旅游观光口译实践：第一篇（英译汉）Passage 1（E---C）

第一篇（英译汉）Passage 1（E---C）

相关词语 Related Words and Expressions

Giza 吉萨

mastaba 古埃及墓室

step-pyramid 阶梯式金字塔

the Great Pyramid 大金字塔

lose…off the top 顶层剥落

cardinal point of the compass 罗盘的（东西南北四个）基本方向

horizontal cross section 横切面

spiral ramp 螺旋梯

long levers with a short angled foot 支点短的长杠杆

sphinx 狮身人面像

granary 谷仓

It is the one and the only wonder which does not require a description by early historians and poets. It is the one and only wonder that does not need speculations concerning its appearance, size and shape. It is the oldest, yet it is the only surviving of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

The tradition of pyramid building started in Ancient Egypt as a sophistication of the idea of a mastaba or “platform” covering the royal tomb. Later, several stacked mastabas were used. Early pyramids, such as the Step Pyramid of King Zoser (Djoser) at Saqqara by the famous Egyptian architect, Imhotep, illustrated this connection.

Pyramid building was at its height from the fourth through the sixth Dynasties. Scores of them have been discovered. However, the largest and most famous of all the pyramids should be the pyramids at Giza, which consist of three pyramids. The well-known one is the Great Pyramid at Giza built by King Khufu.

When it was built, the Great Pyramid stood over 146 meters. Over the years, it lost 10 meters off its top and today it is 136 meters in height. Before 19th century A.D. it ranked as the tallest structure on earth. The Pyramid’s base covers an area over 5.2 hectares and the sloping angle of its sides is 51 degrees and 52 minutes. Each side is carefully oriented with one of the cardinal points of the compass, that is, north, south, east and west. The horizontal cross section of the Pyramid is square at any level.

The structure of the Great Pyramid consists of 2.3 million blocks of stone. The average weight is over two tons a piece, with the heaviest weighing 15 tons each. How the ancient Egyptians moved these huge stones is still not sure. Several theories have been proposed. One theory involves the construction of a straight or spiral ramp that was raised as the construction proceeded. This ramp coated with mud and water, eased the displacement of the stone blocks pushed into place. A second theory suggests that the blocks were placed by using long levers with a short angled foot. No matter what has been said, it proves to be hard in ancient time. The Greek historian Herodotus reported in the fifth century B.C. that his Egyptian guides told him that 100,000 men mere employed for three mouths a year for twenty years to build the Great Pyramid.

Together with the Great Pyramid are two other pyramids at Giza. One is the Pyramid of Khafra, Khufu’s son. This one is 3 meters lower, but more complete and wonderful. The twenty meter high Sphinx stands aside, attracting the eyes of tourists. It is said that except the claws, the Sphinx is made out of only one piece of natural rock. The other pyramid is for Khafra’s son, Menkaure. It has been suggested that there are enough blocks in the three pyramids to build a 3- meter high, 0.3-meter thick wall around France. The area covered by the Great Pyramids can accommodate St Peter’s in Rome, the Cathedrals of Florence and Milan, and Westminster and St Paul’s in London combined.

Throughout their history, the Pyramids of Giza have stimulated human imagination. They were referred to as “The Granaries of Joseph” and “The Mountains of Pharaoh”. When Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798, his pride was expressed through his famous quote: “Soldiers! From the top of these Pyramids, 40 centuries are looking at us.”

Today, the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx have fascinated people from all over the world－tourists, mathematicians and archeologists come to visit and explore them.