[Bilingual] Enter the Temple

Transcript

I feel I have to once again tell you even though you're just gonna ignore me that this is a bad idea. Well, we could always come back next year. No, I'm not gonna go back to camp.

What am I supposed to do, leave you wandering the mountains alone? You're here by my invitation. That might not mean a lot to you but here it matters.

I'm responsible what happens to you. Fine, but as soon as it starts getting dark we're heading back. I don't know.

You've studied the inscriptions so why? These mountains match so do a hundred other mountains. Yes, I know it's my project initially but all I can tell you is that it exists.

I can't tell you where it exists otherwise I wouldn't have needed you. You know the fact that you chose to pack shorts and short-sleeved t-shirts to this expedition should have been a huge red flag for me. What do you know about the region if you don't even know that it's freezing here? Not all Arabia is a desert, you know.

Yeah, yeah, it's not as cold as where you come from and that's where you're shivering. Just take my jacket, sweetheart. My apologies.

Take my jacket, Professor. Seriously, I don't need it. Just take it.

I am an antiquated man with antiquated views. Call it whatever you want. Just put the damn jacket on.

After you. Go on. Hey.

Watch out. You see, this is why I wanted to walk behind you. Not stare at your ass, as you seem to think, so I can catch you if, no, when you fall.

Don't step on the smaller rocks. Are you listening to me? What are you looking at? I'll be damned.

Yes, I know what that looks like. Move over. Oh, yeah, that's an entrance, all right.

Don't look so damn smug. You tripped on a rock. I know that you got the funding for this expedition, but don't forget that I'm the one who dedicated his life to this project and if I hadn't brought it to your attention, you've never even heard of this place.

Yeah, yeah, whatever. I think at this point, we need to forget about our bickering and focus on what we found. Just give me a second to catch my breath.

You could have helped with those rocks, you know. Useless. I'm sorry.

Okay, I am sorry. Now, I'm gonna go in first. Yes, I'm gonna go in first because we don't know how deep it is.

We don't know how far the fall is. Plus, you know, there's snakes inside probably and spiders and scorpions and big hairy ones. I'll go in first.

I'll check how deep the drop is and then I'll shout to you to come in or go get help. Whatever you do, don't just leave me here, okay? I don't want to be part of the discovery if someone finds this place 5,000 years from now.

Here we go. Yes, it is a tight squeeze for me but if I can get in, you'll have no problems. Okay, almost there.

Oh, here goes nothing. Not as bad as I thought. You can follow me now.

Yeah, just squeeze through. Legs first. Okay, now you can drop.

I'll catch you. It's not the height, just drop. Ow, oh my god.

I'm gonna have to yank you down. Okay, just count to three and drop. One, two, three.

Seriously, how did you ever become a field archaeologist? Just shut up for a minute. I've been working on this for nearly seven years.

I can't believe we might have actually found the actual temple of Ringi. Oh, shame about the company. I'm just teasing.

Oh, let me just catch my breath a sec. You're not as light as you think you are. Have some respect.

This is a temple. So, what do you know about Ringi? Yeah, there's not a lot of information.

All we know is to the people who used to live here in the pre-Islamic era. She was a goddess of fertility and creation with ties to rainfall, floods, rivers, and of course, crops. Why do you look so mad? Oh, I did not just grab your boob when you fell.

I just tried to catch you. Nothing, I'm just trying to remember. Okay, let's light a torch.

Oh, there. How about from now on, you hold that away from my face. Thank you.

After you. No, no, I'm coming. These inscriptions are the most intricate of everything, because they know exactly how to write incredible poems.

Wow. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. These inscriptions are the most intricate I've ever seen.

There's Rini. You can recognize her by the flowers in her hair and her exaggerated features. Hey, she's a goddess of fertility, what do you expect? No need to be jealous.

But why is she surrounded by all these other deities from the region? That one's Uruk-Han, thunder god. That one is Asurian, god of magic.

But the ones on the other side, they don't belong to this region. Well, I can't recognize all of them, because I never really focus on the northern civilizations. But I can definitely tell you who that is in the middle.

The big one with four swords. Yes, and four arms to carry them. That is Zarek.

To the northern tribes, he was the god of war, fighting, pillaging, destruction, and the end of days. So why is he in the temple of Rini? Is it possible? Well, there's an old, old story, but I never took it seriously.

Well, when the northern tribes and southern kingdoms united, the story goes that the union was made when Rini agreed to marry Zarek to bring peace to her people. But I always thought it was just a tale to make people more comfortable with arranged marriages. I never found any archaeological basis for it, but this could be it.

Let's follow it down. This definitely looks like a wedding. And Rini's come forth, and the next panel, Zarek's come forth.

