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WILLIAM SHATNER:
A miraculous meteorite
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falling from the heavens.
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A priceless gemstone
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- with a deadly curse.
- [blades clanging]
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And a chunk of sandstone
considered so sacred
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- that wars have been fought
- [horse neighs]
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- to protect it.
- [shouting]
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Throughout history,
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many have insisted
that simple stones
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can do everything
from choosing a king
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to causing death.
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So, what is it
about rocks and stones
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that inspires some people
to worship them?
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Well,
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that is what we'll try
and find out.
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โช
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Mecca.
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It is home to one of the world's
largest religious structures,
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the Grand Mosque.
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In the center courtyard
of this immense edifice
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stands a 43-foot-tall
granite cube known as the Kaaba,
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the House of God.
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Five times a day,
every day,
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almost two billion Muslims
across the world
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turn and pray towards
this striking black monument,
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the holiest and most sacred site
in all of Islam.
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Why?
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Because embedded in the eastern
corner of this shrine
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is perhaps the most sacred stone
in all the world,
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the Black Stone of Mecca.
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For the world's
1.8 billion Muslims,
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this stone is crucial.
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When Muslims face
in the direction of Mecca,
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they face in the direction
of that stone.
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ANDREW COLLINS:
This object,
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as simple as it might be,
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is of incredible significance
to the Muslim faith,
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because it is said
to have fallen from heaven
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at the commands of Allah
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at the time of Adam and Eve.
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And it was said to have marked
the position
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of the first temple,
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which obviously becomes
Mecca itself.
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[thunder rumbling]
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HUSSAIN:
Then the story is that stone
gets lost during the flood,
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because Muslims have
the same flood story
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that Jews do
from the Hebrew Bible.
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Then that stone for Muslims
is rediscovered by Abraham.
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So, Abraham,
with his son Ishmael,
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build in Mecca
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the first place of prayer.
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That's why Mecca
is important to Muslims,
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because this is the first place
of prayer to the one God.
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Over time, it gets worn away.
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The building gets rebuilt.
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In 605,
the prophet Muhammad himself
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is the one that places
that stone in its place.
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That's part
of what gives it power.
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SHATNER:
Each year,
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millions of Muslims
make a pilgrimage,
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or hajj, to the Kaaba.
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Once there,
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visitors take part in a series
of rituals called Tawaf,
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which includes circling
the Kaaba seven times,
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in the belief that it will bring
about true humility
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by linking them with God.
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The Black Stone
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is therefore one
of the focal points
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of the hajj ceremony
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that every Muslim
certainly tries to achieve
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during their lifetime.
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And they will then enter
the central court of Mecca
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and, if possible,
try to kiss the Black Stone
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in emulation of Muhammad,
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who was said to have set it up
in this position
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in the year 605 AD.
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This is
the most mystical encounter
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with any material object that a
loyal Muslim can possibly have.
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They're in such
a hypnotic state,
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such a transcendent state,
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and they use the corner
of the building to make sure
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it's seven times,
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to have the full effect
of the ritual activity.
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With Muslims in Mecca,
the Black Stone has
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the power to communicate
with people.
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And I mean literally talk
with people.
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There's two million people nowadays
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that make that pilgrimage.
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You might get trampled,
and, unfortunately,
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there have been people
who have been trampled to death.
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But that's so important
that it connects you back
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to the historic past.
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TOK THOMPSON:
The Black Stone is
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a major material focus,
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the most sacred object
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in one of the world's
most major religions,
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and it also was sacred
to other people.
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HUSSAIN:
So people who are outside
the Islamic tradition
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may risk their lives
to travel to see this.
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And if they're found out,
they may well be killed.
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You have these accounts
of people
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like Captain
Richard Francis Burton,
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one of these famous explorers
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who disguises himself
as a Muslim.
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There's a power there
for him to see the ritual,
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to see the stone,
to handle this thing.
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Richard Francis Burton goes in,
sees this,
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is able to come back out
and writes about this.
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So you can see from him
the importance of this place
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because of the connection
to the biblical prophets.
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THOMPSON:
Certainly, the stories
that have been built around it
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really pull people in.
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And some people suggest
that maybe it's something
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in the stone itself,
uh, that pulls people in.
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SHATNER:
The stone itself
pulling people in?
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But how?
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For the millions,
if not billions, of Muslims
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who have made their pilgrimage
to the Kaaba,
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there's no doubt that the Black
Stone has an inexorable power
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that seems to draw them
into its orbit.
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And according to some experts,
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that's because the Black Stone
is not of this world.
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Muslims believe that this was
sent down by God to Earth.
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If we're scientific,
we may call that a meteorite.
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If we're not scientific,
we may call that miraculous.
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Here's this stone
that comes from the heavens.
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AARON CELESTIAN:
When a meteorite hits the Earth
and somebody witnessed it fall,
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and-and they were
to go to that location,
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there's a variety of things
that they might be able to find.
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If the stone falls
in a sandy area, for example,
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there might be a lot of heat
associated with the meteorite
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as it falls,
and that could cause a fusion
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of the sand to cause
some kind of glass to form.
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And so, when you walk up
onto it, you might find
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some interesting new features
that you probably wouldn't
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have seen in that particular
part of the-the world before.
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Meteorites arrive
from outer space.
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Being exposed to cosmic rays,
they're slightly radioactive.
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To people not exposed
to electromagnetic radiation,
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they would-- might have been
able to even feel that buzz
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from this rock,
from the radiation,
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the beta particles especially.
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You know, whether you believe
it was sent by God
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or whether you believe
it was a random act,
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it has literally
extraterrestrial origins.
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And so, that creates
a real power there.
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SHATNER:
Could the Black Stone of Mecca
really have the power
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to physically affect people
who come near it?
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Well, the truth is,
we may never know for sure,
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because no one has ever been
officially allowed
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to inspect or analyze it.
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So, there are a lot of exciting
and interesting questions
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about the Black Stone.
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I think the first initial one
is, is it actually a meteorite?
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A lot of people propose that,
and there's some evidence,
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particularly from a local impact
crater, that it came from there.
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And is there some sort of
radiation energy that it emits
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or is coming from it that
we just don't understand yet?
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So it would be really amazing
to have the opportunity
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to analyze the Black Stone.
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There are obviously challenges,
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both sort of social
as well as scientific.
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It's in the Muslim world,
it's in a very sacred place,
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it's a very sacred stone.
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So, bringing in scientists
and doing careful analyses
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have those social challenges
and would be difficult.
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HUSSAIN:
Even if you don't believe,
uh, as a Muslim,
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that this, you know,
comes from God,
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and has this religious significance,
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you understand the power
of this object,
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that for at least 1,400 years,
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Muslims have been circling,
as they do their prayers.
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There's a tremendous power
there, we want to touch that.
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SHATNER:
Millions of people,
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drawn to a mysterious stone,
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imbued with strange physical
powers, from another world?
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A far-fetched notion, perhaps.
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But one that many people
have believed in for centuries.
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Not unlike the belief
in another sacred object,
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one that may have the ability
to bring people back
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from the brink of death.
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SHATNER:
While exploring the remains
of an ancient Maya ruin,
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English adventurer
Frederick Albert Mitchell-Hedges
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and his daughter Anna find
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a human skull
carved out of pure quartz.
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BILL HOMANN:
It was high noon and she was
at the top of the pyramid.
