纪录片《文明》 第32期 创世纪的第二个瞬间（32）

This is a spectacular¹ space.

多么壮观啊

The kind of space

这样的空间结构

you would really expect to see in Rome or Greece,

你本以为会在罗马或希腊看到

these great pyramids with platforms for performances

这些有着表演平台的大金字塔

because this, as much as anywhere

因为和西方古遗迹一样

in the Western world of antiquity²,

这座建筑本质上

is essentially³ an urban theatre.

是一座城市剧场

It's a theatre of political and religious power.

这是政治和宗教力量的剧场

A structure like this looks down upon the citizens

这样的结构可以俯瞰人民

and forces them to look back up.

也逼迫他们必须抬头仰视

And what they looked up to was often gruesomely violent,

而他们抬头看到的也经常是可怕的一幕

the mass sacrifice of captives⁴.

大量俘虏的献祭

And one God in particular had a special thirst...

尤其有一位神胃口极大

the rain god, Chaac.

雨神恰克

The power of the Mayan kings rested on the promise

玛雅国王的权力来源于他们承诺

that every year they would persuade Chaac to bring the rains

每年都会说服恰克降下

on which all life depended.

所有生命赖以生存的雨水

1 spectacular   

adj.引人注目的，出色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• This is a spectacular film.这是一部场面壮观的电影。
• This is the most spectacular financial crash of the decade.这是10年里最引人注目的金融破产事件。

2 antiquity   

n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹

参考例句：

• The museum contains the remains of Chinese antiquity.博物馆藏有中国古代的遗物。
• There are many legends about the heroes of antiquity.有许多关于古代英雄的传说。

3 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

4 captives   

战俘，俘虏( captive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The rebels cut off the heads of their captives. 叛乱者砍掉了俘虏的脑袋。
• The captives are wearing chains. 俘虏们带着镣铐。