I think you should never imagine in these real old poleis that got the thing started, that somebody said let's have a polis.

我想你一定难以想象这些城邦,在刚开始建立的时候,是某个人拍脑袋的想法

耶鲁公开课 - 古希腊历史简介课程节选

And it begins with an auctioneer selling various articles from the old opera house.

刚开始的时候就是一个拍卖家在卖老歌剧院的各种物品。

歌剧魅影 - SpeakingMax英语口语达人