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And the way the sun came in, the
way the rocks had moved on that,
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there was just a small opening,
and the light from the sun
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went through and it hit
the top of the skull.
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And, uh, she ran down
and she's all excited.
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So they got a small hole
big enough, and Anna was chosen,
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and they tied a rope to her
and put her down into the hole.
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And she came up
with the top of the skull.
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When the natives saw it, it was
like their god had returned.
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They all started crying
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and kissing the earth
and everything.
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They were just so excited.
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Mitchell-Hedges seeing this, he
presented it to the high priest.
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And they put it in an altar,
and for 24 hours a day,
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they burned flames around
the-the crystal skull.
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SHATNER:
But even more extraordinary
than the skull itself
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was the fact
that a legend came with it,
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one so amazing
that Frederick Mitchell-Hedges
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and his daughter Anna
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didn't know whether they should
rejoice in their discovery
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or be intimidated
by the burden of it.
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HOMANN:
The legend of
the crystal skulls.
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This was given
to F.A. Mitchell-Hedges
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by a medicine woman
back in Lubaantun.
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Mayans say there are 13 skulls.
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And 13 skulls have been placed
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in various parts of the world
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but possibly on
the different energy centers.
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And when they're all activated,
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all 13 of them,
then they say that it's a time
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00:11:14,620 --> 00:11:18,310
of peace and harmony
in the world.
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What I think is,
all those crystal skulls
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have a unique purpose.
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So I'm not exactly sure
where all the 13 skulls are.
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You have to see it
to really appreciate
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the Mitchell-Hedges skull.
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It's, it's a pretty amazing
piece of crystal just in itself,
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and then the-the workmanship
that went into it.
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How it was made
is really a mystery.
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SHATNER:
Weighing approximately
12 pounds,
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the crystal skull
is remarkably accurate
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in its anatomical detail.
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CLIFF DUNNING:
They've tried to analyze
how it was cut,
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but they do not know,
to this day.
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The technology
is so sophisticated,
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it's almost like
from another world.
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MARTIN ETTINGTON:
A lot of crystal skulls
are actually known as fakes,
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because they were produced
in the 19th century
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00:12:08,620 --> 00:12:11,172
using modern machinery,
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00:12:11,275 --> 00:12:14,965
and microscopes were able
to show tool marks.
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00:12:15,068 --> 00:12:17,793
But the skull in question
that we're talking about
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is one that they can't find
tool marks on it.
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00:12:22,586 --> 00:12:27,862
So, if any of the crystal skulls
are actual pre-Mayan artifacts,
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00:12:27,965 --> 00:12:31,310
then the Mitchell-Hedges skull
probably is the one.
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SHATNER:
If modern technology
is unable to replicate
241
00:12:36,068 --> 00:12:39,275
the Mitchell-Hedges skull,
then how was it created?
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00:12:40,931 --> 00:12:43,482
To find out, teams of scientists
were brought in
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to conduct a number of tests.
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DUNNING:
At one point in the 1960s,
a IBM engineer
245
00:12:50,241 --> 00:12:52,793
named Marcel Vogel
began testing this skull.
246
00:12:52,896 --> 00:12:56,551
What he believed
was that it is filled,
247
00:12:56,655 --> 00:12:58,517
uh, like a microchip,
248
00:12:58,620 --> 00:13:01,275
with the history of the world
at that time.
249
00:13:01,379 --> 00:13:05,896
So, it's a very old,
rough computer, basically.
250
00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:09,413
SHATNER:
A quartz crystal computer?
251
00:13:09,517 --> 00:13:11,758
Storing history
like a hard drive?
252
00:13:11,862 --> 00:13:13,379
It seems impossible.
253
00:13:13,482 --> 00:13:17,655
But in 2016, researchers
at the University of Southampton
254
00:13:17,758 --> 00:13:19,586
were able to use a piece
of quartz,
255
00:13:19,689 --> 00:13:21,551
similar to that found
in the skull,
256
00:13:21,655 --> 00:13:25,586
to perform just such a function.
257
00:13:25,689 --> 00:13:28,896
CELESTIAN:
What they did is,
they used lasers to form dots
258
00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,551
with, inside
of a quartz crystal,
259
00:13:31,655 --> 00:13:33,241
at different levels within it.
260
00:13:33,344 --> 00:13:35,931
And the pattern that they print
is the data,
261
00:13:36,034 --> 00:13:37,172
you know, like zeros and ones
262
00:13:37,275 --> 00:13:39,241
that we use for computers
right now.
263
00:13:39,344 --> 00:13:43,655
You could store about
360 terabytes of information.
264
00:13:43,758 --> 00:13:47,172
Even if humanity were to go
completely extinct,
265
00:13:47,275 --> 00:13:49,551
this data and this information
would last
266
00:13:49,655 --> 00:13:51,448
as long as the Earth would last.
267
00:13:51,551 --> 00:13:54,620
SHATNER:
If it's true that
the Mitchell-Hedges skull
268
00:13:54,724 --> 00:13:57,551
could be storing vast amounts
of information,
269
00:13:57,655 --> 00:14:01,551
what secrets might it divulge
if, or when,
270
00:14:01,655 --> 00:14:04,827
someone figures out
how to decrypt it?
271
00:14:04,931 --> 00:14:08,310
As the caretaker of the
Mitchell-Hedges crystal skull,
272
00:14:08,413 --> 00:14:11,344
it's my job
carrying on the tradition,
273
00:14:11,448 --> 00:14:15,551
to let it out for people to see
and be around and experience it.
274
00:14:15,655 --> 00:14:18,068
Some people, uh, claim
the crystal skull
275
00:14:18,172 --> 00:14:22,793
has given them premonitions
or visions of the future.
276
00:14:22,896 --> 00:14:24,517
But there are many people
who believe
277
00:14:24,620 --> 00:14:26,965
that the Mitchell-Hedges
crystal skull
278
00:14:27,068 --> 00:14:29,724
was actually made
in ancient times,
279
00:14:29,827 --> 00:14:32,482
originally as a healing device.
280
00:14:32,586 --> 00:14:34,655
SHATNER:
A healing device?
281
00:14:34,758 --> 00:14:36,931
Is it possible
that the Skull of Doom
282
00:14:37,034 --> 00:14:40,758
can actually have the power
to save lives?
283
00:14:40,862 --> 00:14:44,379
According to one woman,
the answer is yes.
284
00:14:50,103 --> 00:14:52,206
A local singer
and costume designer
285
00:14:52,310 --> 00:14:55,586
named Phoenix Rising
is going about her work day
286
00:14:55,689 --> 00:14:56,965
when, out of the blue,
287
00:14:57,068 --> 00:14:59,965
she's struck with
an intense migraine headache.
288
00:15:00,068 --> 00:15:02,793
And although she has a lifelong
history of migraines,
289
00:15:02,896 --> 00:15:07,758
for some reason
this one feels different.
290
00:15:07,862 --> 00:15:09,689
RISING:
I went to the emergency room,
291
00:15:09,793 --> 00:15:11,758
I said to the nurse,
"Something is going on."
292
00:15:11,862 --> 00:15:14,793
She put me in for a scan,
and when she came out,
293
00:15:14,896 --> 00:15:17,241
her face was white as a ghost.
294
00:15:17,344 --> 00:15:19,931
And literally it was
three, two, one, and...
295
00:15:20,034 --> 00:15:22,379
paramedics, everybody, boom--
296
00:15:22,482 --> 00:15:23,689
IVs, the whole thing--
297
00:15:23,793 --> 00:15:26,620
and I was having
a brain hemorrhage.
