黃銅公牛（人類歷史上最殘酷的刑罰）：英語精讀講義

Welcome back to our macabre series of shows 用詞

歡迎回到我們令人毛骨悚然的系列節目

featuring some of the worst things people

本期為您呈現人類以懲罰為名

have done to each other in the name of punishment. 片語搭配

對同類做過的一些最糟糕的事情。

While in other shows,

在之前的節目中，

we've talked about instruments of torture and killing

我們談到了可以說

that could be said to be basic.

比較基礎的酷刑和殺戮器具。

Claws that rip flesh,

比如撕裂血肉的鐵爪，

cudgels that smash bones.

砸碎骨頭的棍棒。

This particular instrument of horrifyingly inhumane torture

但這件極其不人道的恐怖刑具

could be said to have been cooked up by creative folks. 講解

可以說是由一群極具創造力的人搞出來的。

As with just about anything we've talked about in this series, 表達脈絡

就像我們在本系列中提到的幾乎所有東西一樣，

it would be unimaginable to suffer this treatment. 文法

遭受這種待遇是難以想像的。

But hey,

但是，嘿，

we aren't going to say it's any worse

我們並不是說它比

than having your intestines chewed on by starving rats.

讓飢餓的老鼠啃食你的腸子更糟糕。

Like that punishment though,

不過就像那項懲罰一樣，

this one was slow,

這種處決的過程十分緩慢，

making hanging or head chopping

相比之下，上吊或砍頭

seem very merciful in comparison.

都顯得非常仁慈了。

This form of execution was created by the ancient Greeks.

這種處決方式是由古希臘人發明的。

It had a few names

它有幾個名字，

and it might also be called the bronze bull

它可能被稱為青銅牛

or the Sicilian bull.

或者西西里牛。

But how do we know anything about it at all? 表達脈絡

但是我們究竟是怎麼知道它的呢？

One of the answers is because

答案之一是因為

it was written about in something called

它被記載在一本叫做

the Bibliotheca Historica,

Bibliotheca Historica 的書裡，

which translates as historical library. 片語搭配

翻譯過來就是《歷史圖書館》。

It consists of many books written 片語搭配

它由許多卷書組成，是一位

by an ancient Greek historian named Diodorus Siculus.

名叫狄奧多羅斯·西庫魯斯的古希臘歷史學家寫的。

In these books,

在這些書中，

you'll find his version of the history of the world.

你會看到他所描述的世界歷史。

From what went down in ancient Egypt 片語動詞

從古埃及發生的事情

to the leader Alexander the Great.

到偉大領袖亞歷山大大帝。

Quite a lot of it is still intact, 用詞

其中的很大一部分仍然保存完好，

but some parts in the series

但這套書中也有一些部分

are missing or in fragments.

已經遺失或只剩下殘篇。

In one of these books,

在其中一本書裡，

Mr. Siculus wrote about the brazen bull

西庫魯斯先生寫到了青銅牛，

and this is what he said.

以下是他的原話。

The guy who invented it

發明這個裝置的人

was an inventor by trade 片語搭配

本身就是個發明家，

and he was named Perillos of Athens.

他叫雅典的佩里洛斯。

It's said before he built this thing

據說在西元前570年到西元前554年之間

somewhere between 570 and 554 BC,

製造這個東西之前，

he actually pitched the idea. 片語搭配

他實際上是在推銷這個想法。

He was what you might call a creative technologist 語氣意圖

你或許可以稱他為古代的

of the past looking for some funding. 片語搭配

創意技術專家，正在尋找一些資金。

He got that funding from a man named Phalaris,

他從一個名叫法拉里斯的人那裡獲得了資金，

the tyrant of Acragas.

那人是阿克拉加斯的暴君。

Given his frightening title, 文法

考慮到他那可怕的頭銜，

you wouldn't be surprised to hear 片語搭配

當你聽說

that this man was said to be very cruel.

