1 00:00:02,367 --> 00:00:05,667 NARRATOR: One of the great lost cities of the ancient world, 2 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:08,967 today, the site of Olous 3 00:00:08,967 --> 00:00:12,767 lies submerged in the Mediterranean Sea. 4 00:00:12,767 --> 00:00:16,266 A sprawling metropolis home to thousands of people 5 00:00:16,333 --> 00:00:20,367 who worship strange gods is hidden beneath the waves. 6 00:00:25,667 --> 00:00:28,166 NARRATOR: How does this unique city survive the rise 7 00:00:28,166 --> 00:00:33,266 and fall of Europe's greatest civilizations against all odds? 8 00:00:33,333 --> 00:00:37,133 And does a catastrophic earthquake cause Olous to sink? 9 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:44,934 Now, archaeologists use cutting-edge technology to 10 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,533 uncover the wonders of this lost world. 11 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,066 NARRATOR: To solve these mysteries, 12 00:00:57,066 --> 00:01:00,667 we digitally reconstruct this submerged city. 13 00:01:03,367 --> 00:01:05,867 We explore its links to Europe's first 14 00:01:05,867 --> 00:01:07,533 great civilization, 15 00:01:09,567 --> 00:01:12,667 discover how it evades destruction by the mighty 16 00:01:12,667 --> 00:01:14,033 Roman Empire, 17 00:01:15,367 --> 00:01:18,867 and investigate whether an ancient apocalypse has a part 18 00:01:18,867 --> 00:01:22,433 to play in the downfall of this sunken city. 19 00:01:30,467 --> 00:01:32,166 The north coast of Crete. 20 00:01:33,767 --> 00:01:37,500 A mysterious road emerges at low tide. 21 00:01:37,500 --> 00:01:39,934 It heads straight into the Mediterranean Sea. 22 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,367 The sea and sand have kept these ruins a secret 23 00:01:44,433 --> 00:01:45,367 for centuries. 24 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,834 But now, a new breed of maritime 25 00:01:48,900 --> 00:01:51,767 archaeologists can descend beneath the surface 26 00:01:51,834 --> 00:01:52,934 to investigate. 27 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,166 NARRATOR: Their discoveries here match ancient 28 00:02:09,233 --> 00:02:12,667 accounts of a legendary city called Olous. 29 00:02:15,266 --> 00:02:18,934 Archaeologists dive down and discover carved stones, 30 00:02:20,700 --> 00:02:23,667 the foundations of a remarkable ancient settlement. 31 00:02:26,100 --> 00:02:29,767 At the center lies the beating heart of a city, 32 00:02:29,767 --> 00:02:33,033 a hub of impressive temples and public buildings. 33 00:02:34,667 --> 00:02:37,066 They explore stone houses and shops 34 00:02:37,133 --> 00:02:39,533 that line a maze of narrow streets 35 00:02:41,266 --> 00:02:43,834 and a 10-foot-wide defensive wall 36 00:02:43,900 --> 00:02:46,667 that protects this prosperous place from attacks. 37 00:02:47,767 --> 00:02:51,700 These are the underwater ruins of Olous. 38 00:02:51,700 --> 00:02:55,767 What can they reveal about the city and its importance? 39 00:03:00,467 --> 00:03:02,867 The team of underwater experts searching for 40 00:03:02,867 --> 00:03:04,500 answers here is led by 41 00:03:04,500 --> 00:03:07,433 archaeologist Theotokis Theodoulou. 42 00:03:09,667 --> 00:03:12,266 He is on a mission to identify the city's 43 00:03:12,266 --> 00:03:15,567 limits and discover the scale of this ancient site. 44 00:03:17,300 --> 00:03:20,567 His team will be the first to excavate the city. 45 00:03:22,367 --> 00:03:24,266 150 feet offshore, 46 00:03:24,266 --> 00:03:26,533 Theotokis finds what he is looking for. 47 00:03:32,166 --> 00:03:34,767 Theotokis believes this line of stones is 48 00:03:34,767 --> 00:03:37,934 evidence of a man-made structure. 49 00:03:52,700 --> 00:03:54,834 NARRATOR: The discovery of an ancient wall 50 00:03:54,900 --> 00:03:57,233 could reveal the boundaries of the city. 51 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,467 Theotokis has uncovered Olous's southern walls. 52 00:04:18,166 --> 00:04:21,567 He traces the wall to map the city's layout. 53 00:04:21,634 --> 00:04:24,967 But after 165 feet, it ends. 54 00:04:24,967 --> 00:04:27,767 The large, manmade boulders suddenly stop. 55 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,066 Sections of the city wall are missing. 56 00:04:32,266 --> 00:04:35,233 Theotokis wants to know just how big this city is. 57 00:04:37,467 --> 00:04:39,066 He heads back to land to 58 00:04:39,066 --> 00:04:43,433 continue his investigation from another viewpoint, above. 59 00:04:45,266 --> 00:04:47,000 He launches a high-resolution, 60 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,834 drone-mounted camera to survey the coastline. 61 00:04:52,467 --> 00:04:54,567 The aerial footage reveals a maze of 62 00:04:54,567 --> 00:04:57,934 over 1000 feet of modern walls on land. 63 00:04:59,100 --> 00:05:01,333 It's a vast labyrinth today. 64 00:05:02,467 --> 00:05:05,166 Theotokis hunts for signs of any ancient structures 65 00:05:05,166 --> 00:05:06,567 among them. 66 00:05:06,634 --> 00:05:08,367 THEOTOKIS: Inside the fields, 67 00:05:08,433 --> 00:05:12,033 there are some remnants of parts of the city wall. 68 00:05:14,100 --> 00:05:16,100 NARRATOR: Telltale signs lie beneath 69 00:05:16,100 --> 00:05:17,867 some of the modern walls, 70 00:05:17,867 --> 00:05:20,767 boulders of the same dimensions and material as 71 00:05:20,767 --> 00:05:22,533 the underwater structures. 72 00:05:23,467 --> 00:05:25,667 They are proof that some of these modern 73 00:05:25,667 --> 00:05:28,567 walls are built on top of the ancient city. 74 00:05:30,767 --> 00:05:33,867 The walls on land and underwater encompass 75 00:05:33,867 --> 00:05:38,367 36 acres, about the size of eight Manhattan city blocks. 76 00:05:38,367 --> 00:05:43,266 Theotokis uses this figure to calculate the city's population. 77 00:05:43,266 --> 00:05:47,934 THEOTOKIS: We can talk about something like 10,000 or more. 78 00:05:48,867 --> 00:05:51,500 NARRATOR: This is no small-scale city. 79 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:53,233 It's a major metropolis. 