298
00:15:26,724 --> 00:15:30,137
So I spent the next two weeks
in ICU.
299
00:15:30,241 --> 00:15:33,344
They were trying to figure out
how in the world I was alive,
300
00:15:33,448 --> 00:15:36,206
breathing, being able to see,
being able to walk.
301
00:15:36,310 --> 00:15:38,931
SHATNER:
After hearing about
Phoenix's condition,
302
00:15:39,034 --> 00:15:40,724
a Native American Pueblo elder,
303
00:15:40,827 --> 00:15:42,793
who claimed to have
once been a keeper
304
00:15:42,896 --> 00:15:44,724
of the Mitchell-Hedges skull,
305
00:15:44,827 --> 00:15:46,965
offered to send her
a piece of quartz
306
00:15:47,068 --> 00:15:48,931
that had been kept
in close proximity
307
00:15:49,034 --> 00:15:52,206
to the crystal skull
for some time.
308
00:15:52,310 --> 00:15:54,827
RISING:
He got me on the phone.
His name is John Francis,
309
00:15:54,931 --> 00:15:58,586
and he said, "I'm gonna send you
a quartz crystal
310
00:15:58,689 --> 00:16:01,724
"that's been charged from
this Mitchell-Hedges skull.
311
00:16:01,827 --> 00:16:04,448
"I want you to put it in water
312
00:16:04,551 --> 00:16:06,724
"and in the morning
I want you to drink it,
313
00:16:06,827 --> 00:16:08,137
"and you're gonna drink it
every morning,
314
00:16:08,241 --> 00:16:10,310
and I want you to see
what's gonna happen."
315
00:16:10,413 --> 00:16:13,103
At this point
I'm trying to recover,
316
00:16:13,206 --> 00:16:16,000
so I'm willing absolutely
to do anything.
317
00:16:17,896 --> 00:16:21,137
SHATNER:
Although skeptical, Phoenix felt
she had nothing to lose
318
00:16:21,241 --> 00:16:23,448
by trying the bizarre remedy.
319
00:16:23,551 --> 00:16:26,655
For two days she followed
the medicine man's instructions,
320
00:16:26,758 --> 00:16:29,965
seemingly without results.
321
00:16:30,068 --> 00:16:33,000
And then, on the third day,
322
00:16:33,103 --> 00:16:36,275
something unexpected happened.
323
00:16:36,379 --> 00:16:38,034
RISING:
I drank the water
in the morning,
324
00:16:38,137 --> 00:16:43,206
and probably about five,
six-ish minutes later,
325
00:16:43,310 --> 00:16:44,448
I literally hear
326
00:16:44,551 --> 00:16:47,448
a sound inside that went...
327
00:16:47,551 --> 00:16:50,551
[makes vrooming sound]
328
00:16:50,655 --> 00:16:52,379
...like a vibration.
329
00:16:52,482 --> 00:16:56,103
This quartz was healing me
and repairing my body,
330
00:16:56,206 --> 00:16:58,000
my cells, my water, my DNA.
331
00:16:58,103 --> 00:17:00,413
And when I went back
to the hospital,
332
00:17:00,517 --> 00:17:03,758
the doctors were absolutely,
yes, 100% shocked
333
00:17:03,862 --> 00:17:07,551
that I was able
to drain the blood out
334
00:17:07,655 --> 00:17:09,206
and that I was healing.
335
00:17:09,310 --> 00:17:12,034
SHATNER:
Whether Phoenix's
shocking recovery
336
00:17:12,137 --> 00:17:13,758
made sense
to the doctors or not,
337
00:17:13,862 --> 00:17:15,758
it appeared undeniable
338
00:17:15,862 --> 00:17:18,931
that her condition had improved
due to the unique properties
339
00:17:19,034 --> 00:17:21,344
of the crystal skull.
340
00:17:21,448 --> 00:17:25,137
RISING:
For me, I definitely know
that it unlocked something
341
00:17:25,241 --> 00:17:27,379
in my brain that healed me
342
00:17:27,482 --> 00:17:31,068
from a life-threatening
condition that then allowed me
343
00:17:31,172 --> 00:17:35,206
to move into success
in my life, to be here.
344
00:17:37,241 --> 00:17:41,068
Could the crystal which forms
the Mitchell-Hedges skull
345
00:17:41,172 --> 00:17:43,310
really possess
healing properties?
346
00:17:43,413 --> 00:17:45,758
Or are the skull's
mystic powers,
347
00:17:45,862 --> 00:17:48,793
uh, only in the mind?
348
00:17:48,896 --> 00:17:50,310
Perhaps the answer can be found
349
00:17:50,413 --> 00:17:53,241
by examining one of
the most valuable gemstones
350
00:17:53,344 --> 00:17:55,379
in the world,
and which many believe
351
00:17:55,482 --> 00:17:59,724
is cursed by a kind
of dark energy.
352
00:18:08,551 --> 00:18:12,034
SHATNER:
Over one million people turn out
for the funeral procession
353
00:18:12,137 --> 00:18:15,034
of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon,
otherwise known
354
00:18:15,137 --> 00:18:17,137
as the Queen Mother
of Great Britain's
355
00:18:17,241 --> 00:18:19,551
Queen Elizabeth II.
356
00:18:19,655 --> 00:18:22,482
Atop her casket, in addition
357
00:18:22,586 --> 00:18:24,448
to ceremonial flowers
and her coat of arms,
358
00:18:24,551 --> 00:18:26,620
is the crown she wore
359
00:18:26,724 --> 00:18:32,103
at her husband King George VI's
coronation in 1937.
360
00:18:32,206 --> 00:18:36,068
Although it is adorned with
an estimated 2,800 diamonds,
361
00:18:36,172 --> 00:18:40,586
one in particular attracts
more awe and fascination
362
00:18:40,689 --> 00:18:43,724
from the crowd than the rest.
363
00:18:43,827 --> 00:18:48,482
The diamond known
as the Koh-i-Noor.
364
00:18:48,586 --> 00:18:50,586
NEWSMAN:
That, an imperial crown,
365
00:18:50,689 --> 00:18:54,034
and at its center, in the front,
366
00:18:54,137 --> 00:18:56,068
the most famous diamond
in the world,
367
00:18:56,172 --> 00:18:57,724
the Koh-i-Noor diamond.
368
00:18:57,827 --> 00:19:00,896
The name means
"mountain of light."
369
00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:05,172
Since 1895, it has only been
worn by a woman--
370
00:19:05,275 --> 00:19:06,689
by Queen Mary,
371
00:19:06,793 --> 00:19:08,034
the Queen Mother's
mother-in-law,
372
00:19:08,137 --> 00:19:10,793
and then
by the Queen Mother herself.
373
00:19:10,896 --> 00:19:14,724
SHATNER:
Measuring a massive 105 karats
374
00:19:14,827 --> 00:19:18,551
and estimated to be worth
over $1 billion,
375
00:19:18,655 --> 00:19:21,344
the Koh-i-Noor is one of
the largest cut diamonds
376
00:19:21,448 --> 00:19:22,482
in the world.
377
00:19:22,586 --> 00:19:25,379
And according to historians,
378
00:19:25,482 --> 00:19:28,172
it is also
one of the most feared.
