Mysteries of the Pyramids with Dara Ó Briain (2024)

In the second episode of the series that explores the mysteries of the world's pyramids Dara returns to Egypt in search of answers to the two most compelling mysteries of all: how did the battle between Pharaohs and tomb raiders shape the evolution of the pyramids? And why did the pyramids then ultimately fail?

Dara teams up again with Egyptologist Dr Chris Naunton and archaeologist Raksha Dave.On his journey Dara learns how the pyramid's very existence came from the constant battle between tomb raider and tomb builder.

Visiting Cairo Museum, Dara is in awe of the treasures and golden riches found in these structures, but so, of course, were the tomb raiders of the past. It became a battle of wits, ingenuity, and innovation. Labyrinthine passages, dummy corridors and increasingly larger and more complex pyramid designs were built in an attempt protect the Pharaoh and his treasures. For the ancient Egyptians the pyramid's most important role was to keep the Pharoah's body safely inside so that he could then enter the afterlife.

But ultimately, no matter what they did, they never managed to protect their Pharaoh… the king's eternal rest was always disturbed, his treasure looted. Eventually they changed tack and headed for the mountainous desert to bury their dead in the Valley of the Kings.

Here, Dara comes face to face with the boy king Tutankhamun who managed to evade the looters for over 3000 years, leading to one of the most incredible discoveries of the 20th century, causing a frenzy of ancient Egypt mania that persists to this day.

The ancient Egyptian pyramids may have failed in providing eternal rest, but nearly 5000 years since their invention, their mysteries still captivate us and so, in providing Pharaohs with immortality, they have succeeded after all.