Ancient Empires and Art

Bettany Hughes continues her exploration of Turkey's cultural wonders, uncovering its rich history of ancient innovation and creativity. In Hattusha, the ancient capital of the Hittite empire, she finds out why it was known as the "City of a Thousand Gods" and reveals a clay tablet with an undiscovered language currently being decoded.

Following in the footsteps of celebrated photographer Ara Guler, Bettany travels to Aphrodisias, an ancient centre for art and scholarship and uses Guler's photos to experience the site through his lens. The beauty created here was so exceptional, Aphrodisias's sculptors even collaborated on some of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.