Troy: Unearthing the Legend

Compiled to coincide with the theatrical release of the big-budget blockbuster Troy starring Brad Pitt, this two-disc History Channel set offers a wealth of information and expert testimony regarding the Trojan War and the Spartans, but in their zeal to ride Hollywood's coattails with timely product, the compilers of Troy: Unearthing the Legend apparently ignored the fact that two of these programs--the Ancient Mysteries episode The Odyssey of Troy and The Trojan City--are virtually identical, apart from the presence of Leonard Nimoy, who hosted the Ancient Mysteries series in the late '90s. Both of these informative, fascinating programs attempt to draw historical connections between the ancient ruins of Troy (in present-day Turkey) and the text of Homer's The Iliad. Also included is The Ancient Gold of Troy, from the History Channel series Treasure!, detailing the discovery of a priceless cache of allegedly Trojan gold jewelry and artifacts discovered by German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in 1873, which has been secretly held in Moscow's Pushkin Museum for over 50 years. The centerpiece of this set is The Rise and Fall of the Spartans, a two-part, three-hour study covering ancient Sparta's unique government, the development of Spartan warriors from early youth, their conquest of cities and regions throughout Greece (including the bloody battle of Thermopylae), and the political and strategic circumstances that led to their dramatic downfall. All of this is presented rather dryly, with an abundance of redundant visual material and talking-head interviews with historians, scholars, and authors, but Troy: Unearthing the Legend will be welcomed by those studying ancient Greece and movie buffs seeking historical background. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Shannon)