379
00:19:29,758 --> 00:19:31,689
The Koh-i-Noor diamond,
380
00:19:31,793 --> 00:19:34,448
uh, is one of the, uh,
more impressive diamonds
381
00:19:34,551 --> 00:19:38,655
that have ever been unearthed
in the history of humankind.
382
00:19:38,758 --> 00:19:41,241
It was unearthed
somewhere in India,
383
00:19:41,344 --> 00:19:43,862
which was the main spot
that diamonds were unearthed.
384
00:19:43,965 --> 00:19:46,103
But this particular diamond,
385
00:19:46,206 --> 00:19:47,724
it has a very, very long
386
00:19:47,827 --> 00:19:50,448
and sort of tragic
and bloody history.
387
00:19:50,551 --> 00:19:52,620
And there are legends
attached to this,
388
00:19:52,724 --> 00:19:55,000
where it is held to be accursed,
389
00:19:55,103 --> 00:19:58,827
and bring curses to especially
any man who touches this.
390
00:19:58,931 --> 00:20:00,724
Uh, which is why,
even in the British royalty,
391
00:20:00,827 --> 00:20:03,724
it remains a part
of the, um, crown jewels,
392
00:20:03,827 --> 00:20:05,206
uh, for women only.
393
00:20:05,310 --> 00:20:09,137
SHATNER:
A curse on any man
who touches it?
394
00:20:09,241 --> 00:20:11,413
But what could give
a beautiful stone
395
00:20:11,517 --> 00:20:13,551
such a dark power?
396
00:20:13,655 --> 00:20:15,827
Many believe the answer
can be found
397
00:20:15,931 --> 00:20:18,482
by examining the Koh-i-Noor's
storied history,
398
00:20:18,586 --> 00:20:20,068
which, according to records,
399
00:20:20,172 --> 00:20:24,103
dates all the way back
to 14th century India.
400
00:20:24,206 --> 00:20:25,965
The Koh-i-Noor really
catches your eye.
401
00:20:26,068 --> 00:20:28,241
It's, it's like
a hundred-karat stone.
402
00:20:28,344 --> 00:20:31,758
But what really catches your eye
is the history.
403
00:20:31,862 --> 00:20:35,896
The diamond was really
first identified
404
00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:41,034
after Mogul Empire invaded
what's now northern India.
405
00:20:41,137 --> 00:20:45,655
They settled in Delhi
after their conquest
406
00:20:45,758 --> 00:20:49,379
and started
collecting gemstones.
407
00:20:49,482 --> 00:20:54,000
Shah Jahan became the ruler
in 1626.
408
00:20:54,103 --> 00:20:57,551
He designed this throne called
the Peacock Throne
409
00:20:57,655 --> 00:21:00,482
that was in the tradition
of biblical throne,
410
00:21:00,586 --> 00:21:02,000
like King Solomon.
411
00:21:02,103 --> 00:21:06,758
It took seven years and cost
three to four times more
412
00:21:06,862 --> 00:21:09,241
than it cost
to build the Taj Mahal.
413
00:21:09,344 --> 00:21:12,655
And you can understand
the immense expense
414
00:21:12,758 --> 00:21:14,482
that this took to create.
415
00:21:14,586 --> 00:21:16,551
And then,
at the centerpiece of this,
416
00:21:16,655 --> 00:21:19,724
was the Koh-i-Noor
at the very top.
417
00:21:23,241 --> 00:21:25,344
SHATNER:
In 1739,
418
00:21:25,448 --> 00:21:27,965
after 100 years of peace,
419
00:21:28,068 --> 00:21:32,344
a merciless Persian ruler
named Nader Shah invaded India.
420
00:21:32,448 --> 00:21:38,034
Tens of thousands died in
his relentless quest for power.
421
00:21:40,379 --> 00:21:44,310
Following his savage victory,
Nader Shah seized the Koh-i-Noor
422
00:21:44,413 --> 00:21:47,310
and had it placed
on his personal armband
423
00:21:47,413 --> 00:21:49,517
as a symbol of his might.
424
00:21:49,620 --> 00:21:51,310
SHOR:
Nader Shah wasn't going
425
00:21:51,413 --> 00:21:52,793
to keep it in the chair.
426
00:21:52,896 --> 00:21:54,965
It was going to be
with him at all times.
427
00:21:55,068 --> 00:22:00,965
Now, Nader Shah became
a very, very repressive ruler.
428
00:22:01,068 --> 00:22:03,896
And even his allies
began to hate him.
429
00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,965
And they poisoned him.
430
00:22:07,068 --> 00:22:10,206
After Nader Shah's death,
the diamond passed
431
00:22:10,310 --> 00:22:14,241
through various rulers who-who
died in very violent ways.
432
00:22:14,344 --> 00:22:18,310
SHATNER:
In the years after,
the Koh-i-Noor would pass
433
00:22:18,413 --> 00:22:20,206
from one ruler to another,
434
00:22:20,310 --> 00:22:25,793
almost always drenched
in the blood of its prior owner,
435
00:22:25,896 --> 00:22:29,034
as if the diamond itself
demanded a mortal sacrifice
436
00:22:29,137 --> 00:22:31,172
in order to possess it.
437
00:22:33,275 --> 00:22:38,241
Because of battles, um, it fell
from one person to a next,
438
00:22:38,344 --> 00:22:42,931
and started to build up
this, uh, legend
439
00:22:43,034 --> 00:22:47,034
that it had some kind of a curse
associated with it.
440
00:22:47,137 --> 00:22:51,275
Because as soon as it was
in the hands of one ruler,
441
00:22:51,379 --> 00:22:54,551
they would be killed
or their kingdom would be lost
442
00:22:54,655 --> 00:22:57,137
and it would be passed on
to another.
443
00:22:57,241 --> 00:23:01,896
SHOR:
Now, these rulers were wearing
the Koh-i-Noor as the armband
444
00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,551
to be a protector.
445
00:23:03,655 --> 00:23:06,310
And this is probably
where the curse legend came in,
446
00:23:06,413 --> 00:23:09,482
because the diamond certainly
wasn't protecting them.
447
00:23:09,586 --> 00:23:15,862
COLLINS:
And then, in the 19th century,
when the British were in India,
448
00:23:15,965 --> 00:23:19,310
it fell into the hands
of the British Army,
449
00:23:19,413 --> 00:23:23,413
and it was said
that from that point onwards,
450
00:23:23,517 --> 00:23:29,310
that no male should
ever wear this diamond.
451
00:23:29,413 --> 00:23:34,793
SHATNER:
But is it actually possible
for an inanimate object
452
00:23:34,896 --> 00:23:38,655
to be imbued
with so-called dark energy?
453
00:23:38,758 --> 00:23:42,413
Human beings are unique in that
we imbue objects with meaning,
454
00:23:42,517 --> 00:23:46,068
and so if we're bringing
a darkness from within ourselves
455
00:23:46,172 --> 00:23:48,137
and projecting it
onto that object,
456
00:23:48,241 --> 00:23:51,137
then that's what results in this
thing that we call a curse.
457
00:23:51,241 --> 00:23:54,827
SHATNER:
Is the Koh-i-Noor's ability
to make men kill
458
00:23:54,931 --> 00:23:58,068
in order to possess it
all just a legend?
459
00:23:58,172 --> 00:24:01,068
Or is there
any scientific evidence
460
00:24:01,172 --> 00:24:06,137
to prove that its deadly
reputation is justified?
