譯文
人們一直著迷於古代埃及人對死亡的專注,好像他們花費他們整個生命來準備它,並且在生命中沒有比死更重要的事了。 埃及人用足夠供品陪葬了他們死者為其來世
。他們相信死者會有到另一世界的旅程和在那裡度過相同的生活。富裕的人保存死者的身體, 使用一個過程叫作防腐。透過胃中的切割口移走了內部器官並且這個洞用香料和酒塞滿,
透過鼻孔移走了腦。把這個身體用碳酸鈉浸溼了 70 天(儘管我從其他來源閱讀是40 天) 然後取出和用氣味的木頭的木屑和好亞麻布填充。當身體被作成木乃伊時,
它是被亞麻布中用珠寶做釘飾的軟材料包裹起來。
動物在古代埃及中是很高度被考慮的。 甚至於他們死去時， 他們是像人類一樣被作成木乃伊 。與神相關的活動物在寺廟中被保護著，在那裡他們過著一個縱容和浪費的生活。鱷魚
, 朱鷺 , 公牛和貓都住在這些寺廟中。 在古代的 Bubastis , 它是貓 女神 Bastet的膜拜中心,巨大的地窖貓墓穴已經被發現了。
在埃及農場上每個動物都有一個功能,狗打獵, 貓在海灣守衛rodents和牛拉和犁為他們提供肉和牛奶。綿羊, 山羊 , 豬和家禽也是食品的其他來源。
驢是主要的馱獸和運輸工的具, 並且馬因他們的缺乏而變得顯著。這些上等階級的動物和駱駝一直到更晚時期才被馴服。
fascinate v.迷住
preoccupation n.專心的事物
embalm v.防腐
soak v.浸泡
stud v.用飾釘裝飾
pamper a.縱容的
lavish a.浪費的
vault n.地窖
absence n.缺乏
domesticated a.被馴養的
原文
People have always been fascinated by the Ancient Egyptians
preoccupation with death, It seemed they spent their entire
lives preparing for it, and no event in life was more important
than death. Egyptians buried their dead with enough provisions
for the afterlife. They believed the person made a journey to
the next world and lived the same sort of life there. Wealthy
people preserved the dead person's body, by a process known
as embalming. Internal organs were removed through an incision
in the stomach and the cavity filled with spice and wine, the
brain was removed through the nostrils. The body was soaked
with natron for 70 days (although I have read 40 days from other
sources) and then taken out and stuffed with fine linen and
sawdust of scented wood. When the body was mummified it was
wrapped in linen and soft materials studded with jewels.
Animals were very highly thought of in Ancient Egypt. So much
so that they were mummified like human beings when they died.
The live animals associated with the gods were maintained in
temples where they lived a pampered and lavish life. Crocodiles,
Ibis, bulls and cats were all housed in these temples. At ancient
Bubastis, which was a cult centre of the cat goddess Bastet,
huge vaults cat cemeteries have been discovered.
On the Egyptians farms every animal had a function, dogs hunted,
cats kept the rodents at bay and cattle pulled ploughs and provided
them with meat and milk. Sheep, goats, pigs and poultry were
also other sources of food. The donkey was the principal beast
of burden and means of transport, and horses were notable by
their absence. These were upper class animals and camels were
not domesticated until a later date.
