Secrets of the Dead - Season 2 - Eps 6: The Syphilis Enigma
In 1492, Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic in search of gold. But what his men carried back with them to Europe was something far less appealing. They brought the scourge of syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease never before seen in the Old World. At least that is what scientists have generally believed. But now, the discovery in Europe of a pre-Columbian body with definite signs of syphilis has archaeologist Charlotte Roberts convinced that syphilis existed in the Old World long before Columbus ever set sail. New evidence from across Europe is beginning to turn the prevailing Columbus theory on its head (UK/PBS 55 min)
About Secrets of the Dead
Title: Secrets of the Dead
First Air Date: 2000-05-15
Last Air Date: 2025-02-26
Status: Returning Series
Rating: 6.3/10 (from 19 votes)
Language: EN
Seasons: 23
Total Episodes: 115
Network: PBS
Genres: Documentary, Mystery
Production Companies: Thirteen
Synopsis
Part detective story, part true-life drama, long-running series explores some of the most iconic moments in history to debunk myths and shed new light on past events. Using the latest investigative techniques, forensic science and historical examination, it shatters accepted wisdom, challenges prevailing ideas, overturns existing hypotheses, spotlights forgotten mysteries, and ultimately rewrites history.
