Long hailed as one of history's most diverse geniuses, Leonardo da Vinci has come to personify all that is great about the innovative ideas conjured up during the Italian Renaissance. The image of a masterful thinker, centuries ahead of his time, imagining flying machines, tanks and diving suits in undeniably intriguing… but may not be acutely accurate. Produced in 2010 for the Smithsonian Channel, Mystery Files: Leonardo da Vinci presents new scholarly evidence that suggests the great artist's invention concepts and ideas aren't entirely original. Much of the genius aura of Leonardo da Vinci as an inventor was created in the late 19th Century when his notebooks were published and made available for study. However, particularly during the 17 years he lived in the court of Ludovico Sforza, Leonardo was surrounded by great thinkers and mathematicians with intellects on par with his own… and ideas were certainly shared amongst them. Crude drawings in the notebooks of lesser known inventors prove that others had conceived of similar ideas as well. However, Leonardo's depictions make marked variations and are much more beautifully illustrated. Although no less of a genius, the true mark of Leonardo's innovation then rests with his sfumato painting technique, with his inventive side taking a back seat. This short TV documentary, with expert commentary by Monica Azzolini, Paolo Galluzzi, Dr. Tobias Capwell and Leonardo scholar Martin Kemp provides a brief look at the new views of da Vinci as an inventor and his place in Art History.
The legend of King Arthur, great ruler of Britain, is one of history's most enduring tales. In the best known version of the King Arthur story, he resided in Camelot with his wife, Queen Guinevere, swinging his great Excalibur sword while conferring with his Knights of the Round Table. Arthur was a pillar of virtue, a knight in shining armor heralding chivalry, truth and honor. He fought nobly in the Crusades and sought the Holy Grail. Betrayed by Lancelot, King Arthur remains at rest, waiting to return. Most of these story elements were contrived in 1469 by Sir Thomas Malory in his classic Le Morte d'Arthur. Produced in 2010 for the Smithsonian Channel, Mystery Files: King Arthur casts the legend aside and makes an effort to look for the real-life inspiration behind the King Arthur tale. Dr. Tobias Capwell, Professor Christopher Snyder, Dr. Stuart Prior, Geoffrey Ashe and Blacksmith Hector Cole all contribute their expert opinions on the matter. The end conclusion is that the legendary King Arthur was likely based on two real-life 5th Century warriors: Ambrosius Aurelianus and Riothamus. Poetic license was taken and the two Roman-era warriors were seemingly merged into one hallowed character in 1134, when the first full account of King Arthur was published in the History of the Kings of Britain.