80 00:05:58,700 --> 00:06:01,567 Theotokis returns underwater to investigate 81 00:06:01,634 --> 00:06:03,567 why so many people live here. 82 00:06:06,066 --> 00:06:09,467 Not far from the city wall, he spies something. 83 00:06:18,967 --> 00:06:21,266 NARRATOR: The robust structure stands out from 84 00:06:21,333 --> 00:06:23,066 the rest of the ruins of Olous. 85 00:06:24,667 --> 00:06:26,867 Theotokis and his team use an underwater 86 00:06:26,867 --> 00:06:29,734 camera to document this mysterious structure. 87 00:06:33,166 --> 00:06:36,467 He returns to dry land to analyze a 3D model of 88 00:06:36,467 --> 00:06:37,834 his images. 89 00:06:38,867 --> 00:06:42,567 The 3D model reveals a substantial ruin. 90 00:06:42,634 --> 00:06:45,100 The structure stretches 50 feet long 91 00:06:45,100 --> 00:06:46,934 and 26 feet wide. 92 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:49,934 THEOTOKIS: These worked sandstones, 93 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:51,667 they are material that it was 94 00:06:51,734 --> 00:06:54,266 not used by people for their houses. 95 00:06:54,266 --> 00:06:57,567 These were probably used for public buildings 96 00:06:57,634 --> 00:07:00,934 and for important buildings of the city. 97 00:07:09,166 --> 00:07:11,600 These stones could be the remains of 98 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:13,667 a 50-foot-long jetty. 99 00:07:16,867 --> 00:07:20,066 The ancient people likely build it here to take 100 00:07:20,066 --> 00:07:21,367 advantage of the city's 101 00:07:21,367 --> 00:07:24,934 brilliant natural harbor that is sheltered by the landscape 102 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,667 from prevailing winds and enemy attack. 103 00:07:32,500 --> 00:07:34,367 Olous is a rich port at 104 00:07:34,367 --> 00:07:36,266 the junction of the Mediterranean 105 00:07:36,266 --> 00:07:37,467 and Aegean Seas. 106 00:07:41,266 --> 00:07:44,834 When does the city reach this thriving peak? 107 00:07:44,900 --> 00:07:47,834 Can the jetty's stones reveal its age? 108 00:07:53,500 --> 00:07:56,367 Olous is mentioned in a 3rd century CE 109 00:07:56,433 --> 00:07:58,834 list of ports in the Roman Empire. 110 00:07:59,867 --> 00:08:01,367 It is one of the first times 111 00:08:01,367 --> 00:08:04,166 the city's name appears in the historical record. 112 00:08:06,467 --> 00:08:09,066 Theotokis wants to find out if this grand coastal 113 00:08:09,066 --> 00:08:10,367 metropolis is created 114 00:08:10,367 --> 00:08:14,467 by the Romans or if it could be even more ancient. 115 00:08:17,467 --> 00:08:19,667 He explores a submerged location 116 00:08:19,734 --> 00:08:22,367 he believes could hold the answers, 117 00:08:22,433 --> 00:08:25,834 a rocky outcrop just on the outskirts of the city. 118 00:08:36,166 --> 00:08:37,867 NARRATOR: The land connecting the island to 119 00:08:37,867 --> 00:08:41,667 the mainland is chiseled away in ancient times. 120 00:08:41,734 --> 00:08:44,066 It forms part of an ancient quarry. 121 00:08:46,367 --> 00:08:50,567 Just like Olous, the quarry is now mostly hidden underwater. 122 00:08:55,367 --> 00:08:58,367 Theotokis finds marks on the sea floor where 123 00:08:58,433 --> 00:09:01,333 the rock has been cut away to create solid blocks. 124 00:09:08,266 --> 00:09:10,266 NARRATOR: The submerged quarry could help reveal 125 00:09:10,266 --> 00:09:12,133 the date the city is built. 126 00:09:13,166 --> 00:09:16,266 Today, it is 6.5 feet underwater, 127 00:09:16,266 --> 00:09:20,000 but when it is quarried, it is on dry land. 128 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,667 The site's depth matches that of other ruins 129 00:09:22,734 --> 00:09:27,266 across Crete that date to around 300 BCE. 130 00:09:27,266 --> 00:09:30,867 This reveals Olous is built at this time, 131 00:09:30,867 --> 00:09:33,367 the era of ancient Greek domination 132 00:09:33,433 --> 00:09:35,333 of the Eastern Mediterranean. 133 00:09:37,500 --> 00:09:40,266 But could discoveries nearby be evidence 134 00:09:40,266 --> 00:09:42,867 its origins reach back even further, 135 00:09:42,867 --> 00:09:46,500 to the dawn of civilization in Europe? 136 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:50,533 And what causes Olous to plunge beneath the waves? 137 00:10:01,367 --> 00:10:02,800 NARRATOR: Ancient Olous, 138 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:06,734 a sunken metropolis at least 2,000 years old. 139 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,166 Theotokis Theodoulou is on a mission to trace 140 00:10:11,166 --> 00:10:14,066 this great city back to its roots. 141 00:10:14,066 --> 00:10:17,166 He wants to find out who is the first to settle here. 142 00:10:19,166 --> 00:10:20,767 He investigates the shore just 143 00:10:20,767 --> 00:10:22,867 2 miles from Olous's ruins. 144 00:10:24,066 --> 00:10:27,100 This area is only accessible by boat, so has 145 00:10:27,100 --> 00:10:29,900 remained largely untouched since the golden age of 146 00:10:29,900 --> 00:10:31,166 ancient Greece. 147 00:10:32,700 --> 00:10:36,166 Theotokis scours the ground for evidence of early settlers. 148 00:10:38,367 --> 00:10:40,166 It's not long before he finds 149 00:10:40,166 --> 00:10:42,467 a treasure trove of pottery shards. 150 00:10:44,700 --> 00:10:48,900 It's Bronze Age, it's mainly second millennium BC. 151 00:10:48,900 --> 00:10:52,066 These shapes and this kind of stuff, 152 00:10:52,066 --> 00:10:57,467 this clay, it's very characteristic of the era. 153 00:11:01,667 --> 00:11:04,333 NARRATOR: When archaeologists start to piece together some 154 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:06,367 fragments here, 155 00:11:06,367 --> 00:11:09,767 they reveal pots with distinctive markings. 156 00:11:11,567 --> 00:11:14,467 They date to the time of the Minoans, 157 00:11:14,467 --> 00:11:16,967 Europe's first great civilization. 158 00:11:18,567 --> 00:11:21,066 The particular shape of the vessel 159 00:11:21,066 --> 00:11:23,867 and the supporting legs beneath it are 160 00:11:23,867 --> 00:11:26,867 signs that this is a cooking pot. 161 00:11:26,867 --> 00:11:30,166 Its discovery here suggests that the Minoans settle 162 00:11:30,166 --> 00:11:33,166 in this sheltered cove and the nearby region. 