461
00:24:06,241 --> 00:24:09,827
So, diamonds are really good at
taking heat away from a source
462
00:24:09,931 --> 00:24:11,448
and transmitting it elsewhere.
463
00:24:11,551 --> 00:24:13,931
If you've never held
a large diamond in your life,
464
00:24:14,034 --> 00:24:15,517
and if you first encountered
the stone
465
00:24:15,620 --> 00:24:18,103
and you're putting it
on your chest or on a necklace,
466
00:24:18,206 --> 00:24:21,896
it would feel much colder
than anything that you'd have,
467
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,241
because the heat is being
sucked out of your skin
468
00:24:24,344 --> 00:24:27,551
and transmitted
through this diamond.
469
00:24:27,655 --> 00:24:29,379
It could be one reason
why somebody might feel like
470
00:24:29,482 --> 00:24:31,172
the stone has got
some magical properties
471
00:24:31,275 --> 00:24:33,310
or why it might be cursed.
472
00:24:33,413 --> 00:24:38,206
COLLINS:
As long as we believe
that something bad will happen
473
00:24:38,310 --> 00:24:42,896
if a male heir actually uses
this or wears it,
474
00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,689
then I think that it needs
to be taken seriously.
475
00:24:46,793 --> 00:24:53,172
So, very clearly, no British
king will ever wear it.
476
00:24:53,275 --> 00:24:57,344
SHATNER:
It has been said
that a diamond is forever.
477
00:24:57,448 --> 00:24:59,344
If that's true, could the
Koh-i-Noor's supposed curse
478
00:24:59,448 --> 00:25:01,965
also be eternal?
479
00:25:02,068 --> 00:25:03,758
Either way, it's doubtful
we're going to see a king
480
00:25:03,862 --> 00:25:06,000
wearing the Koh-i-Noor
any time soon.
481
00:25:07,310 --> 00:25:09,103
Luckily, the British
have another method
482
00:25:09,206 --> 00:25:11,000
of coronating their monarchs.
483
00:25:11,103 --> 00:25:16,241
One that also involves
a mysterious, sacred stone.
484
00:25:16,344 --> 00:25:21,000
Only, this one doesn't
kill kings, it creates them.
485
00:25:32,793 --> 00:25:33,793
SHATNER:
Here on St. Andrew's Day,
486
00:25:33,896 --> 00:25:35,862
Scotland's official
national holiday,
487
00:25:35,965 --> 00:25:39,896
a long-awaited ceremony
is finally taking place.
488
00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,103
The occasion will
finally see the return,
489
00:25:42,206 --> 00:25:44,586
after more than 700 years,
490
00:25:44,689 --> 00:25:47,448
of one of Scotland's
most important artifacts:
491
00:25:47,551 --> 00:25:50,620
a roughly two-by-one-foot
sandstone block,
492
00:25:50,724 --> 00:25:56,310
weighing 335 pounds,
called the Stone of Scone.
493
00:25:56,413 --> 00:26:02,137
Or as it's known according
to legend, the Stone of Destiny.
494
00:26:02,241 --> 00:26:04,517
THOMPSON: The stone itself
is just a stone,
495
00:26:04,620 --> 00:26:07,000
uh, somewhat
unremarkable-looking,
496
00:26:07,103 --> 00:26:09,965
and yet the stories of that
stone have been so powerful,
497
00:26:10,068 --> 00:26:11,896
uh, reflecting so many wars
498
00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:16,965
and-and contests between nations
for hundreds of years.
499
00:26:17,068 --> 00:26:19,793
And another fascinating aspect
of this is that we know
500
00:26:19,896 --> 00:26:22,517
that this stone
was religiously important.
501
00:26:22,620 --> 00:26:26,310
The Stone of Scone has really
interesting religious roots.
502
00:26:26,413 --> 00:26:29,344
And this goes back
to the biblical tradition.
503
00:26:29,448 --> 00:26:33,551
The patriarch Jacob in the Book
of Genesis has this dream
504
00:26:33,655 --> 00:26:38,103
at this place called Beit El,
literally the "House of God."
505
00:26:38,206 --> 00:26:42,827
He's sleeping, and he uses
stones to rest his head on.
506
00:26:42,931 --> 00:26:45,965
There's a tradition that says
Jeremiah, a later prophet,
507
00:26:46,068 --> 00:26:48,551
takes this stone to Ireland.
508
00:26:48,655 --> 00:26:53,103
The stone then finds
its way to Scotland.
509
00:26:53,206 --> 00:26:56,344
SHATNER:
In 840 AD, a nobleman
named Kenneth MacAlpin
510
00:26:56,448 --> 00:27:00,103
brought the sandstone slab
to the medieval town of Scone.
511
00:27:00,206 --> 00:27:03,344
According to Scottish legend,
it was the stone itself
512
00:27:03,448 --> 00:27:08,896
that proclaimed him Kenneth I,
the original king of Scotland.
513
00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:11,172
According to the stories, uh,
when the rightful ruler
514
00:27:11,275 --> 00:27:14,137
would place their foot on the
stone, the stone would speak out
515
00:27:14,241 --> 00:27:17,586
and proclaim them as
the rightful ruler of the land.
516
00:27:17,689 --> 00:27:24,206
HUSSAIN:
It's used in Scottish rituals
as a way of coronation.
517
00:27:24,310 --> 00:27:28,965
It's this stone that
is really key, and the idea here
518
00:27:29,068 --> 00:27:33,379
is that the monarch isn't
just selected by the people;
519
00:27:33,482 --> 00:27:36,137
God has chosen the monarch.
520
00:27:36,241 --> 00:27:40,551
SHATNER:
For centuries, the Stone
of Destiny was considered
521
00:27:40,655 --> 00:27:43,620
not only one of the greatest
treasures in all of Scotland
522
00:27:43,724 --> 00:27:45,793
but also a legitimate means
523
00:27:45,896 --> 00:27:47,896
by which someone
could rule the country.
524
00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,655
Which is why, in 1296,
525
00:27:50,758 --> 00:27:53,689
the English monarch Edward I
wanted it,
526
00:27:53,793 --> 00:27:57,827
and the Scottish throne,
for himself.
527
00:27:57,931 --> 00:28:00,482
In the 13th century
the English come in and conquer.
528
00:28:00,586 --> 00:28:04,724
We always talk about conquerors
taking out valuable objects,
529
00:28:04,827 --> 00:28:07,586
and we think of gold,
diamonds, jewels.
530
00:28:07,689 --> 00:28:09,172
We don't think about stones.
531
00:28:09,275 --> 00:28:11,172
But what's one of the first
things that they take?
532
00:28:11,275 --> 00:28:14,206
Well, they take this stone,
the Stone of Destiny.
533
00:28:14,310 --> 00:28:16,965
YOUNG:
The reason Edward I
took the stone
534
00:28:17,068 --> 00:28:19,137
was to demoralize the Scots.
535
00:28:19,241 --> 00:28:21,241
This was the treasure
of Scotland,
536
00:28:21,344 --> 00:28:23,310
this was the center
of their power system.
537
00:28:23,413 --> 00:28:27,482
And now he controlled it and had
himself crowned on this stone,
538
00:28:27,586 --> 00:28:30,448
and then could declare
that he was not only the king
539
00:28:30,551 --> 00:28:33,931
of the English but the king
of the Scots as well.
540
00:28:34,034 --> 00:28:37,448
COLLINS:
It was placed
in Westminster Abbey
541
00:28:37,551 --> 00:28:42,275
beneath a Coronation Chair
known as Edward's Seat.
