Aztecs 远古的回响 -- Aztecs帝国 5

To pacify¹ the forces of nature, the Aztecs turn not just to the gods but to their own sophisticated technology. They had seen the eagle land on a saltwater lake, 32 miles long. To build a city here and sustain its people would require a radical² transformation³ of the landscape. This was their first major challenge. They were able to dam and drain some of the salt water and channel fresh water in its place. They transformed the swampland on the outskirts⁴ of the city, building islands known as chinampas, or floating gardens.

Nowadays there's a dwindling⁵ number of farmers here. But they still use traditional methods which have hardly changed since the Aztec times. Dredging mud from the bottom of the lake, the farmers build up layers of rich fertile soil and plant willow⁶ trees with roots to stabilize⁷ the garden platform. Five hundred years ago these plots of land were the bread basket of the Aztec capital, supplying its inhabitants with much of their food. If the rainy season was late, the crops would fail. To make sure this didn't happen, the Aztecs turned to their gods. They believed that they could influence the gods by creating idealized replicas⁸ of the natural world. It was this belief that inspired all their temples, from the smallest shrine⁹ in the countryside to the largest pyramids in the capital. But it's not just the shared inspiration which connects the shrine with the city. It was carefully positioned to form a continuous line of sacred sites, joining the rain-producing mountains to the heart of the Aztec capital. The Aztecs believed that this connection would ensure that the season stayed in balance. The rain fell and their city and empire flourished.

Great mountains, the miniature of rock mountains then the hill that of artistical single, and then ultimately the pyramid...great pyramid of Tenochtitllan, they all form part of the symbolic¹⁰ continuum that take the thoughts and the prayers of the city dwellers¹¹ out to the remote parts of their world.

-------------------------

dredge: v. 挖掘
willow: n. 柳树

1 pacify   

vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰

参考例句：

• He tried to pacify the protesters with promises of reform.他试图以改革的承诺安抚抗议者。
• He tried to pacify his creditors by repaying part of the money.他为安抚债权人偿还了部分借款。

2 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

3 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

4 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

5 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

6 willow   

n.柳树

参考例句：

• The river was sparsely lined with willow trees.河边疏疏落落有几棵柳树。
• The willow's shadow falls on the lake.垂柳的影子倒映在湖面上。

7 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

8 replicas   

n.复制品( replica的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His hobby is building replicas of cars. 他的爱好是制作汽车的复制品。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The replicas are made by using a thin film of fusible alloy on a stiffening platen. 复制是用附着在加强托板上的可熔合金薄膜实现的。 来自辞典例句

9 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

10 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

11 dwellers   

n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes. 城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They have transformed themselves into permanent city dwellers. 他们已成为永久的城市居民。 来自《简明英汉词典》