07 March 2005:   The Near East and Middle East are the focus of an in-depth documentary on Discovery Civilisation in April as Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons reveals the achievements of the glorious Hittite empire, the chief power in the Near East between 1650 and 1200 B.C.

At the height of its powers the Hittite kingdom controlled central Anatolia in modern Turkey, Syria, and Mesopotamia down to Babylon and the Euphrates river in Iraq. 

Filmed in 31 locations across Asia, Europe and Africa including Syria, Turkey and Egypt, HITTITES premieres on Discovery Civilisation, exclusively on the Showtime television network, on Friday 29th of April at 20:20 KSA (21:20 UAE).

The empire lasted from about 1680 BC to 1200 BC, with an as yet unexplained hundred-year gap from 1500 to 1400 BC.  After 1200 BC it disintegrated into several independent city-states, some of which survived until around 700 BC.

The documentary traces the rise of the empire by focusing on the intimate details of the six most influential kings and queens of the era and also takes into account the present cultural and political forces of the Near East.

The programme includes a recreation of the conflict between the Hittites and the Egyptians in the controversial battle of Kadesh, a turning point for the Near East that resulted in the first written peace agreement in history.

HITTITES also unfolds the intimate story of the marriage between the Hittite King Hattusili III and Pudehepa, regarded as one of the greatest love stories since ancient times.

HITTITES premieres on Discovery Civilisation exclusively on the Showtime television network on Friday 29th of April at 20:20 KSA (21:20 UAE).       

-Ends- 

Discovery Communications, Inc.
Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company.  DCI has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in more than 160 countries and territories with one billion cumulative subscribers. Outside the United States, Discovery offers 10 international brands, reaching nearly 560 million cumulative subscribers. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, nine Discovery television brands reach more than 145 million cumulative subscribers across more than 103 countries, with programming customized into 21 languages. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE: L), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

Issued on behalf of Discovery Networks Europe by Hill & Knowlton.

For further information please contact
Marianne Jumean at
009714-3344930 or
Marianne.jumean@hillandknowlton.com  

© Press Release 2005