纪录片《文明》 第27期 创世纪的第二个瞬间（27）

This is Petra where the sheer improbability of its location

这就是佩特拉 空前绝后的地理位置

was also the secret of its spectacular flourishing.

也是它繁荣壮大的秘诀

The reason why this tomb

这座古墓能从

endured and survived armies and earthquakes

战火和地震中幸存是因为

is that the Nabateans who built it

它是由纳巴泰人

cut it into the sandstone surface of the mountain,

在山岳的砂岩表面上雕凿而成

rather than build some freestanding marble monument.

而不是什么平地而起的大理石碑

The mountains shook with earthquakes,

山岳随着地震一起震动

but these buildings stood intact.

这些建筑因而毫发无伤

The Nabateans had what you might call

纳巴泰人有着一种对

an instinct for cultural ecology.

所谓文化生态的本能

They worked with the rock of their desert home.

他们以沙漠之家的岩石为基

The columns are graceful¹.

立柱华美

The capitals are heavily decorated.

柱顶精心装饰

It's all part of an international Hellenistic style,

它充斥着外邦希腊风

and, yet, it seems to me this place is very local,

但我却觉得它非常本土化

untransferable.

独一无二

This is Petra and only Petra,

这些雄伟的宫殿建筑

these great palatial² buildings seem to say.

仿佛在说这里就是绝无仅有的佩特拉

1 graceful   

adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的

参考例句：

• His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
• The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。

2 palatial   

adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的

参考例句：

• Palatial office buildings are being constructed in the city.那个城市正在兴建一些宫殿式办公大楼。
• He bought a palatial house.他买了套富丽堂皇的大房子。