's tomb might also be somewhere among these trees and rocks. 2077 02:31:06,080 --> 02:31:07,680 This was Sicambria. 2078 02:31:07,760 --> 02:31:10,160 Later it was called Attila's Castle. 2079 02:31:11,240 --> 02:31:13,120 "Etzelburg" in German. 2080 02:31:14,280 --> 02:31:18,840 (dramatic orchestral music) 2081 02:31:20,800 --> 02:31:24,160 Attila's life is a source of myths and legends. 2082 02:31:24,160 --> 02:31:28,680 The once powerful Hun king also inspired European poets. 2083 02:31:28,680 --> 02:31:30,320 Under the name of King Etzel, 2084 02:31:30,560 --> 02:31:35,280 he was also featured in a Medieval German saga, "Nibelungenlied". 2085 02:31:44,160 --> 02:31:46,760 Joachim Heinzle takes a closer look at this myth 2086 02:31:46,840 --> 02:31:48,760 in the monastery library of St Gallen. 2087 02:31:49,760 --> 02:31:52,160 He is a Nibelung expert. 2088 02:31:52,160 --> 02:31:56,160 He thinks the investigation needs to be conducted using the old text. 2089 02:31:58,560 --> 02:32:03,800 (dramatic music) 2090 02:32:09,280 --> 02:32:10,720 (in German) 2091 02:32:10,800 --> 02:32:14,680 (dubbed in English) In Germanic poetry, Etzel is the name used 2092 02:32:14,760 --> 02:32:16,680 to refer to Attila the Hun. 2093 02:32:16,680 --> 02:32:18,680 You can tell by the name. 2094 02:32:18,720 --> 02:32:21,680 Language historians were able to trace the name Etzel 2095 02:32:21,760 --> 02:32:23,680 directly back to Attila. 2096 02:32:28,680 --> 02:32:30,200 In the Nibelungenlied, 2097 02:32:30,280 --> 02:32:34,160 Etzel marries Burgundian princess Kriemhild. 2098 02:32:34,160 --> 02:32:36,720 Etzel is not portrayed as a brutal ruler, 2099 02:32:36,800 --> 02:32:39,680 but as an old and mild-mannered king. 2100 02:32:39,760 --> 02:32:42,160 His royal city is called Etzelburg, 2101 02:32:42,160 --> 02:32:44,160 and lies where old Buda used to be. 2102 02:32:51,680 --> 02:32:53,680 This old Buda, Óbuda, 2103 02:32:53,720 --> 02:32:56,200 was called Etzelburg in the Middle Ages. 2104 02:32:56,280 --> 02:32:59,200 We know this as there are records confirming it. 2105 02:32:59,280 --> 02:33:01,080 And in the Nibelungenlied, 2106 02:33:01,160 --> 02:33:04,840 the Etzelburg is also referred to as Etzel's residence. 2107 02:33:06,280 --> 02:33:09,680 (suspenseful music) 2108 02:33:11,800 --> 02:33:14,120 Imre Lánszki believes Attila's grave 2109 02:33:14,160 --> 02:33:17,240 lies in an old quarry directly behind the ruins 2110 02:33:17,320 --> 02:33:19,600 of the reputed royal city. 2111 02:33:19,680 --> 02:33:21,840 An excerpt from the Gesta Hungarorum 2112 02:33:22,080 --> 02:33:24,160 serves as his guiding light. 2113 02:33:27,680 --> 02:33:30,840 (dubbed in English) This book describes that Arpad 2114 02:33:31,080 --> 02:33:34,640 was buried over the source of a small creek running through the rock. 2115 02:33:35,160 --> 02:33:37,680 This is why we've come here. 2116 02:33:37,720 --> 02:33:40,760 I followed the directions in the Gesta Hungarorum. 2117 02:33:43,680 --> 02:33:49,560 (suspenseful orchestral music) 2118 02:33:51,160 --> 02:33:54,040 And it is also written that he was buried in a mine. 2119 02:33:55,200 --> 02:33:59,200 If it hasn't been pillaged, Arpad and Attila have to be there. 2120 02:34:04,600 --> 02:34:06,680 The ecologist has observed 2121 02:34:06,760 --> 02:34:09,160 irregularities in the treetops. 2122 02:34:09,160 --> 02:34:12,520 Some of the trees have grown in a peculiar way, 2123 02:34:12,600 --> 02:34:15,520 which could point to a cavity in the ground. 