2007-08-21, Engineering Egypt 构建埃及

This is not the Egypt of Khufu's day. The Pharaoh is no longer beyond criticism, and Ramesses' failure to take Kadesh could dangerously undermine his position. Ramesses hatches a face-saving plan well-suited to this more critical era. He reaches for another weapon, one even more effective than chariots and the bronze swords, propaganda.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Ramesses to broadcast something to his audience that will make him the king that he will someday become.”

Ramesses' commissions are a series of stone reliefs to commemorate¹ the battle of Kadesh on temple walls that link to the breath of the kingdom.

“I think part of this, this, this, the heavy spin put onto the, onto the whole Kadesh campaign, clearly, it's to make sure that his image remains² what he wants it to be, that of the all-powerful, all-conquering Pharaoh.”

“Well, when he set up his record of the battle of Kadesh, Ramesses proves that he is the greatest spin doctor of the ancient world.”

The carvings³ tell the story not of an inconclusive truth, but a clear-cut victory. Ramesses is portrayed⁴ as the hero of the hour, who, separated from his troops, stands alone against the Hittite ambush⁵.

“He claims he wapped them good, but he didn't.”

“He's not going to show what really happened; he's going to show what he wants to have happened, so the image that he has depicted⁶ there is one that shows him routing the Hittites, pretty much single-handedly, leading the way, sending them fleeing, trampling⁷ them under his horses and chariots, and really creating a sense of Egypt, and Ramesses himself as the personification of Egypt is the ultimate.”

It's a political masterstroke. Ramesses has rewritten history, and set his version of events in stone for all time. But the young king's life-long talent for self-promotion has only just begun.

1 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。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 carvings   

n.雕刻( carving的名词复数 )；雕刻术；雕刻品；雕刻物

参考例句：

• The desk was ornamented with many carvings. 这桌子装饰有很多雕刻物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town. 贝雕是该城的特产。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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》

5 ambush   

n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击

参考例句：

• Our soldiers lay in ambush in the jungle for the enemy.我方战士埋伏在丛林中等待敌人。
• Four men led by a sergeant lay in ambush at the crossroads.由一名中士率领的四名士兵埋伏在十字路口。

6 depicted   

描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• Other animals were depicted on the periphery of the group. 其他动物在群像的外围加以修饰。
• They depicted the thrilling situation to us in great detail. 他们向我们详细地描述了那激动人心的场面。

7 trampling   

踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯

参考例句：

• Diplomats denounced the leaders for trampling their citizens' civil rights. 外交官谴责这些领导人践踏其公民的公民权。
• They don't want people trampling the grass, pitching tents or building fires. 他们不希望人们踩踏草坪、支帐篷或生火。