纪录片《大英博物馆世界简史》 043沙普尔二世银盘(2)

In Rome at this time Christianity became the state religion, and almost contemporaneously, in Iran, the Sasanian Dynasty built a highly centralised state, in which secular¹ and religious authority were bound together. At its height, this Iranian empire stretched from the Euphrates to the Indus-in modern terms, from Syria to Pakistan. And for several centuries it was the equal, and the rival, of Rome, in the long struggle to control the Middle East.

当时，基督教刚成为罗马国教。而在伊朗，萨珊王朝几乎在同一时期建立起了高度中央集权、政教合一的国家。伊朗帝国的领土从幼发拉底河一直延伸到印度河流域，用现代地理概念来说，便是从叙利亚一直到巴基斯坦。在数个世纪的时间里，它的实力与罗马相当，是与罗马争夺中东控制权的强有力的对手。

The Sasanian king out hunting on this programme's silver dish is Shapur II, who ruled with resounding² success for 70 years, from 309 to 379. It's a shallow silver dish, I suppose it's about the size and the shape of a small Frisbee³, but it's made of very high quality silver, and as you move it around you can see that it's got highlights in gold. The King sits confidently astride his mount, and on his head he wears a very large crown, with what looks like a winged globe on the top of it. Behind him, ribbons flutter over the silver, giving an impression of movement. Everything about his dress is rich-pendant earrings⁴, long-sleeved tunic⁵ with carefully embroidered⁶ shoulder pads, highly decorated trousers and ribboned shoes. What we're looking at is an elaborate, carefully worked out ceremonial image of wealth and power.

银盘上狩猎的萨珊国王是沙普尔二世， 他在位时间为公元309年至公元379年，他成功地统治伊朗长达70年之久。这是一个浅底银盘，大小与形状都类似小号飞盘。它用上好的白银制成，一经转动还会发现它曾用黄金点缀。国王镇定地跨坐在坐骑上，头顶巨大的王冠，冠顶的装饰就像一个带翅膀的地球仪，绶带飘扬在身后，表现出动感。他的衣饰极为奢华：垂坠的长耳环，带精美垫肩的长袖束 腰外衣，装饰华美的长裤以及带缎带的鞋子。一副精心塑造的表现财富与权力的仪式性形象。

1 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

2 resounding   

adj. 响亮的

参考例句：

• The astronaut was welcomed with joyous,resounding acclaim. 人们欢声雷动地迎接那位宇航员。
• He hit the water with a resounding slap. 他啪的一声拍了一下水。

3 frisbee   

n.飞盘(塑料玩具)

参考例句：

• We always go to the park on weekends and play Frisbee.我们每个周末都会到公园玩飞盘。
• The frisbee is a light plastic disc,shaped like a plate.飞盘是一种碟形塑料盘。

4 earrings   

n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子

参考例句：

• a pair of earrings 一对耳环
• These earrings snap on with special fastener. 这付耳环是用特制的按扣扣上去的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 tunic   

n.束腰外衣

参考例句：

• The light loose mantle was thrown over his tunic.一件轻质宽大的斗蓬披在上衣外面。
• Your tunic and hose match ill with that jewel,young man.你的外套和裤子跟你那首饰可不相称呢，年轻人。

6 embroidered   

adj．绣花的

参考例句：

• She embroidered flowers on the cushion covers. 她在这些靠垫套上绣了花。
• She embroidered flowers on the front of the dress. 她在连衣裙的正面绣花。