关于维京人你所不知道的10件事

 　　Think you've got the Vikings pegged¹? With all the caricatures and stereotypes² out there, there's probably a lot you've never heard about the seafaring Scandinavians who raided and settled coastal³ sites in the British Isles⁴ and beyond between the ninth and 11th centuries. Explore 10 surprising facts about the Vikings below.

　　你是否意识到“维京人”在你的思维中已经被贴上了标签？在漫画和定式思维的影响下，关于这些在九世纪到十一世纪之间，侵略了大不列颠岛以及更远的一些邻海地域，并在当地定居的维京人，也许还有许多事实是你不知道的。下面，就让我们一起探索关于维京人的10个惊人事实吧！

　　关于维京人你所不知道的10件事.jpg

　　1. Vikings didn't wear horned helmets.

　　1. 维京人并没有戴角盔的习惯

　　Forget almost every Viking warrior⁵ costume you've ever seen. Sure, the pugnacious⁶ Norsemen probably sported headgear, but that whole horn-festooned helmet look? Depictions dating from the Viking age don't show it, and the only authentic⁷ Viking helmet ever discovered is decidedly horn-free. Painters seem to have fabricated the trend during the 19th century, perhaps inspired by descriptions of northern Europeans by ancient Greek and Roman chroniclers. Long before the Vikings' time, Norse and Germanic priests did indeed wear horned helmets for ceremonial purposes.

　　忘掉你看到的每一套维京战士服装吧！当然，好战的北欧人也许有戴帽子的习惯，但一定是绑有角的吗？维京人时期的壁画并没有描绘这样的角盔，而唯一所挖掘出来的真实头盔是没有角的。在古希腊人和罗马编年史对古代北欧人所做的描述的影响之下，画家们也许是对十九世纪的”潮流”进行了自由发挥。而远早于维京人时期的挪威和日耳曼牧师们，的确会在仪式上戴角盔。

　　2. Vikings were known for their excellent hygiene⁸.

　　2. 维京人对卫生的注重远近驰名

　　Between rowing boats and decapitating enemies, Viking men must have stunk⁹ to high Valhalla, right? Quite the opposite. Excavations¹⁰ of Viking sites have turned up tweezers¹¹, razors, combs and ear cleaners made from animal bones and antlers. Vikings also bathed at least once a week—much more frequently than other Europeans of their day—and enjoyed dips in natural hot springs.

　　除了驾船和斩首敌人，维京男人们就只能在瓦尔哈拉宫（尘世阵亡的英雄的住所）里发出恶臭？恰恰相反，在对维京人居住地的挖掘过程中，考古学家们发现了由动物骨头和鹿角制作的镊子、刮胡刀、梳子，以及耳勺。维京人每周至少沐浴一次－－远比同一时期的其他欧洲人频繁得多－－并且懂得享受纯原生态的温泉。

　　3. Vikings used a unique liquid to start fires.

　　3. 维京人用一种特殊的液体生火

　　Clean freaks though they were, the Vikings had no qualms¹² about harnessing the power of one human waste product. They would collect a fungus¹³ called touchwood from tree bark and boil it for several days in urine before pounding it into something akin¹⁴ to felt. The sodium¹⁵ nitrate found in urine would allow the material to smolder¹⁶ rather than burn, so Vikings could take fire with them on the go.

　　维京人虽然是”洁癖怪人”，但他们却能够很好的利用人类所产生的废物。维京人会从树皮上收集一种叫做火绒的真菌，并在尿液中将火绒沸煮几天，再将其捶打至与原来相似的物质。尿液中的硝酸盐会使物质慢慢燃烧而不是迅速的烧尽，所以维京人可以持续的使用这种物质生火。

　　4. Vikings buried their dead in boats.

　　4. 维京人将尸体葬于船中

　　There's no denying Vikings loved their boats—so much that it was a great honor to be interred¹⁷ in one. In the Norse religion, valiant¹⁸ warriors¹⁹ entered festive²⁰ and glorious realms after death, and it was thought that the vessels²¹ that served them well in life would help them reach their final destinations. Distinguished²² raiders and prominent women were often laid to rest in ships, surrounded by weapons, valuable goods and sometimes even sacrificed slaves.

　　无法否认，维京人极爱他们的船－－以至于他们认为被葬在船里是一个极大的荣耀。在北欧地区，勇敢的战士们有资格进入荣耀之地，而他们生前所使用的战船会送他们到最终的回归之地。优秀的战士和杰出的女性常常在武器、珍贵的货物，甚至是陪葬奴隶的围绕下，安息于船中。

　　5. Vikings were active in the slave trade.

　　5. 维京人在奴隶交易中非常活跃

　　Many Vikings got rich off human trafficking. They would capture and enslave women and young men while pillaging²³ Anglo-Saxon, Celtic and Slavic settlements. These “thralls²⁴,” as they were known, were then sold in giant slave markets across Europe and the Middle East.