這個人非常殘忍時，你應該不會感到驚訝。

In some accounts of his life,

在關於他生平的一些記載中，

it's written that he enjoyed torture

寫著他喜歡折磨人，

and even went so low as to eat children. 慣用語

甚至卑劣到吃小孩的地步。

We should say that Encyclopedia

我們必須說明，《大英

Britannica cites research that says

百科全書》引用的研究表明，

he wasn't as cruel as some people have written.

他並不像有些人寫的那麼殘忍。

Whatever the case, 表達脈絡

無論如何，

it seems he commissioned the building of the brazen bull. 片語搭配

似乎是他下令建造了這頭青銅牛。

So,

那麼，

how did one perish in a brazen bull?

一個人是如何在青銅牛裡死去的呢？

Well,

嗯，

it was certainly a thing conjured up 片語動詞

這確實是一個融合了創造力

by a creative yet sadistic imagination.

與施虐狂想像力的產物。

It was said to be the same size of a bull

據說它和一頭真牛一樣大，

but shaped from bronze

但由青銅鑄造而成，

with an opening where a man could enter the thing.

上面有個開口，人可以從那裡鑽進去。

A fire was then lit under the bull

然後在牛的下方生火，

and the man would slowly roast to death. 片語搭配

那個人就會被慢慢烤死。

But get this, 語氣意圖

但聽好，

it was made so that when the man was howling in agony, 講解

它的設計巧妙之處在於，當人在裡面痛苦嚎叫時，

his shrieks would emanate through specially distorted pipes

他的尖叫聲會透過內置在牛體內的

built into the bull,

特殊扭曲管道傳出來，

so the impression an onlooker would get 文法

這樣旁觀者聽到和感覺到的，

was an animal bellowing in pain.

就像是一頭動物在痛苦中咆哮。

This might have been the fun part

對於像阿克拉加斯暴君這樣的人來說，

for someone like the tyrant of Acragas.

這可能正是最有趣的部分。

The smoke would come out through the holes in the bull's nose

煙霧會從牛鼻子上的孔裡冒出來，

and that nose was filled with incense

而且那個鼻子裡塞滿了香料，

since burning bodies don't smell so good.

因為燒焦的屍體聞起來實在不太好。

The bones that were left

留下來的骨頭

would then be turned into bracelets, 片語動詞

隨後會被做成手鐲，

so the story goes. 表達脈絡

傳說就是這樣說的。

When the idea was pitched by Perillos,

當佩里洛斯提出這個想法時，

it's said he said this to the tyrant Phalaris.

據說他曾對暴君法拉里斯這樣說道：

The occupant will shriek and roar in unremitting agony 用詞

「裡面的人會在無盡的痛苦中尖叫咆哮，

and his cries will come to you through the pipes

而他的哭喊聲將透過這些管子傳到你的耳朵裡，

as the tenderest, most pathetic, 表達脈絡

變成最柔和、最淒美、

most melodious of bellowings.

最悅耳的低吼。

Your victim will be punished

你的受害者將得到懲罰，

and you will enjoy the music.

而你將享受這美妙的音樂。」

When the bull was finished,

當這頭牛完工後，

Phalaris told the inventor to get inside the thing

法拉里斯告訴發明家鑽進去

to test out the sound, 片語動詞

測試一下聲音，

but some sources say he lit the fire

但有些資料說他點燃了火，

and the inventor died there.

發明家死在了裡面。

Others say he pulled him out,

也有人說暴君把他拉了出來，

but then killed him by pushing him over a cliff.

但隨後卻把他推下懸崖摔死了。

It seems for all his hard work, 文法

看來佩里洛斯所有的辛苦工作，

Perillos was killed,

換來的只是自己的喪命，

but perhaps not because Phalaris didn't want to pay.

但也許並不是因為法拉里斯不想付錢。

Even though Phalaris is said to have been keen on cruelty, 片語搭配

儘管據說極度熱衷於殘忍行徑，

it's written that he said this to Perillos

但有記載稱法拉里斯在聽說了

after hearing about the execution method.

