圣經(jīng)圣經(jīng)(Bible)中記載，耶穌誕生時(shí)，天使飛越全世界向世人報(bào)佳音。但最近科學(xué)家指出，這一傳說(shuō)很有問(wèn)題，因?yàn)樘焓垢揪惋w不起來(lái)。英國(guó)生物學(xué)家羅格•沃頓認(rèn)為，從生理學(xué)角度來(lái)看，藝術(shù)作品中那些長(zhǎng)有翅膀的天使根本不可能飛得起來(lái)。


一位頂尖的生物學(xué)家從生理學(xué)角度，將飛行動(dòng)物與藝術(shù)作品中時(shí)常出現(xiàn)的，宗教及神話中的精靈進(jìn)行比對(duì)。他發(fā)現(xiàn)：無(wú)論天使、還是精靈都不可能憑借自己的力量飛到圣誕樹(shù)上。 A leading biologist has compared the physiology of flighted species with the representations of spiritual and mythical creatures in art – and found the angels and fairies that sit atop of Christmas trees did not get there under their own steam.
來(lái)自倫敦大學(xué)學(xué)院的羅格•沃頓教授認(rèn)為，那些被描繪成同時(shí)長(zhǎng)著胳膊及羽翼的天使，從生理學(xué)角度來(lái)看，根本不可能飛得起來(lái)。 Prof Roger Wotton, from University College London, found that flight would be impossible for angels portrayed with arms and bird-like feathered wings.

“通過(guò)粗略測(cè)試代表作品中的刻畫(huà)及描述，我們就可獲知：天使以及童天使根本沒(méi)有動(dòng)力系統(tǒng)，無(wú)法起飛，”沃頓教授說(shuō)?！凹词顾鼈兛梢曰瑁谄痫w時(shí)他們需要極高的風(fēng)速，如果有那么大的風(fēng)，即使沒(méi)有翅膀，它們也會(huì)被刮得無(wú)影無(wú)蹤。” "Even a cursory examination of the evidence in representational arts shows that angels and cherubs cannot take off and cannot use powered flight,” said Prof Wotton. “And even if they used gliding flight, they would need to be exposed to very high wind velocities at take off - such high winds that they would be blown away and have no need for wings."

在一些舉世聞名的宗教建筑及畫(huà)作中，都有天使、童天使以及丘比特點(diǎn)綴其中；他們盤旋于天際，見(jiàn)證著上帝與人類的所作所為。 Angels, cherubs and putti adorn some the world’s most famous religious paintings and architecture, hovering in the air to witness target=_blank class=infotextkey>witness the deeds of God and men.



他們?nèi)绱舜騽?dòng)人心，以至于去年的一項(xiàng)調(diào)查顯示大多數(shù)美國(guó)人相信有天使的存在。 Their power to capture the imagination is so strong that a survey last year revealed that most Americans believe in angels.

皮尤宗教和公共生活論壇經(jīng)研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，在此次受訪的36000人中，有68%的人相信天使與魔鬼確實(shí)存在。 The study by the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life found that 68 per cent of the 36,000 adults polled thought that angels and demons were at work in the world.

最新研究表明，鳥(niǎo)類的翅膀是由其祖先的前臂進(jìn)化而來(lái)的，隨著時(shí)間的推移，覆蓋全身的羽毛決定了它們的整個(gè)體型。骨骼密度的降低使得鳥(niǎo)類的骨架更輕盈，更利于飛行。 According to the latest study, birds’ wings evolved from the forearms of their ancestors and over time their whole body shape was determined by the covering of feathers. The reduced density of the bird skeleton provided a light but strong frame.



但天使的身材中等，童天使以及丘比特更是屬于超重一族，作品中常將其描繪成長(zhǎng)著小翅膀的、胖嘟嘟的小孩。更重要的是，他們?nèi)狈B(niǎo)類那樣能夠撲打翅膀的強(qiáng)壯肌肉。 But angels have normal-sized bodies and cherubs and putti are often given additional weight, portrayed as chubby babies with tiny wings. They also lack the powerful muscles which allow birds to beat their wings.

天使、丘比特、龍和仙女，他們通常具有昆蟲(chóng)一樣的翅膀，多數(shù)為蝴蝶和豆娘那樣的翅膀。這兩種昆蟲(chóng)的飛行機(jī)理比較復(fù)雜，胸部長(zhǎng)有較多肌肉，這樣它們才能有力量振動(dòng)翅膀。 Angels, putti, dragons and fairies are generally shown with insect wings, often those of damselfly or butterflies. Both insects have complex flight mechanisms with major muscles in the thorax, the chest region, which power the flapping of wings.

“如果像蝴蝶那樣依靠胸部肌肉拍打翅膀起飛，仙女們肯定感到非常不舒服，”沃頓教授指出。“事實(shí)情況是，她們根本不會(huì)飛?！?“The distortion of the thorax needed for flight in fairies with butterfly wings would be exceedingly uncomfortable,” said the academic. “For sure, fairies don’t fly.”

在猶太教和__中，天使都有著特殊的重要性，就連在伊斯蘭信仰中，它們都承擔(dān)著某些角色。在圣經(jīng)中有許多章節(jié)都提到飛行的天使。 Angels have a special significance in the Judeo-Christian tradition and also play a role in Islam. Numerous passages in the King James Bible mention angels flying.

為何要有天使這一神話呢，沃頓教授在自己的論文中也進(jìn)行了探討。 Prof Wotton’s paper explores why the mythology is so strong.

沃頓教授說(shuō):“在我們的信念中，天使是非常有力量的宗教偶像。他們長(zhǎng)相與人相似，這使得他們更為人類所信服。同時(shí)，他們要高于人類，因此他們擁有翅膀。它們要到天堂傳遞消息，所以它們必須會(huì)飛?！?“Angels are very powerful religious icons for people with faith. Their similarity to humans adds to their power. At the same time, they have wings on them because they are more than human. They take messages to heaven and therefore have to fly.” said the academic