纪录片《文明》 第9期 创世纪的第二个瞬间（9）

Perhaps the making of such things was itself a sacred calling.

也许制作这样的东西本身就是一件神圣使命

To see how much work was needed to make a lion-man,

为了了解制作一个狮人需要多少精力

archaeologist Wulf Hein

考古学家沃尔夫·海因

embarked¹ on an experiment to carve a replica²

做了一个实验 用真实的工具和材料

using authentic³ tools and materials.

来雕刻一个复制品

Without a mammoth⁴ tusk⁵,

没有猛犸象牙

he used a piece of legally sourced elephant ivory.

他用的是一根合法获取的象牙

I started working from the whole tusk

我从完整的象牙开始动工

and then I took a big stone and hammered away this piece,

然后用大石头敲下这一块

and I was sweating like hell

我全程汗流浃背

because if I would have ruined it, it would be a disaster.

因为我要是搞砸了 就糟了

And the most time-consuming part of the work

最费时的是

was setting free the arms

分离出手臂

because I had to take a very tiny tool

我得用一个很小的工具

and make grooves⁶ like this underneath⁷, into the ivory,

在象牙上挖出这样的凹槽

and just scratch and scratch and days and days

一天天不停地挖

and working and working.

一直挖

I had blisters⁸ on my hands, and every finger was aching.

挖得我手上起了水泡 每根手指都疼

It was very heavy work.

工作量很大

1 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

2 replica   

n.复制品

参考例句：

• The original conservatory has been rebuilt in replica.温室已按原样重建。
• The young artist made a replica of the famous painting.这位年轻的画家临摹了这幅著名的作品。

3 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

4 mammoth   

n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的

参考例句：

• You can only undertake mammoth changes if the finances are there.资金到位的情况下方可进行重大变革。
• Building the new railroad will be a mammoth job.修建那条新铁路将是一项巨大工程。

5 tusk   

n.獠牙，长牙，象牙

参考例句：

• The wild boar had its tusk sunk deeply into a tree and howled desperately.野猪的獠牙陷在了树里，绝望地嗥叫着。
• A huge tusk decorated the wall of his study.他书房的墙上装饰着一支巨大的象牙。

6 grooves   

n.沟( groove的名词复数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏v.沟( groove的第三人称单数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏

参考例句：

• Wheels leave grooves in a dirt road. 车轮在泥路上留下了凹痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Sliding doors move in grooves. 滑动门在槽沟中移动。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

8 blisters   

n.水疱( blister的名词复数 )；水肿；气泡

参考例句：

• My new shoes have made blisters on my heels. 我的新鞋把我的脚跟磨起泡了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His new shoes raised blisters on his feet. 他的新鞋把他的脚磨起了水疱。 来自《简明英汉词典》