這種處決方式後對佩里洛斯這樣說：

His words revolted 用詞

「他的話令我

me. I loathe the thought of such ingenious cruelty 片語搭配

作嘔。我厭惡如此巧妙的殘忍想法，

and resolved to punish the artificer in kind. 慣用語

並決定以其人之道還治其人之身。

I said to him,

我跟他說，

"If your art can really produce this effect,

『如果你的技藝真能產生這種效果，

get inside yourself and pretend to roar

你自己鑽進去假裝咆哮，

and we'll see whether the pipes will make such music as you describe."

讓我們來看看這些管子是否能發出你描述的那種音樂。』」

By the way,

順便說一句，

it's written that upon his downfall, 片語搭配

據記載，在法拉里斯倒台時，

Phalaris was also killed inside the bull.

他同樣被在青銅牛裡處死。

So,

所以，

that's inventor and commissioner

這就意味著發明者和委託人，

both killed at their own hands in a way. 慣用語

在某種程度上都死在了自己手中。

Word of the brazen bull was passed down

關於青銅牛的故事流傳了下來，

and histories were written

歷史文獻中被書寫，

and they linked the device with these two men,

將這個裝置與這兩個男人——

the inventor and the tyrant.

發明家和暴君——聯繫在一起。

But the history of the bull doesn't stop there. 表達脈絡

但關於青銅牛的歷史並沒有就此停止。

The Romans had it said had a taste for the brazen bull

據說羅馬人對青銅牛也情有獨鍾，

and if you've watched our other shows on Roman torture,

如果你看過我們其他關於羅馬酷刑的節目，

you won't be surprised to hear

你聽了就不會感到驚訝：

that some people wouldn't have had many scruples 片語搭配

有些人把一個人活活烤死

about roasting a man to death

並欣賞他的慘叫聲，

and enjoying his screams.

可能完全沒有任何顧忌。

We might look at the story of a man named Saint Eustace.

我們也許可以看看一位名叫聖尤斯塔斯的人的故事。

It's said he became a martyr 文化背景

據說他在二世紀被殺後

after being killed in the second century.

成為了一名殉道者。

The Romans were punishing many Christians

羅馬人在自己皈依基督教之前，

before they themselves converted to Christianity

曾經懲罰過許多基督徒，

under the emperor Constantine.

當時是在君士坦丁大帝的統治下。

But that was in the fourth century AD

但那是在西元四世紀，

before a lot of Christian blood was spilled 慣用語

在此之前已經有很多基督徒流血犧牲，

and it seems a few Christians also got cooked to death inside a bronze animal.

而且似乎有幾個基督徒也是在一隻青銅動物體內被烤死的。

Saint Eustace was said to have been one of them.

據說聖尤斯塔斯就是其中之一。

Before he converted to Christianity,

在皈依基督教之前，

he had served under a Roman emperor,

他曾在一位於羅馬皇帝手下服役，

but he saw the light, 慣用語

但可以說，

so to speak, 表達脈絡

他看到了光明，

when he had a vision one day,

那是因為某天他看到了一個異象，

which involved a stag and a crucifix.

裡面有一隻雄鹿和一個十字架。

Christians might tell you that this man then lost

基督徒可能會告訴你，這個人隨後失去了

everything, which was one of those tests of God.

一切，這是上帝的考驗之一。

He lost his cash,

他失去了金錢、

his servants,

僕人，

and his wife and kids were taken away from him

他的妻子和孩子也從他身邊被奪走，

by, of all things, 語氣意圖

而奪走他們的，竟然是

a lion and a wolf.

一頭獅子和一匹狼。

Yet his faith remained strong throughout.

然而，他自始至終都保持著堅定的信仰。

There are a few different stories as to what happened to this man, 片語搭配

關於這個人身上發生的事情有幾個不同的故事版本，

but some people will tell you he got his wealth

但有人會告訴你，他後來找回了財富，

back as well as his family.

