30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World

Viewing some of the earliest known art in the world; a gallery of animals painted on the cave walls at Chauvet; these paintings say something profound about the Paleolithic mind; reconsidering one's own ideas about "primitive" art.

In Mesopotamia, writing is developed 5,000 years ago; this sets the stage for everything that follows in the Western art historical tradition; the registers on the Uruk Vase tell the story of civilization; they also reveal a hierarchical world.

Turning to the masterpieces of the ancient Sumerians in the city of Ur; no one knows whether the mysterious Royal Standard of Ur is actually a standard; what it says about this society's technology, social structure and dazzling riches.

Exploring the fertility theme in an early 3-D sculpture; "Ram Caught in a Thicket" is excavated from the Great Death Pit at Ur; what the sculpture says about the society's wealth, its relationship with animals, and the religious role of rulers.

With the magnificent ziggurats, ancient people reach for the sky; learning about Nanna, the Sumerian moon god; experiencing the architectural grandeur at the heart of Sumerian daily life; the remains of the ziggurat at Ur tell a fascinating story.