Episode
NOVA: Ice Mummies: Frozen in Heaven (1)
Overview
This is the bizarre and fascinating story of the remains of Inca culture, frozen for posterity high in the mountains of the Andes. Evidence has emerged of sacrifice to the mountain gods, whose existence dominated the civilization over 500 years ago. The film traces the frozen bodies of children uncovered by archaeologists in South America, and follows an archaeological expedition to a high-altitude sacred site in search of ritual remains and another body. How did they come to be there? Why did they go to their deaths willingly? What was the religious framework that dictated their sacrifice to fierce gods?
Details
- Series
- NOVA
- Season
- Season 26
- Episode
- Episode 6
- Air date
- 1998-11-24
- Runtime
- 55 min
Episode context
Ice Mummies: Frozen in Heaven (1) is Episode 6 in Season 26 of NOVA. It aired on 1998-11-24. The runtime is 55 min.
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Episode 5: Deadly Shadow of Vesuvius
The shattered remnants of the Roman city of Pompeii bear witness to the risk that the people of Naples still face today.
Episode 7: Ice Mummies: Siberian Ice Maiden (2)
The Siberian Ice Maiden, discovered in the Pastures of Heaven, on the high Steppes, is believed to have been a shamaness of the lost Pazyryk culture. She had been mummified and then frozen by freak climatic conditions around 2400 years ago, along with six decorated horses and a symbolic meal for her last journey. Her body was covered with vivid blue tattoos of mythical animal figures. Together with the newly discovered body of a man, nicknamed "Conan," her body has now been restored, and is providing new clues to the role and power of women in the nomadic peoples of ancient Siberia.
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