Lost Grail with Alice Roberts

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Season 1
3 episodes

History
Documentary

Summary

Professor Alice Roberts is on a quest to unlock the truth behind one of history’s most famous legends.

Episode 1: In the Shadow of the Tor

Summary

Professor Alice Roberts embarks on an adventure across Britain to decode the truth behind its Holy Grail legends, linking Arthurian lore, sacred relics and the Knights Templar. She begins on the Isle of Wight, exploring the story of Joseph of Arimathea and the Grail. Did Joseph bury the Grail beneath the Tor? Archaeologist Cheryl Green and Dr Andrew Boakye help assess the legend's historic plausibility

Review

David Butcher

“The Grail myths are as ubiquitous as they are shadowy,” says a historian with a sigh. Luckily, they’re also excellent value — as Alice Roberts finds when she dips her spoon into the great soup of folklore and legend, hoping to find the odd crouton of truth.

It all starts with the medieval tale — not mentioned in the Bible — that Jesus’s cup at the Last Supper was used by Joseph of Arimathea to collect his blood at the Crucifixion. And from there…? Well, the Isle of Wight isn’t specifically mentioned in the Bible either, but we’re told “it would make sense” for Joseph, supposedly a tin trader, to have gone there, as it was used by the Roman tin trade…

Roberts grounds the discussion and separates what counts as evidence (a piece of ancient pottery, say) and what is about as reliable as a Monty Python film. It makes for a lively tour of Grail traditions via nice backdrops like Glastonbury Abbey and the Bodleian Library. And spending an hour with Roberts is never dull.

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rolenamePresenterAlice Roberts

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Episode 3

The Rosslyn Chapel Mystery

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Episode 2

Knights of the Grail

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Episode 1

In the Shadow of the Tor

Summary

Professor Alice Roberts embarks on an adventure across Britain to decode the truth behind its Holy Grail legends, linking Arthurian lore, sacred relics and the Knights Templar. She begins on the Isle of Wight, exploring the story of Joseph of Arimathea and the Grail. Did Joseph bury the Grail beneath the Tor? Archaeologist Cheryl Green and Dr Andrew Boakye help assess the legend's historic plausibility

Review

David Butcher

“The Grail myths are as ubiquitous as they are shadowy,” says a historian with a sigh. Luckily, they’re also excellent value — as Alice Roberts finds when she dips her spoon into the great soup of folklore and legend, hoping to find the odd crouton of truth.

It all starts with the medieval tale — not mentioned in the Bible — that Jesus’s cup at the Last Supper was used by Joseph of Arimathea to collect his blood at the Crucifixion. And from there…? Well, the Isle of Wight isn’t specifically mentioned in the Bible either, but we’re told “it would make sense” for Joseph, supposedly a tin trader, to have gone there, as it was used by the Roman tin trade…

Roberts grounds the discussion and separates what counts as evidence (a piece of ancient pottery, say) and what is about as reliable as a Monty Python film. It makes for a lively tour of Grail traditions via nice backdrops like Glastonbury Abbey and the Bodleian Library. And spending an hour with Roberts is never dull.

Details

Languages

Formats

Colour

Credits

Crew

rolenamePresenterAlice Roberts