Simon Goldhill

Classical historian Bettany Hughes explores Athens - a city lauded as the mainspring of Western-style democracy, liberty and freedom of speech. Heady words are used to describe Athenian life in the 5th century BC, 'a Golden Age', 'the Greek Miracle'. Reality, of course, was richer and more complex. In this timely series, new archaeological evidence and contributions from experts in the period combine to generate a powerful TV resource for students of the classical world. (Lion Television)