书城外语一本书读懂消失的文明:英汉对照
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第38章 庞贝古城——灭顶之灾后的生命赞歌(3)

The painting shows the painter's careful study of the ambient light with highlights and shades delicately designed to show the couple's clothing and features. It shows how realistic some of the paintings of ancient Roman times were. Artists of the Renaissance were inspired by paintings like these as they looked for ways to make their own paintings look more life-like.

庞贝古城惟妙惟肖的画像:法官夫妇

这幅画很可能是古代庞贝城两位重要人物的肖像:一对已婚夫妇,他们被认为是法官特兰提乌斯—尼奥和他的妻子。

这幅画展示了画家对于光线的仔细研究,深浅色的精确运用更是突出了画中夫妻的服装穿着以及面貌特征。它表明了古代罗马时期一些画像已经达到了多惟妙惟肖的程度。文艺复兴时期的艺术家们就是受到这些艺术品的启发,去寻找在他们作品中实现更生活化的途径。

The Amphitheatre in Pompeii:suspendedfor 10 years because of the rebellion

People in Roman times went to the Amphitheater to see plays and gladiators fight. Some amphitheaters could be filled with water so that ship battles could be fought. Sometimes circuses with acrobats and animal acts would stage shows in the Amphitheater.

This is considered to be the world's oldest known amphitheater. About the size of a modern football stadium, it had a seating capacity of 12,000 spectators. It was here in 59 AD that a riot broke out during a competition with a rival city. The death of many spectators caused the Roman Senate to forbid any games in the Pompeii Amphitheater for the next 10 years.

The huge square area, called the Palaestra, to the southwest of the Amphitheater was built in the days of Augustus Caesar. This Palaestra served as a gymnasium and a place to indoctrinate the young people in Augustan ideals. In the center was a huge swimming pool, sloping from 3 feet to 8 feet deep.

庞贝城圆形剧场:发生暴乱禁赛10年

古罗马的人们去圆形剧场观看演出和角斗士的表演,一些这样的圆形竞技场还会被注满水以便表演海上作战的船只能够航行。有时候表演走钢丝和动物秀的马戏团也会在圆形剧场演出。

它被认为是世界上最古老的圆形竞技场,大致相当于一个现代的露天足球场那么大,能容纳12000观众的坐席。公元59年,在与另一个敌对城市的竞技比赛中,这里发生了一次暴乱,许多观众在暴乱中死。这使得罗马参议院规定庞贝的竞技场在接下来长达10年之久的时间内不得举行任何比赛。

竞技场旁边巨大的广场区域叫做“派拉斯塔”,建于恺撒时期的奥古斯都,位于剧场的西南方向。派拉斯塔的作用像一个体育训练馆,建造它的目的是为了给青年人灌输奥古斯都的理念提供一个场所。派拉斯塔中间的区域是个大型游泳池,最浅的地方深3英尺,最深的地方深8英尺。

Pompeii temple ruins:The faun

Immediately in front of the entrance to this villa is a Latin welcome sign, "HAVE", a simple mosaic in the sidewalk. Covering 6 acres, the House of the Faun is one of the largest and most luxurious examples of a first century residence.

The villa was named for the bronze statuette of a dancing faun, the reproduction of which is seen here in the impluvium. Mount Vesuvius can be seen in the background.

庞贝城神庙遗址:半羊半人的农牧神

在这个小型别墅的正门前,是一个用拉丁文写成的欢迎标志“HAVE”,这是刻在人行道上的一个简单的镶嵌图案。农神庙占地6英亩,是公元1世纪的最大最奢华的建筑之一。

别墅的命名于一座青铜雕像,是一个跳着舞的农牧神,目前在庞贝城看到的是他的复制品。铜像就放在庭院中用来积存雨水的方形蓄水池中,从农神庙的后院就可以看到维苏威火山。

The biggest highlights of Pompeii:The plaster casts

With plaster casts now scattered about the ancient city, we can observe the images of Pompeians as they died. Most tourists find these casts both macabre and enjoyable.It is still true today. J. W. Goethe wrote about Pompeii, "Many a calamity has happened in the world, but never one that has caused so much entertainment to posterity as this one." People’s interest in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 comes to mind as a modern example of society's fascination with how people react when they recognize that their own death is imminent.

庞贝古城的最大亮点:人的活石膏像

通过散落在这座古代城市的人体石像,我们可以看到庞贝人死时的形象。大多数旅游者都会发现,这些石头人像既让人毛骨悚然,也让人觉得兴趣盎然,它们直到今天还栩栩如生。歌德谈到庞贝的时候写到:“世界上发生过许多灾祸,但从未有一件像在庞贝城发生的这样给后来人以如此巨大的玩味。”1912年泰坦尼克号的沉没也曾引起人们的兴趣,这是近代的一个佐证。社会迷恋它,是想知道当人们意识到自己的死亡无可避免的时候他们会有什么反应。