时差N小时 神秘的阿波罗神庙

If you're planning a trip to Greece in the future, you'll want toschedule a visit to the temple of Apollo at Delphi.

如果有一天，你打算去希腊旅游，你可能会将特尔斐的阿波罗神庙列入行程单。

This famoustemple was the home to the Pythia, a specially¹ chosen andtrained woman who, according to legend, channeled the voiceand wisdom of Apollo, the god of prophecy.

阿波罗神庙的女祭司皮提亚，传说，皮提亚是掌管预言的阿波罗神钦点传达预言和智慧的女祭司。

Generals,politicians, and private citizens of the ancient world flocked to Delphi to question the Pythia andseek her divinely inspired advice.

古时候，将军、政治家、普通百姓蜂拥而至，只为求得宣示的神谕。

Ancient scientists and philosophers attributed the oracle's power to vapors² that bubbled upthrough a chasm³ and spring running through the oracle's chamber⁴ inside the temple.

古代的科学家和哲学家称，神谕的力量来自从深坑冒出的袅袅蒸气以及神庙内殿神龛喷出的泉水。

Inhalingthese vapors, according to the ancients, induced a trance-like state that endowed the oracleswith divine prophetic power.

祖先们认为，吸入气体，飘飘欲仙，并赋予了神圣的预言神力。

Around 1900, excavations⁵ at Delphi revealed no chasm orescaping gases, and so the ancient accounts were discredited⁶.

直到公元1900年，科学家挖掘遗址，并未发现所谓的深坑，也没有飘散的气体。证实前人的记载并非属实。

Until recently, that is Geological surveys of the area have detected two faults, or cracks in theearth's crust, intersecting directly under the oracle's chamber.

直至最近，在对当地进行考察中，发现了地壳有两道断层或裂缝，正好交错于神庙内殿神龛下面。

Samples from Delphic spring waterand rock from the intersecting faults revealed traces of several chemicals including ethylene.

特尔斐泉水的样本以及断层裂缝岩石的样本中提炼出几种化学物质，其中包括乙烯。

Tests have shown that when administered in proper dosage, ethylene can result in a trance state.

实验显示，适当剂量的乙烯使人精神恍惚，

Those affected⁷ are conscious, able to sit upright, can answer questions, and afterwardsexperience amnesia⁸.

但是神志清醒，可以笔直地坐着，可以回答问题，但是可能很健忘。

Some subjects react violently, screaming and throwing themselves about.

有些个体变得很暴力，大吵大闹，疯疯癫癫。

Such reactions to ethylene are consistent with ancient reports.

这些对乙烯的反应和前人的记载吻合。

Unlike their Greek predecessors,modern scientists leave Apollo out of the picture.

与希腊的祖先不同，现代科学家慢慢解开了阿波罗神庙的面纱。

But once again, science gives at least partialcredence to something that was once considered only a myth.

至少，曾经我们对曾认为是神话的事情有所了解了。

1 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

2 vapors   

n.水汽，水蒸气，无实质之物( vapor的名词复数 )；自夸者；幻想 [药]吸入剂 [古]忧郁（症）v.自夸，（使）蒸发( vapor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• His emotions became vague and shifted about like vapors. 他的心情则如同一团雾气，变幻无常，捉摸不定。 来自辞典例句
• They have hysterics, they weep, they have the vapors. 他们歇斯底里，他们哭泣，他们精神忧郁。 来自辞典例句

3 chasm   

n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突

参考例句：

• There's a chasm between rich and poor in that society.那社会中存在着贫富差距。
• A huge chasm gaped before them.他们面前有个巨大的裂痕。

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 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

6 discredited   

不足信的，不名誉的

参考例句：

• The reactionary authorities are between two fires and have been discredited. 反动当局弄得进退维谷，不得人心。
• Her honour was discredited in the newspapers. 她的名声被报纸败坏了。

7 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

8 amnesia   

n.健忘症，健忘

参考例句：

• People suffering from amnesia don't forget their general knowledge of objects.患健忘症的人不会忘记关于物体的一些基本知识。
• Chinese medicine experts developed a way to treat amnesia using marine materials.中国医学专家研制出用海洋物质治疗遗忘症的方法。