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Chemical Oracle
神秘的阿波羅神廟
If you're planning a trip to Greece in the future, you'll want to schedule a visit to the temple of Apollo at Delphi. This famous temple was the home to the Pythia, a specially chosen and trained woman who, according to legend, channeled the voice and wisdom of Apollo, the god of prophecy. Generals, politicians, and private citizens of the ancient world flocked to Delphi to question the Pythia and seek her divinely inspired advice.
如果有一天，你打算去希臘旅游，你可能會將特爾斐的阿波羅神廟列入行程單。阿波羅神廟的女祭司皮提亞，傳說，皮提亞是掌管預言的阿波羅神欽點傳達預言和智慧的女祭司。古時候，將軍、政治家、普通百姓蜂擁而至，只為求得宣示的神諭。
Ancient scientists and philosophers attributed the oracle's power to vapors that bubbled up through a chasm and spring running through the oracle's chamber inside the temple. Inhaling these vapors, according to the ancients, induced a trance-like state that endowed the oracles with divine prophetic power. Around 1900, excavations at Delphi revealed no chasm or escaping gases, and so the ancient accounts were discredited.
古代的科學家和哲學家稱，神諭的力量來自從深坑冒出的裊裊蒸氣以及神廟內殿神龕噴出的泉水。祖先們認為，吸入氣體，飄飄欲仙，并賦予了神圣的預言神力。直到公元1900年，科學家挖掘遺址，并未發現所謂的深坑，也沒有飄散的氣體。證實前人的記載并非屬實。
Until recently, that is Geological surveys of the area have detected two faults, or cracks in the earth's crust, intersecting directly under the oracle's chamber. Samples from Delphic spring water and rock from the intersecting faults revealed traces of several chemicals including ethylene. Tests have shown that when administered in proper dosage, ethylene can result in a trance state. Those affected are conscious, able to sit upright, can answer questions, and afterwards experience amnesia. Some subjects react violently, screaming and throwing themselves about.
直至最近，在對當地進行考察中，發現了地殼有兩道斷層或裂縫，正好交錯于神廟內殿神龕下面。特爾斐泉水的樣本以及斷層裂縫巖石的樣本中提煉出幾種化學物質，其中包括乙烯。實驗顯示，適當劑量的乙烯使人精神恍惚，但是神志清醒，可以筆直地坐著，可以回答問題，但是可能很健忘。有些個體變得很暴力，大吵大鬧，瘋瘋癲癲。
Such reactions to ethylene are consistent with ancient reports. Unlike their Greek predecessors, modern scientists leave Apollo out of the picture. But once again, science gives at least partial credence to something that was once considered only a myth.
這些對乙烯的反應和前人的記載吻合。與希臘的祖先不同，現代科學家慢慢解開了阿波羅神廟的面紗。至少，曾經我們對曾認為是神話的事情有所了解了。
附： Apollo ：阿波羅，阿波羅（希臘文 Απολλων；拉丁文 Apollo ）古希臘神話中最著名的神祇之一，希臘神話中十二主神之一，是主神宙斯與暗夜女神勒托所生之子，阿爾忒彌斯的孿生哥哥，全名為福玻斯·阿波羅(Phoebus Apollo)，意思是“光明”或“光輝燦爛”。阿波羅神廟:世界文化遺產，以該廟的女祭司皮提亞宣示的神諭著稱。阿波羅神廟是公元前6世紀暴君Lygdami所建立的，但由于工程太過浩大艱巨，一直至現在無法完成，最后連建造神廟的大理石都被改變用途去建城堡了。不過別忘了在座這居高臨下的神廟留下一張美美的倩影，這里的風景是相當出名的。還有，根據傳說中的故事，酒神就是在阿波羅神廟前發現被拋棄、來自克里特的米諾安公主阿莉阿德。