542
00:28:42,379 --> 00:28:45,275
And thereafter,
543
00:28:45,379 --> 00:28:50,310
it was used in the coronations
of all English rulers.
544
00:28:52,137 --> 00:28:53,827
HUSSAIN:
Edward basically builds it
into a chair,
545
00:28:53,931 --> 00:28:55,275
covers it over with-with wood,
546
00:28:55,379 --> 00:28:57,896
and it becomes a throne, essentially,
547
00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,482
but the idea is that the power
comes from this stone,
548
00:29:01,586 --> 00:29:03,344
the Stone of Destiny.
549
00:29:03,448 --> 00:29:04,965
SHATNER:
Destiny,
550
00:29:05,068 --> 00:29:08,206
the idea that the course
of one's entire life
551
00:29:08,310 --> 00:29:12,896
has been predetermined by a
power beyond our understanding.
552
00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:15,034
Back in the Middle Ages,
it might make sense
553
00:29:15,137 --> 00:29:16,896
that people would think
that greatness
554
00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:20,896
could be bestowed upon someone
by a divine force.
555
00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:25,793
But what is it about this
unremarkable slab of rock
556
00:29:25,896 --> 00:29:30,275
that still holds
such importance today?
557
00:29:30,379 --> 00:29:32,206
We tend to think of these
rituals as somehow going back
558
00:29:32,310 --> 00:29:34,068
to older, superstitious people,
559
00:29:34,172 --> 00:29:37,206
but the fact that the British
in the 21st century
560
00:29:37,310 --> 00:29:42,172
still will proclaim the monarch
on the throne of this stone,
561
00:29:42,275 --> 00:29:43,965
that becomes really important.
562
00:29:44,068 --> 00:29:45,965
Th-These are not ancient,
archaic people
563
00:29:46,068 --> 00:29:47,724
who don't know anything
about the world.
564
00:29:47,827 --> 00:29:52,275
These are modern 21st century
Brits who are still saying,
565
00:29:52,379 --> 00:29:54,827
you know, that-that we still
need to be able to show
566
00:29:54,931 --> 00:29:58,620
that our queen or our king
comes from this divine--
567
00:29:58,724 --> 00:30:01,862
that God has chosen this person.
568
00:30:01,965 --> 00:30:05,689
SHATNER:
Nearly every British king
or queen since the 14th century
569
00:30:05,793 --> 00:30:08,586
has been coronated
on the Stone of Destiny.
570
00:30:08,689 --> 00:30:11,724
It was last used in 1953,
during the coronation ceremony
571
00:30:11,827 --> 00:30:15,724
of the current monarch
Queen Elizabeth II.
572
00:30:15,827 --> 00:30:17,758
But as a growing number
of Scottish people
573
00:30:17,862 --> 00:30:19,827
have begun to speculate,
574
00:30:19,931 --> 00:30:22,827
was Elizabeth's coronation
legitimate?
575
00:30:22,931 --> 00:30:25,862
Because, as many have
come to believe,
576
00:30:25,965 --> 00:30:30,448
the Stone of Destiny
may not be the real thing.
577
00:30:32,793 --> 00:30:35,586
NEWSMAN: A Christmas Day
sensation at Westminster Abbey.
578
00:30:35,689 --> 00:30:38,241
The Stone of Destiny, which had
been there for some 600 years,
579
00:30:38,344 --> 00:30:40,655
was stolen
from the Coronation Chair.
580
00:30:40,758 --> 00:30:43,103
COLLINS:
In 1950,
581
00:30:43,206 --> 00:30:48,000
a group of Scottish students
actually got into
582
00:30:48,103 --> 00:30:51,758
Westminster Abbey
and stole the Stone of Scone
583
00:30:51,862 --> 00:30:55,034
and took it back to the altar
584
00:30:55,137 --> 00:30:59,068
of Arbroath Abbey in Scotland,
585
00:30:59,172 --> 00:31:02,482
and thus giving it into the
hands of the Church of Scotland.
586
00:31:02,586 --> 00:31:07,482
The Church of Scotland then gave
the stone back to England.
587
00:31:07,586 --> 00:31:12,034
However, there is a strong rumor
that the original stone
588
00:31:12,137 --> 00:31:15,103
never reached Westminster,
589
00:31:15,206 --> 00:31:20,793
a-and that the one
that is there was a fake.
590
00:31:20,896 --> 00:31:25,655
However, whether this story is
true or not, we may never know.
591
00:31:25,758 --> 00:31:28,965
SHATNER:
A fake Stone of Destiny?
592
00:31:29,068 --> 00:31:30,793
It's an interesting claim,
593
00:31:30,896 --> 00:31:33,068
but one that is not
without its problems.
594
00:31:33,172 --> 00:31:35,586
Because when the English
returned the Stone of Destiny
595
00:31:35,689 --> 00:31:39,655
to the Scots,
they did so on one condition.
596
00:31:39,758 --> 00:31:43,310
HUSSAIN:
In 1996, when the stone
is returned back to Scotland,
597
00:31:43,413 --> 00:31:45,517
there's an agreement that,
"Okay, you have it,
598
00:31:45,620 --> 00:31:48,068
but we'll use it the next time
we coronate a monarch."
599
00:31:48,172 --> 00:31:52,517
COLLINS:
The point is that
we believe in its power.
600
00:31:52,620 --> 00:31:54,965
We believe in its potency.
601
00:31:55,068 --> 00:31:59,034
And I'm sure
that when Charles or Wills
602
00:31:59,137 --> 00:32:04,034
are themselves crowned
kings of Britain,
603
00:32:04,137 --> 00:32:08,103
that they will themselves use
that coronation stone,
604
00:32:08,206 --> 00:32:12,482
and they will believe wholly
in its potency.
605
00:32:14,517 --> 00:32:18,310
Could the Stone of Scone
really possess a mystic power?
606
00:32:18,413 --> 00:32:20,931
Or is its power merely
based on a legend?
607
00:32:21,034 --> 00:32:23,724
A fairy tale meant
to inspire awe
608
00:32:23,827 --> 00:32:25,172
in the weak-minded.
609
00:32:25,275 --> 00:32:27,241
Well, believe it or not,
some ancient legends
610
00:32:27,344 --> 00:32:29,965
are based on fact,
much like the stone
611
00:32:30,068 --> 00:32:33,310
located in an Italian chapel
that some believe
612
00:32:33,413 --> 00:32:37,586
contains a power from heaven.
613
00:32:46,689 --> 00:32:48,241
SHATNER:
Near the rustic town
of Chiusdino
614
00:32:48,344 --> 00:32:51,965
stands the haunting ruins
of San Galgano Abbey.
615
00:32:53,586 --> 00:32:56,310
Constructed around 1220 AD
to memorialize
616
00:32:56,413 --> 00:32:59,172
the Catholic saint
Galgano Guidotti,
617
00:32:59,275 --> 00:33:02,206
the abbey's once proud roof
has decayed,
618
00:33:02,310 --> 00:33:06,793
leaving its soaring cathedral
exposed to the ravages of time.
619
00:33:07,965 --> 00:33:11,724
But nearby,
inside a round mausoleum,
620
00:33:11,827 --> 00:33:14,896
originally built to entomb
St. Galgano,
621
00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:18,000
is a sacred artifact
so remarkable
622
00:33:18,103 --> 00:33:21,517
that it has been encased
beneath a protective shell:
623
00:33:21,620 --> 00:33:25,310
the sword in the stone.
