纪录片《大英博物馆世界简史》 051玛雅宫廷放血仪式浮雕（2）

All the objects in the programmes this week are from the great royal courts of the world, around 800 AD. They're not objects that were made for public view - they're intimate, private expressions of great public power, objects created so that the rulers of the world could state and re-state the full extent of their authority to themselves, to their courtiers and to their gods. And, it must be said, the very real obligations that they saw as going with that authority.

I'm looking at a limestone¹ relief carving², about the size of a small coffee table. It's rectangular, and it shows two human figures. A man,is standing³ holding a blazing torch over the kneeling figure of a woman, and both are elaborately costumed, with wonderful extravagant⁴ headdresses.

So far, so innocuous - but when I look more closely at the woman, the scene becomes horribly disconcerting. Because I can see that she is pulling a rope 'through' her tongue - and the rope contains large thorns, which are piercing and lacerating her.

My squeamish European eye keeps focusing on this stupefying act, but for the Maya, what would have been important was the whole scene. For this is the king and his wife, together in a devotional partnership⁵, jointly⁶ performing a ceremony that is of fundamental significance for their position and for their power. It was commissioned by the king to go into the queen's private building. And it was certainly intended to be seen by only a very select few.

1 limestone   

n.石灰石

参考例句：

• Limestone is often used in building construction.石灰岩常用于建筑。
• Cement is made from limestone.水泥是由石灰石制成的。

2 carving   

n.雕刻品，雕花

参考例句：

• All the furniture in the room had much carving.房间里所有的家具上都有许多雕刻。
• He acquired the craft of wood carving in his native town.他在老家学会了木雕手艺。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

5 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

6 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。