Five thousand years ago the Minoans, Europe's first great civilization, flourished on the island of Crete. They were the first Europeans to use writing, and their technologically advanced and rich artistic culture became the setting for famous Greek myths about Theseus, Icarus, and the Minotaur. Yet in their heyday, the Minoans were wiped from the pages of history. The cause of their downfall has remained one of the foremost mysteries of the ancient world, until now. The program explores, and discounts, all the usual theories about the disappearance of the Minoans - from a massive volcano that buried them in ash, to Greek invaders who conquered and killed them. Drawing from the archaeological records, new revelations about Minoan language and religion, and shocking new geological discoveries, the film connects fact with fiction, and reveals the truth behind the reign and fall of the great Minoan civilization.

Wednesday, 5/14/08 from 8-9 p.m. ET
Sunday, 5/18/08 from 5-6 p.m. ET