624
00:33:25,413 --> 00:33:28,517
So, many people are aware
of the Arthurian legend,
625
00:33:28,620 --> 00:33:29,793
you know, the sword
in the stone.
626
00:33:29,896 --> 00:33:32,310
But this is a story
that comes much earlier.
627
00:33:32,413 --> 00:33:35,310
You can go to this chapel
in Italy
628
00:33:35,413 --> 00:33:39,241
and see this sword that's stuck
in the middle of this stone.
629
00:33:39,344 --> 00:33:42,137
And you're thinking
how did that sword get there?
630
00:33:42,241 --> 00:33:44,379
SHATNER:
For centuries,
visitors have struggled
631
00:33:44,482 --> 00:33:45,896
with the same question:
632
00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:47,827
how did a medieval sword,
633
00:33:47,931 --> 00:33:50,206
which were known to be brittle
and often break easily
634
00:33:50,310 --> 00:33:52,103
on the battlefield,
635
00:33:52,206 --> 00:33:54,103
come to be driven
nearly up to its hilt
636
00:33:54,206 --> 00:33:56,206
in solid rock?
637
00:33:56,310 --> 00:33:57,862
According to local legends,
638
00:33:57,965 --> 00:34:01,448
St. Galgano had
some divine help.
639
00:34:01,551 --> 00:34:06,275
COLLINS:
Galgano was said to have been
a ruthless character.
640
00:34:06,379 --> 00:34:10,965
He started receiving visions
of the archangel Michael,
641
00:34:11,068 --> 00:34:14,586
and these visions told him
to change his ways,
642
00:34:14,689 --> 00:34:17,137
become a more pious character,
643
00:34:17,241 --> 00:34:22,413
and he ignored them until he was
passing this local landmark
644
00:34:22,517 --> 00:34:24,793
known as Montesiepi.
645
00:34:24,896 --> 00:34:27,413
HUSSAIN:
In the story,
Galgano is on his horse,
646
00:34:27,517 --> 00:34:29,827
and the horse takes him
up to the top of this hill.
647
00:34:29,931 --> 00:34:31,931
And the horse refuses
to go any further.
648
00:34:32,034 --> 00:34:34,379
Michael appears to him
and tells him
649
00:34:34,482 --> 00:34:38,827
that he is to serve the church
and to renounce his wealth.
650
00:34:38,931 --> 00:34:41,000
Galgano basically says,
"It's just as easy for me
651
00:34:41,103 --> 00:34:42,965
"to renounce my wealth
as it is for my sword
652
00:34:43,068 --> 00:34:44,344
to go into this stone."
653
00:34:44,448 --> 00:34:46,827
COLLINS:
At this point,
he got out his sword...
654
00:34:46,931 --> 00:34:50,310
and stuck it down into the rock.
655
00:34:50,413 --> 00:34:53,827
And it penetrated through
the rock, it was said,
656
00:34:53,931 --> 00:34:57,068
like a knife going
through butter.
657
00:34:57,172 --> 00:35:01,758
And thereafter it remained
stuck within the rock,
658
00:35:01,862 --> 00:35:04,000
like King Arthur's Excalibur.
659
00:35:04,103 --> 00:35:07,379
SHATNER:
Legends of both King Arthur
and St. Galgano
660
00:35:07,482 --> 00:35:10,103
have long been considered myths
illustrating the power
661
00:35:10,206 --> 00:35:14,241
of the divine, rather than
actual historical accounts.
662
00:35:14,344 --> 00:35:18,379
But unlike Excalibur,
this sword in the stone
663
00:35:18,482 --> 00:35:20,000
is one that can be seen.
664
00:35:20,103 --> 00:35:22,655
In fact, it's been
scientifically proven
665
00:35:22,758 --> 00:35:26,172
to be an authentic
medieval blade.
666
00:35:26,275 --> 00:35:30,034
HUSSAIN:
What's interesting is that,
in the 21st century,
667
00:35:30,137 --> 00:35:32,344
they did some testing
on the sword
668
00:35:32,448 --> 00:35:34,758
and realized that, no,
this is actually a sword
669
00:35:34,862 --> 00:35:36,310
from the 12th century,
670
00:35:36,413 --> 00:35:38,068
that the material is
actually 12th century.
671
00:35:38,172 --> 00:35:40,103
So whether the thing
actually happened or not,
672
00:35:40,206 --> 00:35:43,379
it's certainly--
the-the pieces are of the time.
673
00:35:43,482 --> 00:35:47,206
SHATNER:
Even though it appears
the San Galgano sword
674
00:35:47,310 --> 00:35:49,172
is indeed authentic,
675
00:35:49,275 --> 00:35:51,724
there's one question
that remains unanswered.
676
00:35:51,827 --> 00:35:55,000
Because, despite our advanced
technology and understanding,
677
00:35:55,103 --> 00:35:58,344
we still don't know how
this simple metal blade
678
00:35:58,448 --> 00:36:02,586
was able to be driven
so perfectly into stone.
679
00:36:02,689 --> 00:36:04,896
It's pretty hard to believe
that this piece of metal
680
00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:06,793
could be driven into a stone.
681
00:36:06,896 --> 00:36:11,000
When I'm out mineral collecting,
I commonly take my rock spike,
682
00:36:11,103 --> 00:36:15,034
I'll take a hammer, and I will
drive that spike into stone.
683
00:36:15,137 --> 00:36:17,103
When I'm hammering, I'm pounding
and pounding and pounding,
684
00:36:17,206 --> 00:36:18,862
and the metal is deforming
685
00:36:18,965 --> 00:36:20,758
every time I strike it
with the hammer.
686
00:36:20,862 --> 00:36:23,793
Now, to get a sword
into the stone,
687
00:36:23,896 --> 00:36:28,034
but on one motion
without any other deformation
688
00:36:28,137 --> 00:36:30,068
of the sword taking place,
without any deformation
689
00:36:30,172 --> 00:36:32,862
of the rock taking place...
690
00:36:32,965 --> 00:36:35,379
that would be
absolutely miraculous.
691
00:36:35,482 --> 00:36:38,724
HUSSAIN:
To become a saint,
you have to have
692
00:36:38,827 --> 00:36:39,896
miracles that are tested.
693
00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:41,068
In Galgano's case,
694
00:36:41,172 --> 00:36:43,172
this is the, the miracle.
695
00:36:43,275 --> 00:36:47,896
The rock opens,
it accepts this sword.
696
00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:51,310
And so you have the sword
in this stone.
697
00:36:51,413 --> 00:36:53,827
Galgano, just a few years
after his death,
698
00:36:53,931 --> 00:36:56,137
is made a saint.
699
00:36:56,241 --> 00:37:00,241
I think, for religious people,
miracles precisely are that.
700
00:37:00,344 --> 00:37:04,275
They're miraculous.
There is no explanation for this
701
00:37:04,379 --> 00:37:06,206
that's scientific,
that's rational.
702
00:37:06,310 --> 00:37:11,068
You can say that if you take
this sword and hit this rock
703
00:37:11,172 --> 00:37:13,034
a million times,
on one of those tries
704
00:37:13,137 --> 00:37:14,379
you might go through.
705
00:37:14,482 --> 00:37:15,896
From the point of view
of the religious,
706
00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:17,241
that's not the argument.
707
00:37:17,344 --> 00:37:18,896
The argument is that
this is miraculous.
