Olmec

The Olmec were the first major civilization in Mexico following a progressive development in Soconusco. They lived in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, in the present-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco. It has been speculated that Olmec derive in part from neighboring Mokaya and/or Mixe–Zoque.

The Olmec flourished during Mesoamerica's formative period, dating roughly from as early as 1500 BCE to about 400 BCE. Pre-Olmec cultures had flourished in the area since about 2500 BCE, but by 1600–1500 BCE, Early Olmec culture had emerged, centered on the San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán site near the coast in southeast Veracruz. They were the first Mesoamerican civilization and laid many of the foundations for the civilizations that followed. Among other "firsts", the Olmec appeared to practice ritual bloodletting and played the Mesoamerican ballgame, hallmarks of nearly all subsequent Mesoamerican societies.

The aspect of the Olmecs most familiar now is their artwork, particularly the aptly named "colossal heads". The Olmec civilization was first defined through artifacts which collectors purchased on the pre-Columbian art market in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Olmec artworks are considered among ancient America's most striking.

Legends of the Hidden Temple

Legends of the Hidden Temple is an American action-adventuregame show for children that aired from 1993 to 1995 in its first-run and through 1998 in reruns. Created by David G. Stanley, Scott A. Stone and Stephen Brown, the program centered on a temple that was "filled with lost treasures protected by mysterious Mayan temple guards". Kirk Fogg hosted the program and served as the teams' guide, while Dee Bradley Baker announced and voiced a talking Olmec Head who "knows the secrets behind each of the treasures in his temple". Six teams of two children (one boy and one girl) competed to retrieve one of the historical artifacts in the temple by performing physical stunts and answering questions based on history, mythology, and geography.

Legends of the Hidden Temple was produced by Stone Stanley Productions in association with Nickelodeon and was taped at Nickelodeon Studios at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. It aired on Nickelodeon from September 11, 1993 to 1995 in its first-run and through August 23, 1998 in reruns. Later, episodes of the program aired on Nick GAS from 1999 to 2007, and occasionally on TeenNick. In 1995, Legends of the Hidden Temple won a CableACE award for Best Game Show Special or Series.