Who would have thought? A kid's story. But watch, in this next panel, Rini disappears, and she goes back to the mountain.

Is it this mountain? It makes sense. And she's pursued by Zarek.

What did you find there? Inscription. Get the brush.

You're right, that is an inscription. Let's see. Luckily, the language hasn't changed much here.

Zarek has come to the foot of the cave, and he yells in, Who allowed you to leave me by myself? Rini replies, Feisty one. Oh, it means, I have never asked for permission before, I'm not about to start.

Yeah, well, if I know anything about Zarek, he's not going to take that very kindly. Let's see what the next panel says. Yep.

I was made your master today, so come to me. Zarek replies, Yep. I was made your master today, so come to me.

Rini replies, And what are your orders to her who has been master of her people? Hmm. I'm just getting heated.

He says, my orders are where ends people, where ends civilization, if you hadn't heard. The next panel. Rini replies, Hmm.

Good question. She says, if this is your way, then I wonder, why did you come to she who does not end but begins things? It seems that Zarek's caught up to Rini.

He's caught her by the hand. Let's see what he has to say. He says, It's a little crude.

He says, a sword is not made without its sheath. A thing does not end which hasn't been begun. Why is that funny? The second part makes sense.

He is the ender, she is the beginner. So they need each other to cycle. But the sword thing.

You don't get it? Sword? Sheath? It's obviously a penis and vagina joke.

No, no. It's obvious. I don't have a dirty mind.

It's just clearly what it is. Whatever. Let's go to the next one.

Thank you Rini for proving me right. She says, if your sword is what drives you, then you can leave. My sheath is no place for a tyrant.

You still think I'm making things up? Not everyone is a prude like you. Okay, let's see what my boy Zarek has to say to that.

Damn, it's getting raunchy. He says to her, Are you not tired of the loneliness of your heart and the loneliness of your bed? Do you not want someone to melt what's between your thighs? No, it can't be translated any other way.

That's what he says to her. She doesn't seem to mind the picture. The scenes are getting handsy.

Any more inscriptions? Uh-huh. She says to him, I fear your excess heat.

I would love you even if you were calm. Kind of sweet. I fear your excess heat.

I think that can be translated better as your hot temper maybe. Although there's probably a new end to here somewhere. It's just lost in translation.

And I'm intimidated. I fear your hot temper. And I'm intimidated by you even when you're calm.

Well, I'm no poet. It keeps going. You think I came to you to insult you, if you only knew that you are a traitor.

The man's got some riz. He says, do you think that I came to you to conquer, if only you knew that you were the conqueror. Okay.

I think we should be getting very close to the entrance by now. Can you see any more carvings or inscriptions anywhere? Hmm.

I don't understand. There should be a gate into the temple somewhere. What does it say on the altar? Hmm.

Okay. Okay. Okay.

I'm tired of war and being on the road. And the forts. Since the day I saw you by the edge of the valley.

And then where the door should be. It says. ..

Hmm. If you came to me with love and come to me with whatever you desire, for there is no path forward from here with those who hold their desires. Mm.

If you came to me with love. And come to me with whatever you desire. Hmm.

If you came to me with love and come to me with whatever you desire. Hmm. Yes, I know what they're doing in the painting.

It's very graphic, I might add. But what does it mean? Why is there an altar here? Why is the gate sealed? What? What? Yeah, it is common to have to give tribute before you can enter the temple.

But I don't know what the offering should be. لا مَا جَالَ مِنْ هُنَا لِشَاهِي لا مَا جَالَ مِنْ هُنَا لِشَاهِي لا مَا جَالَ مِنْ هُنَا لِشَاهِي There is no path forward to those who hold desires. Hmm.

I think I know what we need to do. Yeah. Well, Rini is a goddess of fertility.

So we must give a tribute that's an act honoring her aspect. Yes, I mean sex. Hey, can you think of a better translation? No, I'm not making this up just so I can sleep with you.

I mean, you read. .. I don't know, you can't read it and you can't understand it.

But I can't make any other sense out of this. Hmm? You understand Arabic.

Then why the hell have you been having me translate for you all this time? Oh, you can speak it but you can't read it. Wait, so.

.. You heard what I said before about. ..

Well, this is awkward. Yes, I find you attractive. I mean, you are attractive.

But I don't understand what that has to do with this. Oh. ..

Okay. I mean, that does make sense that. ..

There is no path forward to those who hold their desires. Because I desire you, we can't go forward. I mean, it's up to you at this point.

But I can't fault your translation. I think there's a reason that altar is shaped like a bed. Yeah.

.. Like I said, it's up to you. We can't go forward.