　　许多维京人通过贩卖人口致富。当他们入侵了盎格鲁－撒克逊人（生活在大不列颠东部、南部）、凯尔特人或者斯拉夫人的居住地之后，会抓住当地的女人和年轻男人作为奴隶。这些所谓的”奴隶”会被贩卖于跨越欧洲和中东的巨大奴隶交易市场之中。

　　6. Viking women enjoyed some basic rights.

　　6. 维京女人们享有一些基本权利

　　Viking girls got hitched²⁵ as young as 12 and had to mind the household while their husbands sailed off on adventures. Still, they had more freedom than other women of their era. As long as they weren't thralls, Viking women could inherit property, request a divorce and reclaim²⁶ their dowries if their marriages ended.

　　维京女孩在12岁时就会”绑”住：嫁做人妇、在丈夫外出航行时看家。但她们相比同时代的女性有更多的自由。只要她们不是奴隶，维京女人就能够继承财富、主动提出离婚，并在婚约解除之时要求拿回她们的嫁妆。

　　7. Viking men spent most of their time farming.

　　7. 维京人生活中的大多数时间都在务农

　　This may come as a disappointment, but most Viking men brandished²⁷ scythes²⁸, not swords. True, some were callous²⁹ pirates who only stepped off their boats to burn villages, but the vast majority peacefully sowed barley³⁰, rye and oats—at least for part of the year. They also raised cattle, goats, pigs and sheep on their small farms, which typically yielded just enough food to support a family.

　　这也许是挺让人失望的一件事，维京男人们最经常使用的不是剑，而是镰刀。没错，有些维京人的确是冷酷无情的海盗，只会烧杀抢夺，但大多数人还是在种植大麦、黑麦和燕麦——至少一年中总会有一段时间都在这样做。他们也在自己的小农场中饲养牛、山羊、猪和绵羊，而这些常常只够他们恰好养活一家人。

　　8. Vikings skied for fun.

　　8. 维京人以滑雪为乐

　　Scandinavians developed primitive³¹ skis at least 6,000 years ago, though ancient Russians may have invented them even earlier. By the Viking Age, Norsemen regarded skiing as an efficient way to get around and a popular form of recreation. They even worshipped a god of skiing, Ullr.

　　虽然古俄罗斯人比斯堪的纳维亚人更早发明滑雪橇，但早在6000年前，斯堪的纳维亚人（主要是指生活于古代北欧地区的人）已经发展出了极其精美的滑雪橇。直到维京时期，北欧人们都把滑雪视为一种有效的交通方式，同时也是一种受欢迎的娱乐方式。他们甚至崇拜滑雪之神－－乌勒尓。

　　9. Viking gentlemen preferred being blond.

　　9. 维京绅士们更偏好把头发弄成浅色

　　To conform to their culture's beauty ideals, brunette Vikings—usually men—would use a strong soap with a high lye content to bleach³² their hair. In some regions, beards were lightened as well. It's likely these treatments also helped Vikings with a problem far more prickly and rampant³³ than mousy manes: head lice.

　　为符合他们的审美观，深棕色的维京人－－通常是男性－－会使用一种含有强碱性物质的肥皂漂白他们的头发。在某些地区，胡子也会被漂白。这种处理方式似乎能够解决维京人原本头发还是灰褐色时，无法控制且令他们无时无刻感到刺痛的难题：头虱。

　　10. Vikings were never part of a unified³⁴ group.

　　10. 维京人并非是一个集体

　　Vikings didn't recognize fellow Vikings. In fact, they probably didn't even call themselves Vikings: The term simply referred to all Scandinavians who took part in overseas expeditions. During the Viking Age, the land that now makes up Denmark, Norway and Sweden was a patchwork³⁵ of chieftain-led tribes that often fought against each other—when they weren't busy wreaking³⁶ havoc³⁷ on foreign shores, that is.

　　维京人并不承认他们的同胞。事实上，也许他们根本不称呼他们自己为维京人－－特指所有参与海外征途的斯堪的纳维亚人。在维京人时期，现在丹麦、挪威和瑞典组成的地域是由各个酋长领导的部落组成，当他们不再忙于在外国海岸烧杀抢夺时，他们就会相互入侵。

1 pegged   

v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的过去式和过去分词 )；使固定在某水平

参考例句：

• They pegged their tent down. 他们钉好了账篷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She pegged down the stairs. 她急忙下楼。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

4 isles   

岛( isle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the geology of the British Isles 不列颠群岛的地质
• The boat left for the isles. 小船驶向那些小岛。

5 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

6 pugnacious   

adj.好斗的

参考例句：

• He is a pugnacious fighter.他是个好斗的战士。
• When he was a child,he was pugnacious and fought with everyone.他小时候很好斗，跟每个人都打过架。

7 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

8 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。

9 stunk   

v.散发出恶臭( stink的过去分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透

参考例句：

• Those rotten eggs have stunk the place. 那些臭蛋把这个地方弄得恶臭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• A stunk made a bad smell in our yard last night. 昨天臭鼬在我们院子里弄得好臭。 来自互联网