163 00:11:34,166 --> 00:11:35,700 Is there a connection between 164 00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:38,900 Olous and the great Minoan empire? 165 00:11:38,900 --> 00:11:41,967 Do the famous Minoans build Olous? 166 00:11:45,567 --> 00:11:48,967 Artemis Karnava is an expert in Cretan history. 167 00:11:50,266 --> 00:11:51,567 She wants to investigate 168 00:11:51,567 --> 00:11:54,734 the link between the Minoans and ancient Olous. 169 00:11:56,266 --> 00:11:58,567 She has come just 30 miles west 170 00:11:58,634 --> 00:12:01,767 of Olous, to the magnificent Minoan palace of Knossos. 171 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,166 This is the seat of the government 172 00:12:05,166 --> 00:12:07,066 and the people who ruled. 173 00:12:08,367 --> 00:12:10,767 NARRATOR: Knossos is only uncovered by archaeologists 174 00:12:10,767 --> 00:12:12,233 In 1878. 175 00:12:13,467 --> 00:12:15,867 The sophistication of the Minoan civilization 176 00:12:15,934 --> 00:12:19,867 unearthed here continues to astound experts. 177 00:12:19,934 --> 00:12:23,900 We are still impressed by it, because before this thing 178 00:12:23,900 --> 00:12:26,667 was constructed, there was nothing like it. 179 00:12:27,667 --> 00:12:29,567 In the second millennium BCE, 180 00:12:29,634 --> 00:12:32,266 the Minoans are living in palaces while 181 00:12:32,266 --> 00:12:35,333 the people of Northern Europe are still in mud huts. 182 00:12:36,100 --> 00:12:39,667 ARTEMIS: They exhibit technical expertise and richness 183 00:12:39,667 --> 00:12:42,967 I think beyond imagination even for the period. 184 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,166 NARRATOR: Much of what we think of as 185 00:12:46,166 --> 00:12:50,066 later Greek culture starts here with the Minoans. 186 00:12:51,900 --> 00:12:54,166 This great palace is the setting 187 00:12:54,166 --> 00:12:56,567 for the legend of the Minotaur, 188 00:12:56,634 --> 00:12:58,867 a bloodthirsty mythical creature held 189 00:12:58,934 --> 00:13:00,634 captive by the king of Crete. 190 00:13:02,266 --> 00:13:05,000 Clues to an Olous connection could lie 191 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,166 in images that adorn the walls here. 192 00:13:08,166 --> 00:13:10,767 Archeologists spend years piecing these 193 00:13:10,834 --> 00:13:13,066 paintings together. 194 00:13:13,066 --> 00:13:16,567 ARTEMIS: When they're put together and through the colors, 195 00:13:16,567 --> 00:13:19,667 we get a glimpse of what 196 00:13:19,734 --> 00:13:23,467 the people that lived at the time looked like. 197 00:13:23,467 --> 00:13:26,467 NARRATOR: Frescoes across the Minoan Empire show 198 00:13:26,533 --> 00:13:30,066 the lavish lifestyles of a cosmopolitan society. 199 00:13:30,133 --> 00:13:32,367 ARTEMIS: They're very impressive, very delicate 200 00:13:32,367 --> 00:13:35,533 closed sometimes, and very complicated. 201 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,567 NARRATOR: These exotic goods suggest the Minoans 202 00:13:39,567 --> 00:13:42,066 have a gateway to the wider world. 203 00:13:43,166 --> 00:13:45,467 And maritime motifs are a clue 204 00:13:45,467 --> 00:13:47,767 the Minoans are expert seafarers. 205 00:13:56,166 --> 00:13:58,667 Knossos is inland. 206 00:13:58,734 --> 00:14:00,266 The Minoans need access to 207 00:14:00,266 --> 00:14:03,233 the sea to launch their great expeditions. 208 00:14:06,467 --> 00:14:09,000 Archaeologist Dimitris Karampas 209 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,900 is on a mission to find out if 210 00:14:10,900 --> 00:14:13,533 Olous is a long lost Minoan port. 211 00:14:15,767 --> 00:14:18,567 The ancient city is located on the western edge 212 00:14:18,567 --> 00:14:19,900 of a large bay, 213 00:14:19,900 --> 00:14:22,266 the Mirabello Gulf. -DIMITRIS: This gulf was 214 00:14:22,266 --> 00:14:24,567 really important for people in antiquity. 215 00:14:24,567 --> 00:14:26,333 The reason for that is, first of all, 216 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:30,233 it's the biggest one around Crete, while also, it is 217 00:14:30,300 --> 00:14:33,867 supported with great chances for anchorage and shelters. 218 00:14:36,166 --> 00:14:39,567 NARRATOR: The sheltered bay protects the ships of Olous. 219 00:14:39,634 --> 00:14:42,066 It is ideal for the seafaring Minoans. 220 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,667 Crete's mountains make overland travel difficult, 221 00:14:49,734 --> 00:14:51,367 so to get around their island, 222 00:14:51,367 --> 00:14:53,433 the Minoans turn to the sea. 223 00:14:57,367 --> 00:14:59,667 Before the Bronze Age, 224 00:14:59,667 --> 00:15:02,567 ancient Cretans beach their boats in sheltered 225 00:15:02,567 --> 00:15:03,834 sandy coves. 226 00:15:07,100 --> 00:15:09,667 Eventually, ships grow larger to 227 00:15:09,667 --> 00:15:12,700 haul vast treasures across the sea. 228 00:15:12,700 --> 00:15:15,000 So Minoans seek out harbors where 229 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,867 they can anchor in deeper water. 230 00:15:18,266 --> 00:15:20,367 Olous's natural harbor sits at 231 00:15:20,367 --> 00:15:23,767 the northwestern tip of Crete's largest bay. 232 00:15:23,834 --> 00:15:27,634 It's the ideal refuge for both small and large ships. 233 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,567 Three big surveys have taken place 234 00:15:32,634 --> 00:15:35,066 in this part of Crete -- through them, 235 00:15:35,066 --> 00:15:37,333 tens of sites have been identified, 236 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:39,533 mainly from the Minoan times. 237 00:15:41,266 --> 00:15:43,667 NARRATOR: Olous is one of the last sites 238 00:15:43,734 --> 00:15:45,900 of this area to be excavated. 239 00:15:45,900 --> 00:15:49,767 Direct evidence of Minoans is yet to be unearthed here. 240 00:15:49,767 --> 00:15:51,867 But the concentration of Minoan settlements 241 00:15:51,867 --> 00:15:54,467 in this bay suggests it is likely. 242 00:15:57,367 --> 00:15:58,567 It could be one of 243 00:15:58,634 --> 00:16:01,634 the launch pads of Europe's first great civilization. 