Ancient Invisible Cities – BBC2

Michael Scott employs the latest 3D-scanning technology and virtual reality to reveal the historical secrets of Cairo and Ancient Egypt

Dr Michael Scott (pictured above) explores the secrets of three ancient cities – Cairo, Athens and Istanbul – in this new series.

He begins in Cairo at the Great Pyramid of Giza, built 4,500 years ago as the final resting place of pharaoh Khufu.

But what’s really inside?

Michael turns to state-of-the-art scanning technology to investigate.

He uses the same tech to examine lesser-known structures, including a well that’s built 90m into solid bedrock.

But most intriguing of all is the Sphinx.

Is the sculpture really a representation of Khufu, as thought, or the product of an ego boost for his son, Khafre?

Facial scans comparing it with existing sculptures of the two men could provide the answer…

TV Times rating: ****