708
00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:21,034
This is completely outside
our understanding
709
00:37:21,137 --> 00:37:24,034
of how the world normally is.
710
00:37:24,137 --> 00:37:26,689
This is an item of faith.
711
00:37:26,793 --> 00:37:28,931
And items of faith
are something
712
00:37:29,034 --> 00:37:31,241
that affects us deeply,
713
00:37:31,344 --> 00:37:35,103
affects us within
our human consciousness.
714
00:37:35,206 --> 00:37:38,000
It's something that we either
believe in or we don't.
715
00:37:38,103 --> 00:37:40,551
And if we do believe it,
it gives it power,
716
00:37:40,655 --> 00:37:44,758
it gives it energy, and that's
what's important here.
717
00:37:44,862 --> 00:37:48,068
And around this strange monument
718
00:37:48,172 --> 00:37:51,862
was built a round church
and a chapel.
719
00:37:51,965 --> 00:37:56,241
And even today, this is the site
of pilgrimages.
720
00:37:56,344 --> 00:38:00,068
People come from all over Italy,
you know, to pay their respects
721
00:38:00,172 --> 00:38:04,103
to this saint, and obviously
to God as well.
722
00:38:07,034 --> 00:38:09,137
SHATNER:
Whether or not the Sword
of San Galgano
723
00:38:09,241 --> 00:38:12,034
found its way into the stone
through divine intervention
724
00:38:12,137 --> 00:38:14,448
or something more mundane,
725
00:38:14,551 --> 00:38:18,137
to millions of faithful
it remains an enduring symbol
726
00:38:18,241 --> 00:38:20,482
of the power of miracles.
727
00:38:20,586 --> 00:38:22,689
But it's one thing to see
a symbol of miracles...
728
00:38:22,793 --> 00:38:24,517
[thunder cracks]
729
00:38:24,620 --> 00:38:26,482
...it's quite another
when you're actually able
730
00:38:26,586 --> 00:38:29,344
to witness one firsthand.
731
00:38:40,689 --> 00:38:43,586
SHATNER:
Crowds gather as workers
prepare to transport
732
00:38:43,689 --> 00:38:47,275
one of the largest monolithic
statues in the world.
733
00:38:47,379 --> 00:38:51,206
23 feet tall
and weighing 160 tons,
734
00:38:51,310 --> 00:38:54,482
the massive idol dates back
over a thousand years.
735
00:38:54,586 --> 00:38:56,413
And although workers are
extremely careful
736
00:38:56,517 --> 00:39:01,000
with their preparations
as they load it onto the trucks
737
00:39:01,103 --> 00:39:04,103
that will carry it, there's
palpable tension in the air.
738
00:39:04,206 --> 00:39:07,758
Because this is
no ordinary statue
739
00:39:07,862 --> 00:39:12,931
but one of the mighty
Aztec god Tlaloc.
740
00:39:13,034 --> 00:39:17,586
The Aztec religious system had
a vast number of gods.
741
00:39:17,689 --> 00:39:20,000
There were water gods
and goddesses.
742
00:39:20,103 --> 00:39:23,620
There were sky gods
and goddesses.
743
00:39:23,724 --> 00:39:27,310
Fire divinities
and earth divinities.
744
00:39:27,413 --> 00:39:32,000
One particularly important
sacred god was Tlaloc,
745
00:39:32,103 --> 00:39:35,310
a fertility divinity
associated with weather...
746
00:39:35,413 --> 00:39:36,793
[thunder cracks]
747
00:39:36,896 --> 00:39:38,931
...and thunder and lightning.
748
00:39:39,034 --> 00:39:41,827
So it is feared,
but it is also greatly revered
749
00:39:41,931 --> 00:39:43,655
because life comes from this.
750
00:39:43,758 --> 00:39:48,482
The life-giving waters
of the rain come from Tlaloc.
751
00:39:48,586 --> 00:39:53,000
SHATNER:
More than 25,000 people
eagerly wait into the night
752
00:39:53,103 --> 00:39:55,758
to welcome Tlaloc to his
new home in Mexico City
753
00:39:55,862 --> 00:39:57,793
after his long journey.
754
00:39:57,896 --> 00:40:02,206
But as the trucks carrying the
hulking statue finally arrive,
755
00:40:02,310 --> 00:40:05,827
the crowd isn't expecting what
would arrive along with him.
756
00:40:05,931 --> 00:40:08,206
COLLINS:
As this statue was erected...
757
00:40:08,310 --> 00:40:11,965
[thunder cracks]
758
00:40:12,068 --> 00:40:14,896
...suddenly the heavens
opened up,
759
00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:19,275
and for several days
there was intense rain
760
00:40:19,379 --> 00:40:20,620
and thunderstorms.
761
00:40:20,724 --> 00:40:23,137
[thunder rumbling]
762
00:40:23,241 --> 00:40:26,241
Now, this was done
in the summer months when,
763
00:40:26,344 --> 00:40:30,241
in theory, there should be
very little rain at all.
764
00:40:30,344 --> 00:40:34,827
This was so uncharacteristic
for this time of year.
765
00:40:34,931 --> 00:40:37,896
SHATNER:
Rain during the dry season?
766
00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:40,758
Most people would see
such an occurrence
767
00:40:40,862 --> 00:40:43,068
as nothing more
than a coincidence.
768
00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:48,827
But some believe the rain was
actually a good omen
769
00:40:48,931 --> 00:40:54,586
sent by Tlaloc in response
to the warm welcome he received
770
00:40:54,689 --> 00:40:56,724
from the Mexican people.
771
00:40:59,241 --> 00:41:01,655
THOMPSON:
Certainly a lot of people
believe that these events--
772
00:41:01,758 --> 00:41:03,034
for example, the downpour
773
00:41:03,137 --> 00:41:04,758
following the arrival
of Tlaloc--
774
00:41:04,862 --> 00:41:06,551
are connected.
775
00:41:06,655 --> 00:41:09,068
And perhaps they're connected
because of the divine force.
776
00:41:09,172 --> 00:41:12,379
Or perhaps it's actually
the believers' belief
777
00:41:12,482 --> 00:41:15,724
and their faith that is helping
to shape these events.
778
00:41:15,827 --> 00:41:18,379
[thunder cracks]
779
00:41:18,482 --> 00:41:20,931
So, certainly faith is powerful.
780
00:41:26,241 --> 00:41:28,724
The fact is that
it doesn't really matter,
781
00:41:28,827 --> 00:41:30,689
because it's about belief.
782
00:41:30,793 --> 00:41:33,586
If people believe
strongly enough in an object,
783
00:41:33,689 --> 00:41:36,827
that can create a reality.
784
00:41:40,275 --> 00:41:45,862
An ancient god of rain that
triggers a massive thunderstorm?
785
00:41:45,965 --> 00:41:47,965
Just a coincidence, right?
786
00:41:48,068 --> 00:41:51,172
Or was there something
more mysterious at work?
787
00:41:51,275 --> 00:41:53,310
Well, how about
the Koh-i-Noor diamond?
788
00:41:53,413 --> 00:41:55,517
Would you wear it? Huh?
789
00:41:55,620 --> 00:41:59,517
Or are you among those who
believe that stones really can
790
00:41:59,620 --> 00:42:01,896
possess special powers?
791
00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:05,344
Powers that for now
keep them very much among
792
00:42:05,448 --> 00:42:07,793
the unexplained.
64741
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