Travel in Europe - Paris 信步巴黎 - 4

Just across the street from Les Invalides, sits one of the best small museums in Europe. The Rodin Museum is filled with work by the greatest sculptors¹ since Michelangelo. Influenced by both the classical and modern, this 19th century artist's work is sensuous² and involving. Rodin spent the last year of his life here and donated the collection to the French government. Both the beautiful 18th century house and its peaceful garden are filled with his work. I'm a regular here.

For a totally different experience, cross the street to the Hotel des Invalides which chronicles the history of France's wars.

This is Europe's largest military museum. We can wander through a collection of armaments captured from France's enemies all the way back to the 17th century.

Under the grand dome³, the Emperor Napoleon lies majestically⁴ dead surrounded by the tombs of other great French soldiers. I find these relics⁵ of war thought-provoking, patriotism⁶ against patriotism, the nameless dead and the romantic heros.

The first complete war economy gave Napoleon an army of 600, 000 men. He marched them into Russia , came back with, barely a handful.

The revolution of 1789 had brought to an end the old notion that some were born to rule and others to be ruled. The bourgeoisie had carved itself a healthy slice of Europe's social and economic pie and Paris was the capital of Europe.

People talked of the New Rome and Napoleon encouraged the neoclassical style to further this symbolism.

The most imposing⁷ symbol was the Arc de Triomphe. Napoleon had this built around 1807 to commemorate⁸ his military victories. Not content with mere⁹ copies of antient Roman arches , for Napoleon, bigger was better.

In fact, it's the largest triumphal arch in the world. It's part of the neoclassical revival¹⁰, forever associated with the Napoleonic Empire. A revival which, in keeping with the age of reason, turned churches into temples of reason and at least on paper guaranteed that the government was by, for, and of the people.

Excavations¹¹ at Pompeii had helped to restore care and interest in Roman life and when the revolution had thrown out the French aristocracy, it had also thrown out their baroque frills. Society was ready for the realistic, dignified¹² and simple qualities which typified the neoclassical movement.

1 sculptors   

雕刻家，雕塑家( sculptor的名词复数 )； [天]玉夫座

参考例句：

• He is one of Britain's best-known sculptors. 他是英国最有名的雕塑家之一。
• Painters and sculptors are indexed separately. 画家和雕刻家被分开，分别做了索引。

2 sensuous   

adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的

参考例句：

• Don't get the idea that value of music is commensurate with its sensuous appeal.不要以为音乐的价值与其美的感染力相等。
• The flowers that wreathed his parlor stifled him with their sensuous perfume.包围著客厅的花以其刺激人的香味使他窒息。

3 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

4 majestically   

雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地

参考例句：

• The waters of the Changjiang River rolled to the east on majestically. 雄伟的长江滚滚东流。
• Towering snowcapped peaks rise majestically. 白雪皑皑的山峰耸入云霄。

5 relics   

[pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸

参考例句：

• The area is a treasure house of archaeological relics. 这个地区是古文物遗迹的宝库。
• Xi'an is an ancient city full of treasures and saintly relics. 西安是一个有很多宝藏和神圣的遗物的古老城市。

6 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

7 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。

8 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

9 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

10 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

11 excavations   

n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 )；开凿；开凿的洞穴（或山路等）；（发掘出来的）古迹

参考例句：

• The excavations are open to the public. 发掘现场对公众开放。
• This year's excavations may reveal ancient artifacts. 今年的挖掘可能会发现史前古器物。 来自辞典例句

12 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。