Nobody knows exactly how the sound was made or why it stopped
没人知道声音如何发出又为何停止
because the statue is completely silent now.
因为石像现在已经彻底沉寂下来
But one thing I think is clear--
但有一件事我想是很明白的
the story of Memnon's statue is a great example
门农雕像的故事是个很好的例子
of how images of the human body operate in the world.
表现了人像雕塑在当时的世界有何作用
Not just as passive objects to be admired or wondered at,
它们不止是被动接受赞叹的物件
but as players, as part of an interactive, two-way relationship.
还是双向关系中互动的一方
Singing might be a rarity, but images often do something.
会唱歌也许是个特例 但它们总有其作用
Even more, the story is a reminder
除此之外 这个故事还提醒我们
that the history of art isn't just the history of artists,
艺术史不仅仅是艺术家的历史
of the men and women who painted and sculpted--
不仅仅是男男女女绘画雕刻的历史
it's also the history of the men and women like Julia Balbilla
还是茱莉亚·巴尔比亚这些人
who looked, who interpreted what they saw,
观赏并解读所见所闻的历史
and of the changing ways in which they did so.
是艺术观察与解读方式的变迁史
If we want to understand images of the body,
如果我们想理解人像
I think we've really got to put those viewers
我认为我们必须把这些参观者
back into the picture of art.
放回艺术的图景中去