244 00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:05,667 But what these Minoan boats export 245 00:16:05,667 --> 00:16:08,467 from this bay is a long-standing puzzle. 246 00:16:09,867 --> 00:16:13,700 The Minoan Empire becomes unimaginably wealthy. 247 00:16:13,700 --> 00:16:17,533 What treasures do they exchange to gain such fortunes? 248 00:16:18,367 --> 00:16:21,867 Can an ancient script reveal their secret cargo? 249 00:16:30,300 --> 00:16:33,066 NARRATOR: Olous, Crete. 250 00:16:33,066 --> 00:16:36,266 This submerged port city has ties to the mighty 251 00:16:36,333 --> 00:16:37,533 Minoan Empire. 252 00:16:40,100 --> 00:16:42,967 Artemis Karnava is on a mission to find out 253 00:16:43,033 --> 00:16:44,667 how the Minoan Empire 254 00:16:44,667 --> 00:16:48,133 uses ports such as Olous to become so rich. 255 00:16:49,567 --> 00:16:51,967 The nearby Minoan capital, Knossos, 256 00:16:51,967 --> 00:16:54,667 is covered in vivid images of the citizens' 257 00:16:54,667 --> 00:16:56,166 lavish lifestyles. 258 00:16:58,300 --> 00:17:02,367 How were they able to obtain all these precious objects? 259 00:17:02,433 --> 00:17:05,567 What were they giving in return? 260 00:17:05,567 --> 00:17:08,166 NARRATOR: A chance discovery made 100 years ago 261 00:17:08,166 --> 00:17:09,934 could hold the answers. 262 00:17:13,767 --> 00:17:17,634 When archaeologists first excavate Knossos, 263 00:17:17,700 --> 00:17:20,867 they discover the ruins of a small 264 00:17:20,934 --> 00:17:23,266 annex in the southwest part of the palace. 265 00:17:24,767 --> 00:17:27,667 Under a layer of black soil and ash, 266 00:17:27,667 --> 00:17:31,133 they unearthed the remains of an oval terracotta chest. 267 00:17:32,567 --> 00:17:35,266 Inside, they find over 30 baked 268 00:17:35,266 --> 00:17:38,033 clay tablets packed together in rows. 269 00:17:39,300 --> 00:17:42,433 Strange inscriptions are etched on their surfaces. 270 00:17:44,066 --> 00:17:47,100 What mysterious code is written on these tablets 271 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:50,400 and others found across the Minoan Empire? 272 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:54,367 Could they reveal what the Minoans are exchanging at Olous? 273 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,667 Artemis examines the tablets to look 274 00:18:00,667 --> 00:18:03,066 for clues hidden in the tiny symbols. 275 00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:06,767 They make up one of the world's 276 00:18:06,767 --> 00:18:10,734 earliest scripts, known as Linear B. 277 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,066 It was the first writing system that was used to 278 00:18:13,066 --> 00:18:16,367 record Greek, the Greek language. 279 00:18:16,367 --> 00:18:19,533 NARRATOR: These tablets are a remarkable record of 280 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:23,133 financial accounts from over 3,000 years ago. 281 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,066 ARTEMIS: We can now take images. 282 00:18:28,133 --> 00:18:31,767 And once you have the tablet on your computer screen, 283 00:18:31,767 --> 00:18:35,300 you can light the tablet from different angles. 284 00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:37,066 Chances are that I would be able 285 00:18:37,066 --> 00:18:38,967 to read them better than I would 286 00:18:39,033 --> 00:18:41,867 if I had the actual tablet in my hand. 287 00:18:43,100 --> 00:18:46,266 NARRATOR: Artemis can decode and read Linear B. 288 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:52,767 Each symbol represents a different object or commodity. 289 00:18:52,767 --> 00:18:56,867 Artemis spots one that stands out, repeated again and again 290 00:18:56,867 --> 00:18:58,367 across the tablet, 291 00:18:58,367 --> 00:19:00,467 the symbol for sheep. 292 00:19:00,467 --> 00:19:02,767 They keep flocks of sheep. 293 00:19:02,767 --> 00:19:06,567 So we have the registration of these flocks. 294 00:19:06,567 --> 00:19:10,467 And we think the main reason for that is 295 00:19:10,467 --> 00:19:14,667 that they wanted to be able to collect their wool, 296 00:19:14,667 --> 00:19:17,066 and the wool was the basis to make thread. 297 00:19:17,066 --> 00:19:22,767 Thread was the basis for producing textiles. 298 00:19:22,767 --> 00:19:25,367 NARRATOR: Textiles are a highly valuable commodity 299 00:19:25,433 --> 00:19:26,634 in ancient times. 300 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,667 But Artemis believes wool alone doesn't 301 00:19:31,667 --> 00:19:34,867 explain the immense wealth of Minoans. 302 00:19:34,867 --> 00:19:36,533 They are in a league greater 303 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,967 than any European civilization before them. 304 00:19:40,033 --> 00:19:41,734 Other Linear B tablets show 305 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,033 another prominent word repeated many times. 306 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,033 Purpurea. 307 00:19:49,667 --> 00:19:54,367 The word "purple" comes from this very ancient word. 308 00:19:54,367 --> 00:19:56,734 NARRATOR: This detail is key. 309 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:01,634 The Minoans create luxurious purple dyed textiles. 310 00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:04,767 These textiles are traded across the Mediterranean 311 00:20:04,767 --> 00:20:07,533 to Greece, Syria, and Egypt. 312 00:20:08,867 --> 00:20:11,166 Many centuries after the Minoans, 313 00:20:11,166 --> 00:20:15,266 the Romans call it "imperial purple," and it's worn only by 314 00:20:15,333 --> 00:20:17,567 elite members of society. 315 00:20:17,567 --> 00:20:18,734 Even to this day, 316 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,834 purple robes are still associated with royalty. 317 00:20:23,767 --> 00:20:26,734 The source of this valuable dye is a puzzle. 318 00:20:28,567 --> 00:20:30,934 Answers lie on a Olous's shoreline. 