Unlock the Mysteries of Egypt With National Geographic's New Egyptian-Themed DVDs 'Egypt Eternal: The Quest for Lost Tombs' and 'Into the Great Pyramid'

    WASHINGTON, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Obsessed with their mortality, ancient
 Egyptians built glorious monuments to ensure everlasting life.  While many
 still stand, countless more are buried under the heat and sand of the desert.
 Their mysteries wait to be rediscovered in National Geographic Home Video's
 two new DVD titles "Egypt Eternal: The Quest for Lost Tombs" and "Into the
 Great Pyramid."  The DVDs, a must-have for any history fan, are available in
 retail stores Tuesday, March 4 for the suggested retail prices of $24.98 and
 $19.98.  Consumers can order the films in DVD and VHS directly by calling
 1-800-627-5162.
     Limited editions of the DVDs will include special 2-for-1 bonus DVDs
 "Secrets of the Pharaohs" and "Quest for Eternity" co-bundled with "Egypt
 Eternal" and "Into the Great Pyramid" respectively.  Special features include:
 
     *     Ancient Egypt Timeline
     *     Interactive Pyramid Map ("Into the Great Pyramid" only)
     *     Pyramid Quiz  ("Into the Great Pyramid" only)
 
     Originally aired in the fall on FOX and the National Geographic Channel,
 "Into the Great Pyramid" made headlines with its discovery of a second door
 within the Queen's Chamber -- one of the most significant discoveries in the
 Great Pyramid in 130 years, and a find that helped redefine how Egyptologists
 viewed the architecture of these great structures.  The film uses the latest
 cutting-edge technology and cameras to take viewers on an archaeological
 expedition deep inside the secret and complex shafts within the Queen's
 chamber in Khufu's Great Pyramid.
     The DVD also features National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Zahi
 Hawass, head of Egypt's antiquities, and renowned American archaeologist Dr.
 Mark Lehner, who attempt to answer two of history's most perplexing mysteries
 -- how the Great Pyramid of Giza was built and who executed the awe-inspiring
 enterprise.  During the course of the film, Hawass also reveals the oldest
 intact Egyptian sarcophagus ever found by modern archaeologists.
     "Egypt Eternal: The Quest for Lost Tombs" takes viewers under the sands
 and into the tombs of Egypt's lost aristocracy -- the noble class who served
 the Pharaohs.  Leading the charge are Dr. Hawass and French archaeologist Dr.
 Alain Zivie.  Their recent, unprecedented discoveries help paint a picture of
 an ancient civilization at fascinating periods in its incredible 3,000-year
 history.  With evidence they uncover, a clearer record of the past comes to
 light.  Among other discoveries Drs. Hawass and Zivie reveal throughout the
 film, "Egypt Eternal" documents as Dr. Zivie enters the tomb of Maia, wet
 nurse to Tutankhamun, the famous boy-king, and uncovers a vital clue to
 understanding the ancient mystery of King Tut's lost childhood.
     "Into the Great Pyramid" is executive produced by John Bredar and Lisa
 Truitt for National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F) with Michael
 Rosenfeld serving as senior executive producer.  For the National Geographic
 Channel, the executive producers are Andrew C. Wilk and John Bowman.
     "Egypt Eternal: The Quest for Lost Tombs" is a production of NGT&F.
 Michael Rosenfeld serves as senior executive producer, Lisa Truitt and John
 Bredar as co-executive producers and Amy Bucher as producer.
     National Geographic Home Video titles are distributed by Warner Home Video
 (WHV), an AOL/Time Warner Company, operating in 57 countries including the US
 and Canada.  WHV is one of the worlds leading suppliers of pre-recorded
 videocassettes and videodiscs and a market leader in family entertainment.
     Building on its global reputation for remarkable visuals and compelling
 stories, NGT&F augments its award-winning documentary productions (116 Emmy
 Awards and more than 800 other industry awards) with feature films, large-
 format films and long-form television drama programming.  Worldwide, National
 Geographic's television programming can be seen on the National Geographic
 Channel, MSNBC and PBS, home video and DVD, and through international
 broadcast syndication.  The National Geographic Channel is received by more
 than 200 million households in 25 languages in 144 countries, including the
 United States.  For more information about NGT&F, log on to
 nationalgeographic.com, AOL Keyword: NatGeo.
 
 

SOURCE  National Geographic Society