Ancient Black Ops

The specialist hit squads that wreaked havoc against the Roman invaders in Jerusalem. This deadly band of stealthy assassins would eventually be cornered in the mighty hilltop fortress of Masada. What happened next has horrified and fascinated the world ever since. Image shows the ruins at Masada with the Dead Sea in background.

The Germanic Ghost Warriors were one of the first special forces trained to fight specifically at night. They emerged out of the fiercely independent tribes of Germania, the wild lands to the North of the Roman Empire. When a huge Roman Army came to conquer their territory, the Ghost Warriors helped inflict the worst defeat in Roman history.

The Viking Beserkers were the elite shock-troops of Viking warlords. Fuelled by alcohol, religious fervour and possibly hallucinogenic magic mushrooms, they believed they could adopt the spirits of wild animals. One single Viking Beserker, after working himself up into a frenzy, held up an entire Saxon army with just an axe.

A look at the story of the Varangian Guard, the elite bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperor.

A look at the story of what happened when 2 planes ended up on a collision course above Brazil.

A look at the formidable Hawaiian Koa Warriors trained in the art of Loa, Hawaii's own martial arts.

The history of Ninja's, who first were a division of Japan's greatest Shogun.

A look at the group of 47 Ronin - dishonoured Samurais who had lost their status.