List of historical period drama films and series set in Near Eastern and Western civilization
Films set in Ancient Era (3000–500 BC)

List of historical period drama films and series set in Near Eastern and Western civilization

Section Title: Films set in Ancient Era (3000–500 BC)
Table Section Text: None

Title	Release date	Time period	Notes on setting

The Bible: In the Beginning...	1966	50,000–2100 BC or 4004/3761–1677 BC (according to the Hebrew calendar)	Film based on the Bible, starting with the Book of Genesis and ending with Abraham.

La Donna dei Faraoni	1961	3100 BC	Set shortly after the unification of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt by the First Dynasty of Egypt.

The Scorpion King	2002	before 3067 BC	set at least a decade or more before the demise of Mathayus in the prologue of The Mummy Returns.

Noah	2014	2800 BC or 2348 BC (according to the Hebrew calendar)	American epic biblical drama film inspired by the Genesis flood narrative and Noah's Ark in the Book of Genesis.

Land of the Pharaohs	1956	2589–2566 BC	Based on the reign of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops), a member of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt.

Il Sepolcro dei re	1960	2589–2566 BC	Based on the reign of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops), a member of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt.

Sudan	1945	2558–2532 BC	Set during the reign of the pharaoh Khafra (Chephren), a member of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt.

The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior	2008	2270–2215 BC	Set during the reign of Sargon of Akkad, founder of the Akkadian Empire.

Sodom and Gomorrah	1962	2100 BC	A epic film which is loosely based on the tale of the cities Sodom and Gomorrah in the Book of Genesis.

Abraham	1994	2100–2000 BC or 1852–1677 BC (according to the Hebrew calendar)	A television film based on the life of the patriarch Abraham.

The Bible	2013	2100 BC – 67 AD	Television miniseries based on the Bible, starting with Abraham.

Jacob	1994	2000 BC (according to the Hebrew calendar)	A German/Italian/American television film based on the novel Giacobbe by Francesco Maria Nappi. The novel is in turn based on the depiction of the patriarch Jacob in the Book of Genesis.

Mohenjo Daro	2016	2016 BC	Filmset in 2016 BC, in the ancient city of Mohenjo-daro. The historical city was one of the largest settlements of the Indus Valley Civilisation, and one of the world's earliest major cities.

Slave of Dreams	1995	1901–1850 BC	Set in Ancient Egypt and based on the story of Joseph, a Vizier depicted in the Book of Genesis. The era of the film's setting corresponds to the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt.

Joseph	1995	1901–1850 BC	Set in Ancient Egypt and based on the story of Joseph, a Vizier depicted in the Book of Genesis. The era of the film's setting corresponds to the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt.

The Red Tent (miniseries)	2014	1700BC-1750 BC	Set in The Holy Land during the time of the Old Testament patriarchs of the Book of Genesis. Dinah, the only daughter of Leah and Jacob, chronicles her story from youth through adulthood.

Atlantis: End of a World, Birth of a Legend	2011	c. 1600 BC	Docudrama which depicts a re-enactment of the events surrounding the Minoan eruption, a major catastrophic volcanic eruption in the island of Thera (modern Santorini).

Nefertiti, Regina del Nilo	1961	c. 1370–1330 BC	Set in Ancient Egypt; loosely based on the life of Nefertiti, Great Royal Wife of the Pharaoh Akhenaten. Nefertiti and her husband were members of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, and were ruling figures of the Amarna Period.

The Egyptian	1954	1350 BC	Based on the novel The Egyptian by Mika Waltari, who adapted the Story of Sinuhe. The film mentions the pharaoh Akhenaten, the Hittite Empire, and iron technology.

Tut	2015	1332–1323 BC	The three-part miniseries is based on the life of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, a member of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt.

The Ten Commandments	1956	c. 13th century BC	Set in Ancient Egypt, during the reign of Ramesses II, a member of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. The film is based on the founding narrative of the Exodus, as depicted in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Exodus: Gods and Kings	2014	1290–1213 BC	Set in Ancient Egypt, during the reign of Ramesses II, a member of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. The film is based on the founding narrative of the Exodus, as depicted in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Helen of Troy	1956	c. 1250 BC	Set in western Anatolia during the Trojan War, largery based on the epic poems Iliad and Odyssey by Homer.

Troy	2004	c. 1250 BC	Set in western Anatolia during the Trojan War, loosely based on the epic poem Iliad by Homer.

Iphigenia	1977	c. 1200 BC	Set in the port town of Aulis, Greece immediately before the Greek expeditionary force set sails to attack Troy. Due to unfavorable weather conditions, king Agamemnon of Mycenae offers his daughter Iphigenia as a human sacrifice to the goddess Artemis.

The Fury of Achilles	1962	c. 1200 BC	Set in western Anatolia in the 9th year of the Trojan War, based on the epic poem Iliad by Homer. King Agamemnon of Mycenae has lost his slave concubine Chryseis, and demands Briseis as a replacement concubine.

The Trojan Horse	1961	c. 1200 BC	Set in western Anatolia in the 10th and final year of the Trojan War.

The Trojan Women	1971	c. 1200 BC	Set in the immediate aftermath of the Trojan War, based on the theatrical play The Trojan Women by Euripides. The city of Troy has been sacked and the victors of the war are taking decisions on the fates of surviving captives.