319 00:20:32,367 --> 00:20:35,266 Specialists from the Hellenic Center for Marine Research 320 00:20:35,333 --> 00:20:38,934 believe Olous could be the source of the purple dye. 321 00:20:41,567 --> 00:20:43,867 Just up the coast from the underwater city 322 00:20:43,867 --> 00:20:45,967 lie fragments of ancient shells 323 00:20:45,967 --> 00:20:48,133 alongside the Minoan pottery. 324 00:20:49,300 --> 00:20:52,834 They belong to a type of sea snail called murex. 325 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,934 Murex turn purple when they die. 326 00:20:58,300 --> 00:21:01,467 Olous is an ideal habitat for these snails, 327 00:21:01,533 --> 00:21:04,033 from ancient times to this day. 328 00:21:05,667 --> 00:21:08,967 The team collect the murex to study them up close. 329 00:21:12,300 --> 00:21:18,066 Eva Chatzinikolaou is an expert in these unique creatures. 330 00:21:18,133 --> 00:21:21,634 She investigates how the murex produce the rare pigment. 331 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,467 Her first step is to dissect a dead specimen. 332 00:21:35,266 --> 00:21:37,667 NARRATOR: Eva believes the mucus secreted from 333 00:21:37,667 --> 00:21:41,166 the snail's gland is the pigment's key ingredient. 334 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,767 NARRATOR: The Minoans add this mucus to water 335 00:21:58,767 --> 00:22:01,433 to create large quantities of precious dye. 336 00:22:05,900 --> 00:22:09,567 The discarded shells around Olous suggest this area may 337 00:22:09,567 --> 00:22:14,266 be part of a 3,500-year-old Minoan murex industry. 338 00:22:18,567 --> 00:22:22,567 The Minoans make the most of Crete's mountainous landscape, 339 00:22:22,567 --> 00:22:24,734 rearing vast flocks of sheep to 340 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:27,133 provide wool for their textile industry. 341 00:22:30,467 --> 00:22:33,533 They shear the animals for their fleeces, 342 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:37,533 then dye the wool and weave it into expensive fine cloth. 343 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:44,667 They export the valuable textiles from Mirabello Bay to 344 00:22:44,667 --> 00:22:47,467 distant shores of the Mediterranean and import 345 00:22:47,467 --> 00:22:48,734 copper and gold. 346 00:22:51,767 --> 00:22:54,734 Skilled artisans at Knossos fashion 347 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:56,467 these imported precious metals 348 00:22:56,533 --> 00:22:59,934 and gemstones into weapons and beautiful objects. 349 00:23:03,667 --> 00:23:06,266 The Minoans dominate the Mediterranean from 350 00:23:06,266 --> 00:23:08,734 their base on Crete for a millennium. 351 00:23:10,300 --> 00:23:14,634 But in 1600 BCE, their fate suddenly changes. 352 00:23:15,767 --> 00:23:19,166 The volcanic eruption on nearby Santorini generates 353 00:23:19,233 --> 00:23:23,767 a tsunami that destroys Minoan settlements across the island, 354 00:23:23,767 --> 00:23:25,533 including Olous. 355 00:23:27,967 --> 00:23:31,166 It triggers the end of the mighty Minoan Empire, 356 00:23:32,166 --> 00:23:34,734 but it is not the end for Olous. 357 00:23:35,967 --> 00:23:39,967 How does a new civilization rebuild this city? 358 00:23:40,033 --> 00:23:43,834 And does another even greater catastrophe lie ahead? 359 00:23:53,667 --> 00:23:55,166 NARRATOR: Ancient Olous, 360 00:23:55,233 --> 00:23:58,634 a site submerged in Crete's largest harbor. 361 00:23:59,667 --> 00:24:01,867 The island's cities are wiped out by 362 00:24:01,867 --> 00:24:04,834 a colossal volcanic eruption in the Minoan era. 363 00:24:06,066 --> 00:24:10,166 But Crete rises from the ashes, and Olous reaches its peak 364 00:24:10,166 --> 00:24:13,834 in 300 BCE, a millennium after the collapse 365 00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:15,767 of the Minoan civilization 366 00:24:15,767 --> 00:24:18,066 and long before the rise of Rome. 367 00:24:20,066 --> 00:24:21,667 Theotokis Theodoulou 368 00:24:21,734 --> 00:24:24,300 wants to investigate the island's revival 369 00:24:24,300 --> 00:24:26,967 and the new golden era of Olous. 370 00:24:26,967 --> 00:24:29,500 He looks for remnants close to shore that 371 00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:32,367 could shed light on the city's glory days. 372 00:24:34,967 --> 00:24:38,867 Theotokis's team use geophysical scanning equipment to 373 00:24:38,867 --> 00:24:41,433 detect ruins hidden beneath the sea floor. 374 00:24:43,066 --> 00:24:46,266 The results reveal an incredible maze of 375 00:24:46,333 --> 00:24:47,467 ancient buildings. 376 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:51,467 THEOTOKIS: We are probably in the center of 377 00:24:51,467 --> 00:24:57,266 the city, and that means public important buildings. 378 00:24:57,266 --> 00:25:00,500 NARRATOR: These submerged ruins form the heart of Olous in 379 00:25:00,500 --> 00:25:03,667 its heyday In the 4th century BCE. 380 00:25:07,367 --> 00:25:12,266 2,300 years ago, the citizens of Olous come 381 00:25:12,333 --> 00:25:15,567 to this main square to worship their gods. 382 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:22,467 They build a sanctuary for Apollo, another for Zeus, 383 00:25:23,500 --> 00:25:26,967 and a mysterious temple with a wooden statue 384 00:25:26,967 --> 00:25:28,934 of a female deity. 385 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:33,066 Ancient texts reveal she wields 386 00:25:33,133 --> 00:25:36,166 a double-bladed axe in each hand 387 00:25:36,166 --> 00:25:39,133 and is surrounded by vicious wild animals. 388 00:25:40,500 --> 00:25:43,500 Who is this fearsome warrior goddess? 389 00:25:43,500 --> 00:25:47,467 And what can she reveal about ancient Olous at its peak? 390 00:25:51,300 --> 00:25:55,734 Dimitris Karampas is on a mission to find out. 391 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:58,667 He treks to the neighboring ancient city of Lato. 392 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:05,467 The city is high in the hills 393 00:26:05,467 --> 00:26:10,066 and avoids the rising water levels that submerge Olous. 394 00:26:10,133 --> 00:26:13,467 Its ruins are more intact and easier to explore. 395 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,066 Lato may reveal important clues 396 00:26:19,066 --> 00:26:21,433 about ancient Olous in its prime. 