How Art Made The World 说服的艺术 -14

These two groups were locked in a struggle for the control of ancient Rome. Neither side was prepared to compromise. It looked like the two tribes would be forever divided. That was until a new contender appeared on the scene. He was young and he had no great political or military experience, but he was wise to the political potential of images. He would unite Rome not by the force of an army but by the power of art. His name, Octavian, or as he would become known, Augustus. Augustus came from the Monarchist camp. Although half of Rome supported him, the Republicans remained deeply suspicious. To win them over, Augustus needed to persuade the Republicans he posed no threat to the power of the traditional families. He had a problem. This was his image, the typical trendy big-haired look that the Monarchists favored and the Republicans hated. To get their support, Augustus would need to reinvent himself. This is what his artists and sculptors¹ came up with. Something far more humble², hair flattened³, the face more gentle and mature, all a lot less threatening. This was the look that Augustus finally approved, frowning, serious, humble, a man of the people, a look that was calculated not to antagonize the Republicans. And having created this image, Augustus had it copied. Hundreds and hundreds of copies went out all around the empire. His strategy began to work. The empire prospered⁴, and with it his own power and fame. But Rome itself remained tense. The Republicans were still suspicious that he was accumulating power for his own personal ends. And they believed he had plans to sweep the traditional ruling families aside and grab all the power for himself. Augustus feared assassination⁵. To win over his enemies, he needed to come up with an image that would persuade the Republicans once and for all.

antagonize: vt. 敌对, 对抗
assassination: n. 暗杀

1 sculptors   

雕刻家，雕塑家( sculptor的名词复数 )； [天]玉夫座

参考例句：

• He is one of Britain's best-known sculptors. 他是英国最有名的雕塑家之一。
• Painters and sculptors are indexed separately. 画家和雕刻家被分开，分别做了索引。

2 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

3 flattened   

[医]（水）平扁的，弄平的

参考例句：

• She flattened her nose and lips against the window. 她把鼻子和嘴唇紧贴着窗户。
• I flattened myself against the wall to let them pass. 我身体紧靠着墙让他们通过。

4 prospered   

成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Mr. Black prospered from his wise investments. 布莱克先生由于巧妙的投资赚了不少钱。

5 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。