The Avenger	1962	early 12th century BC	Aeneas struggles to establish a new home-land in the Italian Peninsula for his fellow survivors of the Trojan War. The film is based on the epic poem Aeneid by Virgil, which depicts Aeneas and his Trojan colonists as ancestor of the Romans.

Electra	1962	early 12th century BC	Set in the aftermath of the Trojan War in Mycenae, based on the theatrical play Electra by Euripides and the traditional accounts of conflicts within the family of the Atreidai.

Ulysses	1954	early 12th century BC	Set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, based on the epic poem Odyssey by Homer. It depicts the ten-year struggle of war veteran Odysseus to return home to the island of Ithaca following the war.

The Odyssey	1997	early 12th century BC	Set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, based on the epic poem Odyssey by Homer. It depicts the ten-year struggle of war veteran Odysseus to return home to the island of Ithaca following the war.

Samson and Delilah	1949	1118–1078 BC	A romantic biblical drama film which depicts the story of Samson, a strongman whose secret lies in his uncut hair, and his love for Delilah, the woman who seduces him.

Pharaoh	1966	1069 BC	Set in Ancient Egypt during the reign of a fictitious king "Ramses XIII" (there were only 11 kings by that name).

King David	1985	c. 1040–970 BC	Set in the Southern Levant, it depicts the life and reign of David, Kings of Israel. Based on the Books of Samuel.

A Story of David	1960	c. 1040–970 BC	Set in the Southern Levant, it depicts the complex relationship between Saul, Kings of Israel and his son-in-law and eventual successor David.

David and Goliath	1960	c. 1040–970 BC	Set in the Southern Levant, focused on the conflict between rival kings Saul and Asrod, and their representatives in champion warfare: David and Goliath of Gath.

David and Bathsheba	1951	1040–970 BC	Set in the Southern Levant, during the reign of David, Kings of Israel. David is married to Michal, daughter of his predecessor Saul.

Solomon and Sheba	1959	1011–931 BC	Set in the Southern Levant, during the reign of Solomon, Kings of Israel. Solomon forms a political alliance with the Queen of Sheba, becomes a lover of his new ally, and introduces pagan rituals in his kingdom.

Sins of Jezebel	1953	874–853 BC	Set in the Southern Levant, during the reign of Ahab, Kings of Israel. The film depicts the reign of the Omrides, based on Books of Kings and the Books of Chronicles.

I Am Semiramis	1962	810 BC	Set in the Neo-Assyrian Empire, during the reign of semi-legendary queen Semiramis. The legends are in part based on the historical Shammuramat, queen consort of Shamshi-Adad V and regent for her son Adad-nirari III.

King Lear (many adaptations)	1905–	c. 800 BC	Celtic Britain

Romolo e Remo	1961	753 BC	Based on the story of Romulus and Remus, and the founding of the city of Rome and the Roman Kingdom.

Romulus and the Sabines	1961	c. 750 BC	Based on the Rape of the Sabine Women, an origin myth for the Roman Kingdom. Shortly after the founding of the kingdom and the start of the reign of Romulus, Rome still lacks a female population and its residents can not reproduce.

The Rape of the Sabine Women	1962	c. 750 BC	Based on the Rape of the Sabine Women, an origin myth for the Roman Kingdom. Shortly after the founding of the kingdom and the start of the reign of Romulus, Rome still lacks a female population and its residents can not reproduce.

Duel of Champions	1961	c. 650 BC	Based on the Roman legend of the Horatii, set in the reign of Tullus Hostilius. The Roman Kingdom is at war with the city of Alba Longa and the outcome will by decided by champion warfare.

War Gods of Babylon	1962	c. 627 BC	Set in the Neo-Assyrian Empire; focusing largely on Sardanapalus (probably the Greek name for Ashurbanipal, but anachronistically including Zoroaster (11th–10th century BC) and Hammurabi (1792–1750 BC).

Queen of Babylon	1954	600 BC	Set in the Neo-Babylonian Empire, depicts Semiramis as a Babylonian queen.

Gautama Buddha	2007	c. 563–483 BC	Depicting the life of the Gautama Buddha. Siddhārtha Gautama is a member of the Ikshvaku dynasty, and seeks a solution to human misery and a path for salvation.

The Beast of Babylon Against the Son of Hercules	1963	539 BC	A fictionalized account of the downfall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and its conquest by the Achaemenid Empire under the Cyrus the Great.

Hero of Rome	1964	509 BC	The story combines the Roman legends of Gaius Mucius Scaevola and the expulsion of king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. In the film, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus has already been deposed, and the Roman Kingdom has been replaced by a Roman Republic.

Coriolanus: Hero without a Country	1964	493 BC	The Roman legend of Gaius Marcius Coriolanus. Coriolanus is a Roman general who distinguishes himself in a war between the Roman Republic and the Volsci.

Sentence(s)

Coriolanus: Hero without a Country is a historical drama film set in Rome in 493 BC.
Coriolanus: Hero without a Country is a historical drama film depicting 493 BC.
Coriolanus: Hero without a Country is a historical drama film set in Rome in 493 BC.

final_sentence: Coriolanus: Hero without a Country is a historical drama film set in Rome in 493 BC.
final_sentence: Coriolanus: Hero without a Country is a historical drama film depicting 493 BC.
final_sentence: Coriolanus: Hero without a Country is a historical drama film set in Rome in 493 BC.