美国学生人类历史第40期:爱琴海(3)

 　　A very careful study of these many relics¹ has done away with some of the romantic features of the story. The makers² of these early works of art and the builders of these strong fortresses³ were no sorcerers, but simple sailors and traders. They had lived in Crete, and on the many small islands of the Aegean Sea. They had been hardy⁴ mariners⁵ and they had turned the Aegean into a center of commerce for the exchange of goods between the highly civilised east and the slowly developing wilderness⁶ of the European mainland.

　　经考古学家一番详细的研究，揭开了笼罩在这些为数众多的遗迹上的神秘面纱。这些早期工艺品的制作者及巨大城堡的建筑师们并非什么魔法师，而是淳朴的水手与商人，他们曾定居在克里特岛和爱琴海的诸多小岛上。他们辛勤坚韧地工作，把爱琴海变成了一个贸易繁忙的商业中心，在高度文明的东方与蛮荒落后的欧洲之间源源不断地交 易着商品和物资。

　　For more than a thousand years they had maintained an island empire which had developed a very high form of art. Indeed their most important city, Cnossus, on the northern coast of Crete, had been entirely⁷ modern in its insistence⁸ upon hygiene⁹ and comfort. The palace had been properly drained and the houses had been provided with stoves and the Cnossians had been the first people to make a daily use of the hitherto unknown bathtub. The palace of their King had been famous for its winding¹⁰ staircases and its large banqueting hall.

　　这个繁荣的海岛帝国维持了 1000多年，发展出高超的工艺。其中最重要的城市克诺索斯位于克里特岛北部海岸。它在卫生条件和舒适程度方面，达到了相当现代化的水准。宫殿的排水设施精良，住宅配有取暖的火炉。另外，克诺索斯人还是历史上第一个把浴缸引入日常生活的民族。克里特国王的宫殿以其蜿蜒盘旋的楼梯和宽敞高大的宴会厅而蜚声于世。

1 relics   

[pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸

参考例句：

• The area is a treasure house of archaeological relics. 这个地区是古文物遗迹的宝库。
• Xi'an is an ancient city full of treasures and saintly relics. 西安是一个有很多宝藏和神圣的遗物的古老城市。

2 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 fortresses   

堡垒，要塞( fortress的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They will establish impregnable fortresses. 他们将建造坚不可摧的城堡。
• Indra smashed through Vritra ninety-nine fortresses, and then came upon the dragon. 因陀罗摧毁了维他的九十九座城堡，然后与维他交手。 来自神话部分

4 hardy   

adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的

参考例句：

• The kind of plant is a hardy annual.这种植物是耐寒的一年生植物。
• He is a hardy person.他是一个能吃苦耐劳的人。

5 mariners   

海员，水手（mariner的复数形式）

参考例句：

• Mariners were also able to fix their latitude by using an instrument called astrolabe. 海员们还可使用星盘这种仪器确定纬度。
• The ancient mariners traversed the sea. 古代的海员漂洋过海。

6 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

7 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

8 insistence   

n.坚持；强调；坚决主张

参考例句：

• They were united in their insistence that she should go to college.他们一致坚持她应上大学。
• His insistence upon strict obedience is correct.他坚持绝对服从是对的。

9 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

10 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。