新版兩英磅硬幣圖像被批偏離史實

The 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta is being marked with a fancy new ￡2 coin - but an expert has claimed the Royal Mint has ruined the design with a factually dodgy image.

為紀念英國《大憲章》簽署八百周年，英國推出了別致的新版兩英鎊硬幣。但有專家稱，皇家鑄幣局（Royal Mint）用不符合史實的圖案毀了這一設計。

The coin shows King John signing the document - which was issued by him in 1215 and stated that everyone had the right to a fair trial and that nobody, including royalty, were above the law - with a quill but according to Dr Marc Morris that notion is absurd as the monarch would have used a royal seal...and probably would have got one of his minions to do it.

這枚硬幣上展示的是約翰王手拿羽毛簽署《大憲章》的圖樣，但是根據馬克·莫里斯博士（Marc Morris）所言，這樣的描繪是很荒謬的，因為約翰王應當使用皇家印章蓋章……也有可能會讓仆從替他蓋章。（約翰王1215年頒布的《大憲章》宣稱，每個人都有獲得公正審判的權利，包括皇室成員在內的任何人都無法凌駕于法律之上。）

In fact the Middle Ages expert was so incensed with the historical foolery he even went so far as to reconstruct the momentous occasion using Playmobil figures.

事實上，這位研究中世紀時期的專家對這一愚弄歷史的行為十分憤怒，他甚至用摩比人（Playmobil）玩具還原了這一重要時刻。

He posted the image on Twitter, stating: "A far more accurate depiction of what went on at Runnymede than that produced by the Royal Mint."

他將圖片發到推特上，并配文道：“關于蘭尼米德發生的事，這比皇家鑄幣局的版本準確得多。”

Dr Morris, a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, said: "To depict King John holding a quill is simply a schoolboy error.

莫里斯博士是皇家歷史學會（Royal Historical Society）的研究員，他說：“約翰王手拿羽毛筆的這一描繪實在是一個低級的錯誤。”

"Medieval kings did not authenticate documents by signing them, they did it by sealing them - or rather by getting one of their officials to do it for them.

“中世紀的國王不是通過簽名來使文件生效，而是通過自己蓋章，或者讓下屬官員替他們蓋章。”

"All the pen in John's hand symbolises is ignorance of this basic fact."

“約翰王執筆這一形象所反映出來的是對基本事實的無知。”

But Royal Mint bosses have defended the image, which was created by artist John Bergdahl, saying it is "symbolic" and not "literal".

但是皇家鑄幣局的領導們辯稱，這一由藝術家約翰·貝里達爾（John Bergdahl）設計的圖像，只是“象征性的”而不是“基于史實的”。

Mr Bergdahl, speaking about his design for the coin, added: "I wanted to include the figures who would have been key players in the formation of the Magna Carta at Runnymede [the place in Windsor where the Magna Cara was signed].

貝里達爾先生在談到他為硬幣所做的設計時，補充道：“我想要將那些在蘭尼米德（《大憲章》的簽署地，位于溫莎）制定《大憲章》中起了重要作用的人物設計進去。”

"I was influenced by the art of the medieval period, which was quite uncomplicated and crude, and the ornate cornice and rose carvings echo the architecture of the era reflecting the time the Magna Carta was created.

“我受中世紀時期原生簡單的藝術影響，裝飾性的飛檐和玫瑰雕刻與反映大憲章形成時期的建筑相呼應。”

"The inscription uses medieval-style font that surrounds the design as the inscription on King John's royal seal did in the middle ages.

“硬幣周圍的文字采用中世紀風格的字體，像中世紀時期約翰王的皇家印章上的刻字一樣。”

Vocabulary

factually: 事實性地，確實地

dodgy: 不可靠的

quill: 羽毛筆

minion: 仆從，下屬

foolery: 愚蠢行為

momentous: 重要的，重大的

authenticate: 使具有法律上的效力，使生效

ornate: 裝飾的

inscription: (硬幣、獎章等上的)鐫刻文字

（中國日報網英語點津 劉明）