397 00:26:22,767 --> 00:26:25,467 He scours the ruins at the heart of the city. 398 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:32,467 DIMITRIS: Usually, the temples were located at the top 399 00:26:32,533 --> 00:26:35,667 of the acropolis, and that's exactly what happened 400 00:26:35,667 --> 00:26:37,266 with Lato. 401 00:26:37,266 --> 00:26:42,367 Here, we have a temple standing at the top of the city, 402 00:26:42,367 --> 00:26:44,934 and it was definitely different to the one 403 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:46,333 at ancient Olous. 404 00:26:47,567 --> 00:26:49,300 NARRATOR: Artifacts unearthed here 405 00:26:49,300 --> 00:26:52,767 reveal Lato's temple is dedicated to Eileithyia, 406 00:26:52,767 --> 00:26:54,533 the goddess of childbirth. 407 00:26:56,300 --> 00:26:59,400 But the mysterious wooden statue in the temple of Olous 408 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:02,400 depicts an entirely different goddess for the people 409 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:03,533 to worship. 410 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,867 Ancient coins could reveal her identity, 411 00:27:08,867 --> 00:27:12,066 and uncover more about the city. 412 00:27:12,066 --> 00:27:16,367 Such coins are often decorated with the city's chief deities. 413 00:27:16,367 --> 00:27:19,767 Dimitris takes a closer look at one found in Olous. 414 00:27:19,767 --> 00:27:23,600 We see a feminine figure, and we think 415 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:27,233 that this was the goddess Vritomartis. 416 00:27:29,066 --> 00:27:32,467 NARRATOR: Olous's chief deity is Vritomartis, 417 00:27:32,533 --> 00:27:35,133 the Greek goddess of hunting and mountains. 418 00:27:37,300 --> 00:27:39,867 The two cities, Lato and Olous, 419 00:27:39,867 --> 00:27:43,467 are only 7 miles apart but worship different 420 00:27:43,533 --> 00:27:46,934 gods and operate within their own small worlds. 421 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,166 By 300 BCE, 422 00:27:54,233 --> 00:27:57,967 Crete consists of over 50 independent city-states, 423 00:27:57,967 --> 00:28:01,667 each with their own coins, gods, and laws. 424 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:04,767 Cities like Olous 425 00:28:04,767 --> 00:28:07,867 and Lato fight in a constant cycle of war 426 00:28:07,867 --> 00:28:11,333 and peace as they compete for land and resources. 427 00:28:14,967 --> 00:28:18,367 Cretans in search of a better fortune beyond their shores 428 00:28:18,367 --> 00:28:22,266 raid merchant ships in the Mediterranean and Aegean. 429 00:28:24,767 --> 00:28:27,500 Coastal cities like Olous benefit from 430 00:28:27,500 --> 00:28:30,667 the piracy by selling the loot that they capture. 431 00:28:34,367 --> 00:28:37,166 We should imagine a divided island, 432 00:28:37,233 --> 00:28:42,166 an island where endemic warfare was happening. 433 00:28:43,367 --> 00:28:46,600 NARRATOR: Thousands of people cluster behind Olous's walls 434 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,133 to protect themselves from their neighbors, 435 00:28:50,867 --> 00:28:53,567 but the city is still not safe. 436 00:28:53,567 --> 00:28:56,367 The Roman republic is rising in the West. 437 00:28:57,867 --> 00:29:02,734 It defeats an alliance of Greek city-states in 146 BCE 438 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,300 and looks to consolidate its power over the rest of 439 00:29:05,300 --> 00:29:06,467 the Mediterranean. 440 00:29:07,767 --> 00:29:09,567 What happens to Olous when 441 00:29:09,634 --> 00:29:12,667 the Romans turn their attention to Crete? 442 00:29:12,667 --> 00:29:16,033 Do the island's pirates meet their match? 443 00:29:23,667 --> 00:29:25,166 NARRATOR: Olous, 444 00:29:25,233 --> 00:29:27,767 a thriving city-state and pirate 445 00:29:27,834 --> 00:29:30,467 stronghold on the coast of Crete. 446 00:29:30,467 --> 00:29:32,467 In the 2nd century BCE, 447 00:29:32,467 --> 00:29:35,867 the Roman republic has its eye on the island. 448 00:29:37,700 --> 00:29:42,000 Olous is in its golden age -- its natural harbor and position 449 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:43,367 in the Mediterranean Sea 450 00:29:43,367 --> 00:29:45,533 make it a hotbed of piracy. 451 00:29:46,500 --> 00:29:49,066 The city grows rich from looting ships 452 00:29:49,133 --> 00:29:52,333 and levying charges on the sales of looted treasures, 453 00:29:53,100 --> 00:29:55,433 but Rome is approaching from the west. 454 00:29:55,500 --> 00:29:58,233 Are Olous's days numbered? 455 00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:04,967 Theotokis Theodoulou believes the island's position is 456 00:30:05,033 --> 00:30:07,333 the key to its allure for the Romans. 457 00:30:08,266 --> 00:30:10,967 THEOTOKIS: They wanted to secure this important 458 00:30:11,033 --> 00:30:14,266 nautical route that was passing through Crete. 459 00:30:14,266 --> 00:30:16,000 NARRATOR: The island lies on the route 460 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:18,567 between Rome and Egypt, 461 00:30:18,634 --> 00:30:21,166 the source of the republic's wheat. 462 00:30:21,166 --> 00:30:24,233 Access to this food source is critical to Rome. 463 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:28,634 Wheat is the staple of the Roman diet. 464 00:30:29,767 --> 00:30:35,233 Rome, as a big city, had the need to feed their people. 465 00:30:35,300 --> 00:30:38,634 NARRATOR: The Romans need to secure their grain highway. 466 00:30:43,900 --> 00:30:45,567 But Babis Fassoulas, 467 00:30:45,634 --> 00:30:47,567 from the Natural History Museum of Crete, 468 00:30:47,567 --> 00:30:50,734 believes there could be another draw for the Romans. 469 00:30:52,567 --> 00:30:55,967 He heads to the hills above Olous to investigate. 470 00:31:18,700 --> 00:31:21,567 NARRATOR: This cliff is made of whetstone, 471 00:31:21,634 --> 00:31:24,333 one of the hardest natural materials in the world. 