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03_An_Unknown_Goddess

03 An Unknown Goddess

Some time ago, an interesting discovery was made by archaeologists on the Aegean island of Kea. An American team explored a temple (which stands in an ancient city on the promontory of Ayia Irini). The city at one time must have been prosperous, for it enjoyed a high level of civilization. Houses -- often three stories high -- were built of stone. They had large rooms with beautifully decorated walls. The city was even equipped with a drainage system, for a great many clay pipes were found beneath the narrow streets.

The temple (which the archaeologists explored) was used as a place of worship from the fifteenth century B.C. until Roman times. In the most sacred room of the temple, clay fragments of fifteen statues were found. Each of these represented a goddess and had, at one time, been painted. The body of one statue was found among remains dating from the 15th century B.C. Its missing head happened to be among remains of the fifth century B.C. This head must have been found in Classical times and carefully preserved. It was very old and precious even then. When the archaeologists reconstructed the fragments, they were amazed to find that the goddess turned out to be a very modern-looking woman. She stood three feet high and her hands rested on her hips. She was wearing a full-length skirt (which swept(sweep) the ground). Despite her great age, she was very graceful indeed, but, so far, the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity.

不久之前，考古学家在爱琴海的基亚岛上发现了一件有意思的东西。一个美国考古队探索了一座庙宇，这座庙宇位于阿伊亚·依里尼海角的一座古城里。这座古城肯定一度很繁荣，因为它曾享有高度的文明。房子一般有3层楼高，用石块修建。里面房间很大，墙壁装饰华丽。城里甚至还敷设了排水系统，因为在狭窄的街道底下发现了许许多多陶土制作的排水管道。

考古学家考察的这座庙宇从公元前15世纪直到罗马时代一直是祭祀祈祷的场所。在庙中最神圣的一间殿堂里发现了15尊陶制小雕像的碎片。每一尊雕像代表一位女神，而且一度上过色。其中有一尊雕像，她的躯体是在公元前15世纪的历史文物中发现的，而她那身首异处的脑袋却碰巧是在公元前5世纪的文物中找到的。她的脑袋一定是在古希腊罗马时代就为人所发现，并受到精心的保护。即使在当时，它也属历史悠久的珍奇之物。考古学家把这些碎片重新拼装起来后，惊奇地发现那位女神原来是一位相貌十分摩登的女郎。她身高3英尺，双手叉腰。身穿一条拖地的长裙。尽管上了年纪，但体态确实优美。不过，考古学家至今未能确定这位女神的身份。

Words

  • archaeologists /ˌɑrkiˈɑlədʒɪsts/ n. 考古学家
    1. These two archaeologists are always talking about the Greek goddess.
    2. Armed with the torch, these archaeologists went into the cave.
    3. These archaeologists are equal to their tasks.
  • on /ɑn/ the /ðə/ promontory /ˈprɑmənˌtɔri/ n. 海角
    1. The police felt obliged to investigate the strange noise from the promontory.
  • prosperous /ˈprɑspərəs/ adj. 繁荣的
    1. [Story:] The city at one time must have been prosperous. NCE2 L17 &
    2. The city at one time can’t have been prosperous.
    3. The city at one time may/might have been prosperous.
    4. It used to be a very prosperous town.
  • civilization /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeʃən/ n. 文明
    1. [Story:] It enjoyed a high level a civilization.
    2. Chinese civilization is one of the oldest in the world.
    3. The archaeologists are interested in ancient civilizations.
  • stories /ˈstɔriz/ 楼层
  • decorated /ˈdɛkɚˌetɪd/ 装饰的
  • drainage /ˈdrenədʒ/ system /ˈsɪstəm/ n. 排水系统
    1. You are always talking about the drainage system.
  • clay /kle/ 泥土
  • beneath /bɪˈniθ/ 在…之下
  • narrow /ˈnɛro/ 狭窄的
  • worship /ˈwɝʃəp/ n. v. 崇拜
    1. This room was used as a place of worship many years ago.
    2. On the island the people worshipped different gods or goddesses.
  • sacred /ˈsekrəd/ adj. 神圣的
    1. In India the cow is a sacred animal.
    2. For one reason or another, the sacred temple was built many years ago.
  • fragments /ˈfræɡmənts/ n. 碎片
    1. Leo did find fragments of a Roman vase in his courtyard.
  • Classical /ˈklæsɪkəl/ times /taɪmz/ adj. 古典时期
    1. I prefer to listen to classical music rather than pop music.
  • hips /hɪps/ 臀部
  • indeed /ˌɪnˈdid/ 确实

Expressions

  • a is/was used as a place of 被用作……的场所
  • worship… 崇拜；做礼拜
  • on a/the promontory 在海角上
  • drainage system 排水系统
  • sacred room/temple/place 神圣的房间/寺庙/场所
  • have a rest 休息一下
  • identity card 身份证
  • sb. make a (adj.) discovery of sth. 发现
  • a be equipped with b a配备b
  • equip sb. with sth. 给某人配备某物
  • be used as 被用作
  • date from... 追溯到
  • date back to... 追溯到
  • happen to do 碰巧
  • be amazed to find that + 句子 惊讶地发现……
    1. They were amazed to find that the vicar got enough money to repair the bell.
    2. They were amazed to find that the vicar was armed with a gun.
    3. turn out to be…
    4. : 结果是; 原来是; 证明是 used to say that something or someone eventually becomes something or is found to have a particular identity, quality, ability, etc.
    5. — Webster The play turned out to be a success.
    6. The animal in the bushes turned out to be a puma.
    7. He was so charming on our first date, but he turned out to be a real jerk.
    8. despite/ despite the fact that...
  • turn out to be… 结果是，证明是
    1. ... villagers were used as guinea pigs in chemical experimentation.
    2. It is known that even soldiers were used as guinea pigs...
    3. date from... & date back to...
    4. This vase dates from the Roman times.
    5. Some of these date back to the sixteen century.
  • despite/ despite the fact that... 尽管……