10 excavations   

n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 )；开凿；开凿的洞穴（或山路等）；（发掘出来的）古迹

参考例句：

• The excavations are open to the public. 发掘现场对公众开放。
• This year's excavations may reveal ancient artifacts. 今年的挖掘可能会发现史前古器物。 来自辞典例句

11 tweezers   

n.镊子

参考例句：

• We simply removed from the cracked endocarp with sterile tweezers.我们简单地用消过毒的镊子从裂开的内果皮中取出种子。
• Bee stings should be removed with tweezers.蜜蜂的螫刺应该用小镊子拔出来。

12 qualms   

n.不安；内疚

参考例句：

• He felt no qualms about borrowing money from friends.他没有对于从朋友那里借钱感到不安。
• He has no qualms about lying.他撒谎毫不内疚。

13 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。

14 akin   

adj.同族的，类似的

参考例句：

• She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
• Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。

15 sodium   

n.（化）钠

参考例句：

• Out over the town the sodium lights were lit.在外面，全城的钠光灯都亮了。
• Common salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine.食盐是钠和氯的复合物。

16 smolder   

v.无火焰地闷烧；n.焖烧，文火

参考例句：

• The smolder will soon be a flame.闷火很快变为烈焰。
• It can smolder undetected for hours,then suddenly explode in fiery destruction.也有可能好几小时内不被发觉，突然激烈的爆炸。

17 interred   

v.埋，葬( inter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Marie Curie's remains were exhumed and interred in the Pantheon. 玛丽·居里的遗体被移出葬在先贤祠中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The body was interred at the cemetery. 遗体埋葬在公墓里。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 valiant   

adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人

参考例句：

• He had the fame of being very valiant.他的勇敢是出名的。
• Despite valiant efforts by the finance minister,inflation rose to 36%.尽管财政部部长采取了一系列果决措施，通货膨胀率还是涨到了36%。

19 warriors   

武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
• The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

20 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

21 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

22 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

23 pillaging   

v.抢劫，掠夺( pillage的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The rebels went looting and pillaging. 叛乱者趁火打劫，掠夺财物。
• Soldiers went on a rampage, pillaging stores and shooting. 士兵们横冲直撞，洗劫商店并且开枪射击。 来自辞典例句

24 thralls   

n.奴隶( thrall的名词复数 )；奴役；奴隶制；奴隶般受支配的人

参考例句：

• He was accused of stirring up the thralls against their masters. 有人指责他鼓动奴隶反抗主人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He forced his thralls into hard labour. 他逼迫他的奴隶们干苦役。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 hitched   

（免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上

参考例句：

• They hitched a ride in a truck. 他们搭乘了一辆路过的货车。
• We hitched a ride in a truck yesterday. 我们昨天顺便搭乘了一辆卡车。

26 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

27 brandished   

v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀

参考例句：

• "Bang!Bang!"the small boy brandished a phoney pistol and shouted. “砰！砰！”那小男孩挥舞着一支假手枪，口中嚷嚷着。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Swords brandished and banners waved. 刀剑挥舞，旌旗飘扬。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

28 scythes   

n.（长柄）大镰刀( scythe的名词复数 )v.（长柄）大镰刀( scythe的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Scythes swished to and fro. 长柄大镰刀嗖嗖地来回挥动。 来自辞典例句
• I'll tell you what: go to the forge now and get some more scythes. 我告诉你怎么做：你现在就去铁匠店多买几把镰刀回来。 来自互联网

29 callous   

adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的

参考例句：

• He is callous about the safety of his workers.他对他工人的安全毫不关心。
• She was selfish,arrogant and often callous.她自私傲慢，而且往往冷酷无情。

30 barley   

n.大麦，大麦粒

参考例句：

• They looked out across the fields of waving barley.他们朝田里望去,只见大麦随风摇摆。
• He cropped several acres with barley.他种了几英亩大麦。

31 primitive   

adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物

参考例句：

• It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
• His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。

32 bleach   

vt.使漂白；vi.变白；n.漂白剂

参考例句：

• These products don't bleach the hair.这些产品不会使头发变白。
• Did you bleach this tablecloth?你把这块桌布漂白了吗？

33 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

34 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

35 patchwork   

n.混杂物；拼缝物

参考例句：

• That proposal is nothing else other than a patchwork.那个建议只是一个大杂烩而已。
• She patched new cloth to the old coat,so It'seemed mere patchwork. 她把新布初到那件旧上衣上，所以那件衣服看上去就象拼凑起来的东西。

36 wreaking   

诉诸（武力），施行（暴力），发（脾气）( wreak的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Coal mining is a messy business, often wreaking terrible environmental damage nearby. 采矿是肮脏的行业，往往会严重破坏周边环境。
• The floods are wreaking havoc in low-lying areas. 洪水正在地势低洼地区肆虐。

37 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。