也找回了家人。

But in the end,

但在最後，

he, his wife and children

他、他的妻子和孩子

were all roasted to death in the brazen bull

在皇帝哈德良的命令下，

on the orders of emperor Hadrian. 片語搭配

全都在青銅牛裡被活活烤死。

We looked at some Christian sources

我們查閱了一些基督教文獻，

and they seem to back that up, 片語動詞

似乎支持了這種說法，

although they don't say his family got the treatment too. 慣用語

儘管文獻中並未提及他的家人也遭受了同樣對待。

We also found this piece of Christian history

我們還發現了這段寫於

written in the 1800s.

1800年代的基督教歷史。

It seems to suggest that when Eustace and his family got roasted,

它似乎在暗示，當尤斯塔斯和他的家人被火烤時，

they died,

他們死了，

but some miracles did happen. 文法

但發生了一些奇蹟。

This is from that text.

這是文獻的原話：

The holy martyrs by divine power

「這些神聖的殉道者憑藉神力

remained alive for three days

存活了三天，

praising and blessing the great giver of life and death.

讚美並祝福著賜予生死的主。

At last,

最後，

when their voices ceased,

當他們的聲音消失後，

the bull was opened

牛被打開，

and all four were found without life,

發現四個人都已失去生命，

but also without any injury to their bodies or garments.

但他們的身體和衣服卻沒有任何損傷。」

It's written that other Christians close to him at this time

有記載稱，當時與他親近的其他基督徒

went the same way. 慣用語

也遭遇了相同的命運。

For instance,

例如，

a man known as Saint Antipas.

一位被稱為聖安提帕斯的人。

This was written about him.

關於他是這樣寫的：

They became enraged

「他們勃然大怒，

and dragged him to the temple of Artemis

將他拖到阿耳忒彌斯神廟，

and there they threw him into a glowing red hot copper or brazen metal bull

在那裡把他扔進了一頭燒得通紅發光的銅牛裡，

where they normally put their sacrifices to the idols

他們通常把給偶像的祭品放在那裡，

to cast demons out of their own people. 片語動詞

以此將惡魔從自己人身上驅除。

He loudly prayed God to receive his soul

他大聲祈求上帝接收他的靈魂，

and strengthen the faith of the Christians

堅定基督徒的信仰，

and begged God to forgive those who were inflicting on him his torment.

並祈求上帝寬恕那些對他施加折磨的人。

He then departed as peacefully as if he fell asleep. 慣用語

然後他就像睡著了一樣安詳地離去了。」

We should say that there are a lot of people

我們應該說明，有很多人

who don't believe these stories

不相信這些故事，

and relate them more to legend than truth.

並認為它們更像是傳說而不是真相。

It's not for us to say what's true or not, 語氣意圖

什麼為真什麼為假並不是由我們說了算，

but most serious historians will at least tell you

但大多數嚴肅的歷史學家至少會告訴你，

that the stories from the bull's surprising beginnings in Greece

關於青銅牛從在希臘驚人地問世，

to Christian martyrs not feeling any pain while being roasted

到基督教殉道者在被烤時感覺不到疼痛的這些故事，

are hard to verify. 片語搭配

是很難去證實的。

What is very much true 文法

非常真實的一點是，

is that stories of the brazen bull

關於青銅牛的故事

have been passed down throughout the ages 片語動詞

一直在歷代流傳，

and those manuscripts can still be read today.

而且今天仍然可以讀到那些手稿。

By the way,

順便說一下，

while you might see a brazen bull in a museum in the world,

雖然你可能會在世界各地的博物館裡看到一頭青銅牛，

it won't be the real thing, 片語搭配

但那不會是真品，

only a depiction of one.

只不過是個複製品而已。

Have you seen worse in our other punishment shows?

你在我們其他的懲罰類節目中見過更糟的嗎？

Tell us in the comments

在評論區告訴我們，

and then go watch Eaten Alive,

然後去看看《被活吃》、

Scaphism,

《船刑》

Worst Punishments in the History of Mankind.

以及《人類歷史上最糟糕的懲罰》。

Thanks for watching

感謝收看，

and as always,

像往常一樣，

don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

不要忘記按讚、分享和訂閱。

See you next time.

下次見。