472 00:31:25,567 --> 00:31:28,667 The Romans could have an important use for it. 473 00:31:35,767 --> 00:31:39,166 NARRATOR: Babis puts a piece of local whetstone to the test. 474 00:31:39,166 --> 00:31:41,634 First, he adds olive oil. 475 00:31:42,467 --> 00:31:45,266 We use the oil to polish smoothly 476 00:31:45,266 --> 00:31:48,000 and without causing big scratches to the blade 477 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:49,867 if big crystals exist. 478 00:31:51,166 --> 00:31:53,567 NARRATOR: The small crystals wear away the metal 479 00:31:53,634 --> 00:31:54,967 into the perfect blade. 480 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:00,233 We get a blade, which is like a razor, 481 00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:01,834 so we could even... 482 00:32:05,767 --> 00:32:07,166 NARRATOR: The blade is so sharp, 483 00:32:07,166 --> 00:32:09,634 it can slice through paper with ease. 484 00:32:12,166 --> 00:32:15,467 Sharp blades are crucial in ancient times, 485 00:32:15,467 --> 00:32:17,767 especially in warfare. 486 00:32:17,767 --> 00:32:20,967 It would be very important for an army 487 00:32:21,033 --> 00:32:23,166 to have quite sharpened weapons. 488 00:32:23,166 --> 00:32:24,900 This would make them more 489 00:32:24,900 --> 00:32:28,066 effective and better during the battle. 490 00:32:30,667 --> 00:32:34,000 NARRATOR: The valuable whetstone and its location on the grain 491 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:38,233 super highway makes Olous a prime target for the Romans. 492 00:32:39,667 --> 00:32:42,233 A Roman coin discovered amongst the ruins of 493 00:32:42,300 --> 00:32:45,834 Olous is evidence the Romans make their move. 494 00:32:50,567 --> 00:32:55,467 Coastal cities of Crete are the perfect home for pirates 495 00:32:55,467 --> 00:32:58,767 but are vulnerable to Roman attack from the sea. 496 00:33:01,900 --> 00:33:03,767 Across the island, 497 00:33:03,834 --> 00:33:07,467 Romans catapult missiles over the walls 498 00:33:07,467 --> 00:33:09,233 to destroy the cities. 499 00:33:13,100 --> 00:33:15,767 They drop masonry in harbor entrances 500 00:33:15,767 --> 00:33:18,834 to trap the local pirates' boats in. 501 00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:27,233 Finally, the Romans set the cities on fire. 502 00:33:28,467 --> 00:33:32,433 They sweep across the island, eventually reaching Olous. 503 00:33:36,667 --> 00:33:39,000 The Romans are quick to conquer the city 504 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:42,333 and make it part of their vast empire. 505 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:46,166 Olous's golden age of independence is over. 506 00:33:46,166 --> 00:33:49,567 But the fabric of the city lives on. 507 00:33:49,567 --> 00:33:53,433 Olous survives once again and flourishes under the Romans. 508 00:33:54,767 --> 00:33:57,567 Ancient texts reveal whetstone quarrying 509 00:33:57,634 --> 00:34:01,433 continues throughout the Roman rule and beyond. 510 00:34:01,500 --> 00:34:06,800 But today, Olous lies in ruins, 6 feet beneath the sea. 511 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:10,667 What triggers the downfall of the resilient ancient city? 512 00:34:12,166 --> 00:34:15,867 Could clues in a nearby site reveal the greatest 513 00:34:15,934 --> 00:34:18,433 threat to Olous is yet to come? 514 00:34:26,066 --> 00:34:27,867 NARRATOR: Olous. 515 00:34:27,867 --> 00:34:31,233 The ancient city sinks 6 feet under the sea. 516 00:34:33,467 --> 00:34:34,867 Babis Fassoulas 517 00:34:34,867 --> 00:34:37,266 is on a mission to find out what causes 518 00:34:37,333 --> 00:34:40,767 the final collapse of the city after it withstands centuries 519 00:34:40,767 --> 00:34:42,634 of upheaval. 520 00:34:42,700 --> 00:34:45,934 He heads along the coast to the ancient site of Phalasarna. 521 00:34:48,166 --> 00:34:51,266 This Cretan port dates to the same time as 522 00:34:51,266 --> 00:34:55,266 Olous, but its ruins are intact and not submerged. 523 00:34:56,667 --> 00:35:00,333 Evidence here could shed light on the fate of Olous. 524 00:35:04,500 --> 00:35:07,667 Babis explores an ancient stairway carved into 525 00:35:07,667 --> 00:35:09,266 the shoreline. 526 00:35:09,266 --> 00:35:12,066 It leads to a colossal stone tank, 527 00:35:12,066 --> 00:35:16,066 where locals farm fish 2,000 years ago. 528 00:35:16,066 --> 00:35:18,734 A peculiar feature catches his attention. 529 00:35:20,266 --> 00:35:23,166 BABIS: What we see here, which is very impressive are 530 00:35:23,233 --> 00:35:25,266 those cracks, which are developed 531 00:35:25,266 --> 00:35:27,667 on this direction, cutting 532 00:35:27,667 --> 00:35:31,867 also the base of the tank, continuing towards the sea. 533 00:35:31,867 --> 00:35:34,066 NARRATOR: The only force strong enough to cause 534 00:35:34,133 --> 00:35:36,500 such destruction is an earthquake of 535 00:35:36,500 --> 00:35:37,934 epic proportions. 536 00:35:39,166 --> 00:35:42,734 BABIS: Greece is one of the most geologically active areas 537 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:45,266 of Europe, and, of course, Crete 538 00:35:45,266 --> 00:35:48,133 is one of the most seismic areas. 539 00:35:50,100 --> 00:35:53,867 NARRATOR: In 365 CE, a monumental earthquake 540 00:35:53,867 --> 00:35:57,033 strikes just off the coast of Phalasarna. 541 00:35:58,266 --> 00:36:00,567 BABIS: The strongest earthquake that ever happened in 542 00:36:00,567 --> 00:36:04,333 the Mediterranean area, of about eight Richter scale. 543 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:08,500 NARRATOR: Phalasarna is severely damaged, 544 00:36:08,500 --> 00:36:12,367 but the tremors are not the only destructive force. 545 00:36:12,433 --> 00:36:15,634 The epicenter of the earthquake lies off the coast, 546 00:36:15,700 --> 00:36:19,433 so the underwater shocks trigger a second deadly force, 547 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:21,567 a tsunami. 548 00:36:23,767 --> 00:36:26,367 BABIS: There are estimations that, in many parts, 549 00:36:26,367 --> 00:36:30,867 this tsunami may have reached the heights of 20 meters. 550 00:36:30,867 --> 00:36:33,567 NARRATOR: A 65-foot-tall wave would tower 551 00:36:33,634 --> 00:36:36,133 over the cities in the eastern Mediterranean. 