纪录片《文明》 第36期 创世纪的第二个瞬间（36）

It's the work of a society where that balance between habitat

这反映出在当时的社会中

and ambition is still in good order.

生存环境和野心之间依然处于良好的平衡

It's certainly hard to imagine a more vivid realisation

没有什么能比这更逼真地表现出

of the rain god Chaac than this.

雨神恰克的形象

Complete with the bubbling streams of water

包括这在雨神庇佑下

that his blessings¹ brought.

被带来的潺潺溪流

In the seventh century, the 12th ruler of Copan

在公元七世纪 科潘的第十二位统治者

commissioned a new grand structure.

下令建造一项宏伟工程

This is the hieroglyphic² stairway of Copan.

这是科潘的象形文字石阶

It was built, originally, in honour of ruler 12

起初它是为了纪念第十二位统治者而建

who is portrayed³ here,

就是这里描绘的这位

and then was finished by ruler 15

第十五位统治者完成了修建

who added on the uppermost section of it.

添加了最上面的部分

And it has 64 steps in total

整个石阶有六十四级

and they told the history of the dynasty

讲述了整个王朝的历史

and the succession of the different rulers.

以及历任统治者的更替

The stairway itself is a monumental statement.

石阶本身就是一段不朽的记录

1 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 hieroglyphic   

n.象形文字

参考例句：

• For centuries hieroglyphic word pictures painted on Egyptian ruins were a mystery.几世纪以来，刻划在埃及废墟中的象形文字一直是个谜。
• Dongba is an ancient hieroglyphic language.东巴文是中国一种古老的象形文字。

3 portrayed   

v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim. 在审讯过程中，他始终把自己说成是受害者。
• The author portrayed his father as a vicious drunkard. 作者把他父亲描绘成一个可恶的酒鬼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》