纪录片《大英博物馆世界简史》 043沙普尔二世银盘(5)

In killing¹ the wild deer the hunter-king is imposing² divine order on demonic chaos³.

国王猎杀野鹿，象征着消灭混乱，重归神圣的秩序。

Shapur, acting⁴ as agent for the supreme⁵ Zoroastrian god of goodness, will defeat the forces of primal⁶ evil and so fulfil his central role as king.

沙普尔作为琐罗亚斯特教善神的代言人，将战胜一切恶势力，完成身为国王的重大职责。

Here's Guitty Azarpay, Professor of Asian Art at the University of California:

加州大学伯克利分校的亚洲艺术教授贵提艾莎培教授十分强调国王的双重身份：

"It is both a secular⁷ image-because of course hunting was enjoyed by most people, by most nations and especially in Iran-it was also an expression of the Zoroastrian ideology⁸ of the time. Man is God's weapon against darkness and evil, and he serves towards the ultimate victory of the creator by following the principle of right measure, leading a life that is prescribed as having good speech, good words and good actions. In this way, the pious⁹ Zoroastrian can hope for the best of existence in this life and the best paradise spiritually in the hereafter. The best king is one who, as head of state and guardian¹⁰ of religion, creates justice and order, is a supreme warrior¹¹ and a heroic hunter."

这是一幅俗世画—狩猎是大部分民众喜欢的消遣，在伊朗尤其盛行—但同时也是当时琐罗亚斯特教思想的表达。人类是神用来战胜黑暗与邪恶的武器,人要遵守教义，一生善言善行，协助造物主赢得最后的胜利。虔诚的琐罗亚斯特教徒因而可以享有圆满的一生，并在死后进入灵魂的乐园。最好的国王不仅是国家的首领，也是宗教的守护者，他维护正义与秩序，是英勇的战士，也是勇猛的猎人。

This dish is quite clearly meant not just to be seen, but to be shown off.

银盘的用途不只是观赏，更是炫耀。

It's an ostentatiously expensive object, made from a heavy single piece of silver, and the figures have been hammered out from the back in high relief.

这件奢侈品由一块整银打造，通过在背面敲打制造出浮雕效果。

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

3 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

4 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

5 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

6 primal   

adj.原始的；最重要的

参考例句：

• Jealousy is a primal emotion.嫉妒是最原始的情感。
• Money was a primal necessity to them.对于他们，钱是主要的需要。

7 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。

8 ideology   

n.意识形态，(政治或社会的)思想意识

参考例句：

• The ideology has great influence in the world.这种思想体系在世界上有很大的影响。
• The ideal is to strike a medium between ideology and inspiration.我的理想是在意识思想和灵感鼓动之间找到一个折衷。

9 pious   

adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的

参考例句：

• Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。
• Her mother was a pious Christian.她母亲是一个虔诚的基督教徒。

10 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

11 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。