Mysteries at the Monument Season 3 Episode 21 Lady Godiva and the Peeping Tom, Bishop's Brain, Birds of a Feather

In season 3 episode 21 of Mysteries at the Monument, viewers are taken on a journey across the globe in search of fascinating historical tales. The episode is titled Lady Godiva and the Peeping Tom, Bishop's Brain, Birds of a Feather, and features three separate stories tied to specific landmarks.

The first story explores the legend of Lady Godiva and the Peeping Tom. The show takes the audience to Coventry, England, where they learn about the 11th-century noblewoman who supposedly rode naked through the streets to protest her husband's excessive taxes on his tenants. As the story goes, she made this bold gesture only after convincing residents to stay indoors and avert their eyes, except for one man who ultimately looked and was struck blind. The episode investigates how much truth there is to this iconic event and whether a Peeping Tom really did exist. The team examines the historic Coventry Cathedral, which was destroyed in World War II, to look for clues about whether this tale is embellished history or an accurate representation of what occurred over a thousand years ago.

The second tale featured on the show involves the bizarre case of Bishop's Brain. This segment takes the viewers to the Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, France, where they hear the intriguing story of how a bishop was beheaded during the French Revolution but his head continued for several months to blink, smile, and make facial expressions. This spectacle drew attention not only from spectators in Paris but also from scientific researchers who wanted to learn more about this unusual phenomenon. The show's team investigates whether this story is factual or a legend, and they take a tour of the Basilica of St. Denis to explore the site where this miraculous event reportedly took place.

The final tale of the episode follows the story behind Birds of a Feather. The viewers are transported to the Haida Gwaii islands off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, where they learn about Haida culture, a tribe of Indigenous people who lived in the region for thousands of years. The episode investigates the elaborate totem poles that Haida people erected along the coastlines, and they explore the carvings that depict various figures and stories. One of the totem poles features a mysterious set of birds, known as the Eagles and the Ravens. The team investigates the significance behind these images and listens to the tale of how these two vital birds, one representing good, the other evil, influenced Haida culture.

Overall, this episode of Mysteries at the Monument provides a diverse range of stories from around the world. It highlights how architecture, art, and beliefs intersect to create some of the most compelling tales in history. The show attempts to unravel myths and legends the public has long accepted as iconic parts of our cultural heritage, and dives deep into the broader meaning behind these stories, challenging what we thought was true.