Living With The Gods

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Living with the Gods

Factual: History

Neil MacGregor explores the role and expression of shared beliefs around the world.

Neil MacGregor explores the role and expression of shared beliefs in communities around the world. Produced in partnership with the British Museum.

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Living with the Gods: Fire and State

Fire and State

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Neil MacGregor on the fire of Vesta in Ancient Rome, and the Parsi fire temple in Gujarat.

Neil MacGregor focuses on perpetual fire in the Temple of Vesta in Rome, the Parsi fire temple in Gujarat, India, and the Flame of the Nation under the Arc de Triomphe, Paris.

Neil MacGregor continues his series on the expression of shared beliefs in communities around the world and across time. 

Many societies have seen the mesmerizing phenomenon of fire as a symbol of the divine. Neil MacGregor focuses on sacred fire which comes to represent the state itself: the perpetual fire in the Temple of Vesta in Rome, the great Parsi fire temple in Udvada, India, and 'la Flamme de la Nation', the Flame of the Nation, constantly burning beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. 

Producer: Paul Kobrak 

The series is produced in partnership with the British Museum. 
Photograph: (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

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