Secrets of Ancient Structures - Season 1, Episode 03: Cosmic Alignment

Since the dawn of humanity, we have looked to the cosmos to understand our world, with stars, planets, and celestial patterns guiding everything from our harvests to our architectural feats. In the lush jungles of Southeast Asia, Khmer King Suryavarman II commissions Angkor Wat, an elaborate stone masterpiece devoted to Vishnu. With precise measurements embedded into its very foundations, this temple is an ornate blueprint of the Hindu universe. Across the globe, another ancient structure in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula stands in tribute to the heavens. A relic of the ancient Maya civilization, the Pyramid of Kukulcan - also known as El Castillo - displays the divine light of the equinoctial sun across its façade, while hiding sacred secrets beneath...In Ireland, a near-forgotten cairn harbours mysteries illuminated by the winter sun. Newgrange, an ancestral tomb built by Neolithic farmers, is adorned with strange carvings and features a cosmic design centuries ahead of its time.