Proteus

Just as 21st-century scientists peer into the cosmos to discover answers to nature's mysteries, so did 19th-century explorers regard the riddles of the world beneath the sea. The works of painters, illustrators, and photographers of the Victorian era-particularly those of German biologist/artist Ernst Haeckel-form the basis of this documentary retracing key discoveries in oceanography that challenged both scientific and religious thought. 60 min. Soundtrack: English; biography; interview; photo gallery.