双语有声阅读:Perusing the Parthenon 走访帕得嫩神庙

Perusing¹ the Parthenon 走访帕得嫩神庙

An immense, columned temple built almost entirely² of marble, Athens's ancient Parthenon is the consummate³ example of classical Greek architecture. Its legendary⁴ balance was achieved through a number of devices employed to counteract⁵ certain peculiarities⁶ of human vision. Lines that appear straight in the Parthenon are found on measurement to be curved. Distances and widths that appear equal are in fact expertly varied⁷. Columns taper⁸ and tilt⁹ inward, lending a certain lightness to the massive stone structure.

Built on Athens's historic acropolis in the fifth century b.c., the Parthenon was partly a tribute to the goddess Athena, patron of Athens and protector of all Greek cities, to thank her for helping¹⁰ Athens and its allies defeat the Persians. However, it was also a monument to the power of Athens itself; the Parthenon combines the Doric architecture of the Greek mainland with the Ionic style of outlying areas to symbolize¹¹ a strong, panhellenic league with Athens at its political and cultural forefront.

The ideals of democracy and intellectual and artistic¹² freedom had reached a zenith in ancient Athens. Intertwined with these were rivalry¹³, power brokering¹⁴, and patronage¹⁵.

Construction of the Parthenon was championed by Pericles, Athens's most popular elected politician. Pericles's good friend and master sculptor¹⁶, Pheidias, built the gigantic statue of Athena that stands inside. For alleged¹⁷ embezzlement¹⁸ of resources, and perhaps as a shot at Pericles's power, Pheidias was later run out of town.

座落于雅典的古帕台农神庙，是座几乎全是大理石结构的雄伟精妙的圆柱型巨殿。它是古典希腊式建筑完美之典范。它运用了多种设计来抵消人类特殊的视觉偏差，从而达到令人惊叹的均衡。帕台农神庙上看似笔直的线条，经测定证实为曲线。距离和宽度看似相等的格局，实则千变万化，巧夺天工。圆柱逐渐变细，向内倾斜，给这巨石结构带来几分轻巧的感觉。

帕台农神庙于公元前五世纪建在雅典有历史意义的卫城之上，在一定程度上是供奉女神雅典娜的，是为了感谢这位雅典的守护神暨希腊诸城的捍卫者帮助雅典人及其同盟邦打败波斯人的入侵。同时，它也是雅典全盛时期的纪念碑；帕台农融合了希腊本土的多利安式建筑及周边区域的爱奥尼亚式建筑风格，象征一个由雅典政治文化主导的强大泛希腊联盟。

民主理想和艺术解放的理想在古雅典时代达到巅峰。然而也不乏有抗争、强权操纵与任命特权交织其中。帕台农神庙正是由古雅典公推最孚众望的政治家培里克利斯一手促成的。殿内巨型雅典娜雕像则是由他的好友──雕塑名家费迪亚斯铸建。或许是对培里克利斯政权的打击，费迪亚斯因为被指控挪用公款仓皇逃出城外
 

1 perusing   

v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的现在分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字）

参考例句：

• She found the information while she was perusing a copy of Life magazine. 她在读《生活》杂志的时候看到了这个消息。 来自辞典例句
• Hence people who began by beholding him ended by perusing him. 所以人们从随便看一看他开始的，都要以仔细捉摸他而终结。 来自辞典例句

2 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。

3 consummate   

adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle

参考例句：

• The restored jade burial suit fully reveals the consummate skill of the labouring people of ancient China.复原后的金缕玉衣充分显示出中国古代劳动人民的精湛工艺。
• The actor's acting is consummate and he is loved by the audience.这位演员技艺精湛，深受观众喜爱。

4 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

5 counteract   

vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消

参考例句：

• The doctor gave him some medicine to counteract the effect of the poison.医生给他些药解毒。
• Our work calls for mutual support.We shouldn't counteract each other's efforts.工作要互相支持，不要互相拆台。

6 peculiarities   

n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪

参考例句：

• the cultural peculiarities of the English 英国人的文化特点
• He used to mimic speech peculiarities of another. 他过去总是模仿别人讲话的特点。

7 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

8 taper   

n.小蜡烛，尖细，渐弱；adj.尖细的；v.逐渐变小

参考例句：

• You'd better taper off the amount of time given to rest.你最好逐渐地减少休息时间。
• Pulmonary arteries taper towards periphery.肺动脉向周围逐渐变细。

9 tilt   

v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜

参考例句：

• She wore her hat at a tilt over her left eye.她歪戴着帽子遮住左眼。
• The table is at a slight tilt.这张桌子没放平，有点儿歪.

10 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

11 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

12 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

13 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

14 brokering   

v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的现在分词 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排…

参考例句：

• Intertwined with these were rivalry, power brokering, and patronage. 然而也不乏有抗争、强权操纵与任命特权交织其中。 来自互联网
• Kingston Quest Can Assist Your Company In Negotiations, Brokering, Agency Services, Sourcing Factories Or Property. 金士顿追求，可帮助您的公司在谈判中，经纪，代理服务，货源工厂或财产。 来自互联网

15 patronage   

n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场

参考例句：

• Though it was not yet noon,there was considerable patronage.虽然时间未到中午，店中已有许多顾客惠顾。
• I am sorry to say that my patronage ends with this.很抱歉，我的赞助只能到此为止。

16 sculptor   

n.雕刻家，雕刻家

参考例句：

• A sculptor forms her material.雕塑家把材料塑造成雕塑品。
• The sculptor rounded the clay into a sphere.那位雕塑家把黏土做成了一个球状。

17 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

18 embezzlement   

n.盗用，贪污

参考例句：

• He was accused of graft and embezzlement and was chained and thrown into prison.他因被指控贪污盗窃而锒铛入狱。
• The judge sent him to prison for embezzlement of funds.法官因他盗用公款将其送入监牢。