2124 02:34:17,680 --> 02:34:19,280 After eight or ten metres, 2125 02:34:19,520 --> 02:34:22,840 the tree, or its main branch, begins tilting to the side, 2126 02:34:23,080 --> 02:34:25,200 and cannot continue growing straight. 2127 02:34:25,280 --> 02:34:26,520 So it grows sideways. 2128 02:34:27,120 --> 02:34:29,160 You can see that perfectly over there. 2129 02:34:29,160 --> 02:34:31,680 And over there on the black locust, 2130 02:34:31,680 --> 02:34:34,680 we can also see the deformation along the whole tree. 2131 02:34:35,600 --> 02:34:38,160 There has got to be a large cavity underneath us. 2132 02:34:38,160 --> 02:34:40,160 Between here and there. 2133 02:34:45,160 --> 02:34:48,720 Infra-red imaging also points to a cavity. 2134 02:34:48,800 --> 02:34:52,520 The cross section of the area reveals a source of heat. 2135 02:34:52,600 --> 02:34:54,720 This means there's an air pocket. 2136 02:34:58,640 --> 02:35:02,720 Lánszki has the ground drilled and uses an endoscopic camera. 2137 02:35:03,240 --> 02:35:07,120 He wants to see if specialists can confirm his suspicion. 2138 02:35:07,600 --> 02:35:10,680 Are there man-made cavities beneath the rocks? 2139 02:35:17,800 --> 02:35:19,280 (voices) 2140 02:35:23,680 --> 02:35:25,560 At about twelve metres down, 2141 02:35:25,640 --> 02:35:28,200 there's got to be a crack and the edge of a cavity. 2142 02:35:31,840 --> 02:35:35,680 The camera probe slowly makes its way through the ground. 2143 02:35:40,760 --> 02:35:43,120 (Lánszki) How many metres down are we? 2144 02:35:44,520 --> 02:35:46,600 (man, dubbed in English) Ten metres. 2145 02:35:47,520 --> 02:35:50,080 (speaks Hungarian) 2146 02:35:53,640 --> 02:35:56,320 (Lánszki) There you go. Here we are. 2147 02:35:58,160 --> 02:35:59,800 Slowly, slowly... 2148 02:36:05,160 --> 02:36:07,120 This is too straight. 2149 02:36:07,160 --> 02:36:09,120 This stone has been worked. 2150 02:36:09,680 --> 02:36:11,720 (Lánszki) This is a fragmented stone. 2151 02:36:12,680 --> 02:36:15,680 It's pretty smooth over here too. 2152 02:36:16,680 --> 02:36:18,680 Go back a bit. 2153 02:36:18,680 --> 02:36:20,560 And the rock is not the same. 2154 02:36:26,160 --> 02:36:29,160 This shows that we're looking in the right place. 2155 02:36:31,160 --> 02:36:34,080 Imre Lánszki has found the cavity. 2156 02:36:36,560 --> 02:36:38,080 (Lánszki sighs) 2157 02:36:38,160 --> 02:36:40,040 It's fantastic. 2158 02:36:42,680 --> 02:36:44,240 (in English) Unbelievable. 2159 02:36:45,200 --> 02:36:46,800 Very, very good. 2160 02:36:48,680 --> 02:36:51,640 Is this the defining piece of the puzzle 2161 02:36:51,680 --> 02:36:54,040 in the search for Attila's tomb? 2162 02:36:54,120 --> 02:36:56,160 Imre Lánszki has to be patient, 2163 02:36:56,160 --> 02:36:59,280 and raise money to excavate this site. 2164 02:36:59,520 --> 02:37:02,720 (dramatic orchestral music) 2165 02:37:02,800 --> 02:37:05,160 If we were lucky enough to find the place 2166 02:37:05,200 --> 02:37:07,040 where Attila the Hun was buried, 2167 02:37:07,120 --> 02:37:11,560 then, and only then, I think, could we say that he'd no longer be a myth. 2168 02:37:11,640 --> 02:37:13,040 (dramatic music) 2169 02:37:13,120 --> 02:37:16,840 Attila the Hun: feared and admired to this day. 2170 02:37:17,080 --> 02:37:19,600 It only seems to be a matter of time 2171 02:37:19,680 --> 02:37:22,160 until the mystery surrounding his tomb 2172 02:37:22,200 --> 02:37:24,040 will be revealed. 177677

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