552 00:36:37,767 --> 00:36:40,967 Phalasarna is hit by a tsunami and earthquake, 553 00:36:40,967 --> 00:36:43,934 but it is finished off by a third natural phenomenon. 554 00:36:45,767 --> 00:36:48,133 We are standing at an amazing place. 555 00:36:49,500 --> 00:36:52,033 We can even see here the holes 556 00:36:53,266 --> 00:36:55,166 of the rocks, where the ships were coming, 557 00:36:55,166 --> 00:36:56,567 and they are putting their ropes. 558 00:36:56,634 --> 00:37:01,767 NARRATOR: These mooring holes are part of the ancient harbor, 559 00:37:01,767 --> 00:37:05,133 but they lie 16 feet above sea level today. 560 00:37:06,867 --> 00:37:09,266 This reveals that the earthquake causes 561 00:37:09,333 --> 00:37:11,967 a dramatic shift in the Earth's crust, 562 00:37:11,967 --> 00:37:14,834 lifting the entire city of Phalasarna up. 563 00:37:16,166 --> 00:37:17,967 In a surprising twist of fate, 564 00:37:17,967 --> 00:37:19,967 the upheaval lifts the harbor high 565 00:37:19,967 --> 00:37:23,066 above the eroding waves to this day. 566 00:37:23,066 --> 00:37:27,333 So the site is preserved for millennia, frozen in time. 567 00:37:28,567 --> 00:37:32,033 But Olous now lies in ruins underwater. 568 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:37,967 Theotokis Theodoulou 569 00:37:37,967 --> 00:37:41,266 wants to find out if this earthquake and tsunami caused 570 00:37:41,266 --> 00:37:44,667 the submergence of Olous or if the city escapes 571 00:37:44,667 --> 00:37:46,033 these catastrophes. 572 00:37:47,266 --> 00:37:50,867 Just underwater, beside today's shoreline, lies 573 00:37:50,867 --> 00:37:53,533 a mysterious manmade semicircle. 574 00:37:54,667 --> 00:37:57,433 It lines up with a set of ruins on shore. 575 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:00,266 Theotokis plots the floor plan of 576 00:38:00,266 --> 00:38:03,300 this large, partially submerged building. 577 00:38:03,300 --> 00:38:05,967 The apse is this semicircular wall, 578 00:38:05,967 --> 00:38:08,467 and it's very characteristic for the Christian 579 00:38:08,533 --> 00:38:09,734 church buildings. 580 00:38:11,066 --> 00:38:13,166 NARRATOR: This church is built a few 581 00:38:13,166 --> 00:38:15,934 hundred years after the great earthquake. 582 00:38:18,166 --> 00:38:21,400 The city was still alive until 583 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:24,667 at least then, until sixth century. 584 00:38:24,667 --> 00:38:27,734 NARRATOR: It is incredible proof that Olous survives 585 00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:30,634 the biggest earthquake and tsunami ever to hit 586 00:38:30,700 --> 00:38:31,834 the Mediterranean. 587 00:38:35,867 --> 00:38:39,834 In 365 CE, an earthquake of biblical 588 00:38:39,900 --> 00:38:44,233 proportions strikes beneath the ocean just west of Crete. 589 00:38:46,867 --> 00:38:51,266 The tremors generate a giant tsunami that reaches as far 590 00:38:51,266 --> 00:38:54,634 as Alexandria in Egypt, where it hurls ships 591 00:38:54,700 --> 00:38:57,634 2 miles inland. 592 00:38:57,700 --> 00:39:00,667 The devastating quake buckles the Earth's crust, 593 00:39:00,667 --> 00:39:04,667 raising Crete 30 feet above water 594 00:39:04,667 --> 00:39:07,133 and flattening large parts of the island. 595 00:39:09,967 --> 00:39:13,967 But Olous is sheltered in a bay in the east of Crete 596 00:39:13,967 --> 00:39:16,467 and is spared from the worst of the waves. 597 00:39:19,166 --> 00:39:22,166 Olous survives the ancient tsunami 598 00:39:22,233 --> 00:39:24,567 and continues to prosper for many centuries 599 00:39:24,567 --> 00:39:26,033 through the Christian era. 600 00:39:26,767 --> 00:39:30,333 Its watery demise must be a more recent calamity. 601 00:39:31,500 --> 00:39:34,367 Babis thinks an explanation lies in continental 602 00:39:34,367 --> 00:39:37,266 scale changes over the last thousand years. 603 00:39:39,467 --> 00:39:41,667 Each year, Crete and Africa 604 00:39:41,667 --> 00:39:44,166 move 2 inches towards each other. 605 00:39:45,300 --> 00:39:48,934 This leads to a surprising phenomenon. 606 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:51,767 As the island of Crete is migrating towards the south 607 00:39:51,767 --> 00:39:53,634 and it is stretched, 608 00:39:53,700 --> 00:39:57,567 some parts fall down and appear today under the sea. 609 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:02,500 Probably this is the reason that Olous is found now 610 00:40:02,500 --> 00:40:03,734 under the sea. 611 00:40:08,500 --> 00:40:13,166 NARRATOR: Olous survives Roman conquest, tsunamis, 612 00:40:13,166 --> 00:40:15,066 and earthquakes, 613 00:40:15,133 --> 00:40:20,400 but global tectonic shifts finally cause the city to sink. 614 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:23,634 It is abandoned by the 8th century CE. 615 00:40:25,767 --> 00:40:29,367 Now, it is hidden beneath the waves, 616 00:40:29,433 --> 00:40:32,266 but new developments in underwater archaeology 617 00:40:32,266 --> 00:40:34,734 will continue to reveal its secrets. 618 00:40:36,667 --> 00:40:39,734 THEOTOKIS: We expect further investigation and excavation 619 00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:42,066 to uncover the mysteries of the city. 620 00:40:46,967 --> 00:40:48,266 NARRATOR: Olous, 621 00:40:48,266 --> 00:40:53,467 a vibrant port on this isolated island in the Mediterranean, 622 00:40:53,467 --> 00:40:56,967 home to 10,000 people who worship a fearless 623 00:40:56,967 --> 00:40:58,500 warrior goddess. 624 00:40:58,500 --> 00:41:03,300 This great walled city survives for over a thousand years. 625 00:41:03,300 --> 00:41:07,300 It transforms from a gateway for the famous Minoans to 626 00:41:07,300 --> 00:41:10,467 a pirate hub and is the ultimate prize for 627 00:41:10,467 --> 00:41:12,066 the invading Romans. 628 00:41:13,667 --> 00:41:15,834 But the Earth's great untamable 629 00:41:15,900 --> 00:41:18,567 forces ultimately seal its fate. 630 00:41:18,567 --> 00:41:21,767 Olous sinks beneath the waves, lying in 631 00:41:21,767 --> 00:41:26,066 wait for future archaeologists to unearth even more about 632 00:41:26,066 --> 00:41:27,266 its past.