2007-11-22, Moroccan Adventure: Fes - 修复Merdes

This monument to Islamic heritage is getting a new lease on life. The Bou Inania Medersa or Koranic school was once an architectural jewel of the medieval city of Fes. But centuries of neglect have taken a toll¹. Restorers are cleaning layers of white wash off of intricate plaster carvings². It's slow work,but when it's done they hope the Medersa will shine again as a masterpiece and a testament³ to the grand artistic⁴ legacy⁵ of their city. Muslim refugees from Spain and Tunisia founded Fes in the 9th century, by the 1300s, it was one of the cultural capitals of the Islamic world, a center for art and learning.

Today its Medina or historic city center is a living museum of Morocco's Islamic heritage.

"Probably the best preserved Islamic Medina in the world right now, there're thousands of traditional houses that are, er, some of them going back 700 years."

The Medina is culturally rich but its people are poor. Historic preservation⁶ often takes second place to more basic concerns. The people who live in them, usually 5 or 6 families renting a room or 2 each can't afford to make repairs. Historic homes that aren't falling down are also in danger of a different kind. This 18th-century palace is being sold off piece by piece to antiquities⁷ dealers⁸, a fountain was the first to go. In theory the government should protect Fes's historic buildings but in practice it's too big a job and so private citizens have stepped in, they are saving Fes's Medina house by house.

"It's distinct we need to protect and it's a part of our memory, it's a part of our history and it's a part of our daily life."

Private foundations are paying to restore monuments like the Medersa which will eventually become a museum of Islamic architecture. Fes has realized that its architectural history's too valuable to lose. There is still a lot of work to be done and not only on restoration. Renovating⁹ palaces and historic monuments won't cure poverty and poverty is the ultimate source of Fes's woes¹⁰. But preserving the city's architectural heritage ensures that at least these riches will endure.

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 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》

3 testament   

n.遗嘱；证明

参考例句：

• This is his last will and testament.这是他的遗愿和遗嘱。
• It is a testament to the power of political mythology.这说明，编造政治神话可以产生多大的威力。

4 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

5 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

6 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

7 antiquities   

n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯

参考例句：

• There is rest and healing in the contemplation of antiquities. 欣赏古物有休息和疗养之功。 来自辞典例句
• Bertha developed a fine enthusiasm for the antiquities of London. 伯沙对伦敦的古迹产生了很大的热情。 来自辞典例句

8 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

9 renovating   

翻新，修复，整修( renovate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The increased production was largely attained by renovating old orchards and vineyards. 通过更新老果园和葡萄园，使生产大大增加。
• Renovating that house will cost you a pretty penny. 为了整修那所房子，你得花很多钱。

10 woes   

困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉

参考例句：

• Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
• She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。