Many animals were seen as the manifestation of a deity.是什么意思？

Many animals were seen as the manifestation of a deity.

许多动物被看作神的化身.

many

adj. 许多，多的；pron. （与复数动词连用）大多数人；

例句
There are many people who still find the act of abortion abhorrent.
仍有很多人对堕胎行为表示厌恶。

animals

n. 动物( animal的名词复数 )，兽，兽性，粗野残暴的人；

例句
They are saying, with varying degrees of absolutism, that animals should not be exploited at all.
他们都多多少少带有些绝对地说动物根本不该被拿来利用。

were

be的过去时复数和第二人称单数形式，有时代替 was,用于条件从句、动词 wish 之后等；

例句
Shops, houses, and vehicles were set ablaze.
店铺、房子和车辆全都陷于火海。

seen

v. 看见( see的过去分词 )，观看，领会，考虑；

例句
Holiday spots have seen a dramatic revival and tourist chiefs are competing for a slice of the action.
各个度假点重又呈现出一派兴旺景象，旅游业的龙头老大们都在争着分一杯羹。

as

adv. 同样地，一样地，例如；prep. 作为，以…的身份，如

例句
As far as I can recall, Patti was a Smith.
我记得帕蒂是姓史密斯的。

the

art. 指已提到的人（物），指说话人与听者已知的人（物），用于独一无二的事物前，与形容词最高级和序数词连用；

例句
He did have a real knowledge of the country...
他对该国的确知之甚多。

manifestation

n. 表示，显示，示威；

例句
New York is the ultimate manifestation of American values.
纽约是美国价值观的终极体现。

of

prep. 关于，属于…的，由…制成；aux. 助动词 [非标准用语、方言] =have [主用于虚拟语气]；

例句
He did have a real knowledge of the country...
他对该国的确知之甚多。

deity

n. 神，女神，上帝；

例句
Only the deity of the ruined temple remains unworshipped in deathless neglect.
只有破庙的神遗留在无人礼拜的,不死的冷淡之中.