These days, calling someone a “Philistine” is considered an insult. But archaeology suggests it should actually be taken as a compliment. The Philistines were a sophisticated, cosmopolitan and entrepreneurial people – and they left behind a rich legacy. In this episode, host Simcha Jacobovici gets the scoop on the tribe of Delilah and Goliath, learns about their fertility cults and examines a temple like the one Samson was said to have destroyed with his bare hands.

Everyone assumes the Greeks invented the alphabet. But what are its true origins? Archaeological finds tell us it originated in Egypt, where Hebrew slaves began the process of turning hieroglyphics into symbols that convey sounds and can be used to form words. Drawing a line all the way from ancient desert cave scrawlings to present-day urban graffiti, host Simcha Jacobovici traces the evolution of these simple shapes that democratized communication.

In 701 BCE, the brutal Assyrian army stood poised outside the walls of Jerusalem, ready to sack the city. Had they succeeded, Judaism would have died and Christianity and Islam might never have evolved. But according to the Bible, “an angel of God” intervened and the Assyrians were defeated. What stopped them? Scholars have puzzled over this mystery for centuries. Now, Canadian journalist Henry Aubin thinks he has found the answer – but it’s a controversial one.

Herod, the first century ruler of Palestine, was one of the most brilliant and brutal figures of the ancient world. And he died a mysterious and gruesome death, with worms crawling from his flesh even before he expired. Herod is famous for acts of extraordinary cruelty, like the Biblical slaughter of Israel’s firstborn sons and the murder of several members of his own family. But he was also responsible for building many impressive public works and turning Jerusalem into one of the most beautiful

The antiquities market has always been plagued by fakes and forgeries. But current controversies over the “James Ossuary” (the first archaeological inscription mentioning Jesus of Nazareth) and the “Jehoash Stone” (the only archaeological find from King Solomon's era) are plagued by politics, making a proper assessment of their authenticity nearly impossible. Can science actually prove what's real and what's fake – and how did it all get so political?

In these episodes, which feature exclusive footage of both the James Ossuary and the Jehoash Stone, host Simcha Jacobovici meets with dissident archaeologists to discuss why the Israel Antiquities Authority limits access to certain artifacts, and asks whether collectors suspected of forgery are being persecuted. He also reveals the true story of an early and sensational fake: the fabrication of an entire culture, complete with artifacts that made their way into some of the world's greatest museums.

In North America, it would be unusual to have a bulldozer hit anything besides a hidden gas line or cable. But in Israel, it's not uncommon to find remains from an ancient city while digging the foundation for a new home. In this episode, host Simcha Jacobovici explores the four-level basement of a Jerusalem home and discovers relics that date back 2,000 years.

New archaeology has revealed what may be the cave where St. John baptized new converts to the original Christianity, including Jesus. The Naked Archaeologist checks out the cave and learns more about this major Christian saint. He also discovers why, in the Church of St. John the Baptist, there is a painting by a Canadian artist complete with mysterious wooden beavers.

Why is a debate about a colour so intensely important to some Orthodox Jews? How did the recipe for Biblical Royal Blue become lost?

And what is the Hillazon – part fish, part snake with legs coming from its head – the mysterious creature described in the Bible as the source for the blue dye? Do archaeology and modern chemistry have the answer?