Židovski princ Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) dobar je gospodar svojim robovima, ponosan čovjek dostojan titule koju obnaša na početku novog tisućljeća. Naznaka teških vremena za njega i njegovu obitelj dolazi povećavanjem broja rimskih vojnika u regiji. Nove snage dolaze u Jeruzalem pod vodstvom Massale (Stephen Boyd), Ben-Hurovog starog prijatelja prijatelja iz djetinjstva.
Zabavne avanture tri egipatske mumije koje žive u podzemnom tajnom gradu, skrivenom u drevnom Egiptu. Kroz niz nesretnih događaja, mumije završavaju u današnjem Londonu i kreću na otkačeno i urnebesno putovanje.
Judah Ben-Hur, židovski princ kojeg je njegov posvojeni brat, časnik u rimskoj vojsci, lažno optužio za izdaju, vraća se u svoju domovinu nakon godina na moru u potrazi za osvetom, ali nalazi iskupljenje.
The rituals of courtship, romantic rivalry, and love play out three times as a man vies with a villain for the girl. In the Stone Age, the rivalry is set off by dinosaurs, a turtle used as a ouija board, and a round of golf with stones. In ancient Rome, the men display their brawn through a chariot race, using dogs instead of horses. In contemporary times, the man finds himself overcome by modernity, including a very fragile car.
Erstwhile childhood friends, Judah Ben-Hur and Messala meet again as adults, this time with Roman officer Messala as conqueror and Judah as a wealthy, though conquered, Israelite. A slip of a brick during a Roman parade causes Judah to be sent off as a galley slave, his property confiscated and his mother and sister imprisoned. Years later, as a result of his determination to stay alive and his willingness to aid his Roman master, Judah returns to his homeland an exalted and wealthy Roman athlete. Unable to find his mother and sister, and believing them dead, he can think of nothing else than revenge against Messala.
In antique Rome, a simple pepboy for chars becomes involved in a coup against Cesar. Rahatlocum is a North African Roman colony where Julius Caesar came to spend an expensive holiday. The revolt rumbles among the small people who find a leader in the person of Ben-Hur Marcel.
The first adaptation of Lew Wallace's novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.
Goliath battles for the freedom of the Babylonian people.
The poetess Sappho led an uprising against the corrupt government of the island of Lesbos.