Template:Did you know nominations/Ptolemy I Soter

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Bust of Ptolemy I in the Louvre

~~... that Ptolemy I Soter, a general under Alexander the Great, founded the Ptolemaic dynasty to which Cleopatra belonged?~~
~~ALT1: ... that Ptolemy I Soter, a general under Alexander the Great, founded the Ptolemaic dynasty?~~
ALT2: ... that Ptolemy I Soter, a companion of Alexander the Great, founded the Ptolemaic dynasty to which Cleopatra belonged?

Sources: Chisholm, Hugh (1911). "Ptolemies". Encyclopædia Britannica.
Ptolemaic Dynasty. Ancient History Encyclopedia

Created/expanded by Векочел (talk). Self-nominated at 19:30, 1 September 2018 (UTC).

New promotion to GA status verified. This appears to be the nominator's first DYK nomination, so no QPQ review of another DYK nomination is needed. Earwig found other sites that have copied from us, but no inappropriate copying in the other direction. However, to meet DYK standards (which are different from GA standards) we need a footnote giving a reliable source for the section "Fictional portrayals". Additionally, although the article hints at it (and of course it's true), it doesn't ever seem to explicitly say that he founded the Ptolemaic dynasty or that Cleopatra belonged to the same dynasty. For that matter the claim that his rank under Alexander was general, while stated explicitly in the lead, is neither sourced there nor expanded and sourced later; I'm surprised the GA review didn't complain about this, as it's a violation of MOS:LEAD (this time part of the GA rules) and in any case must also be sourced for DYK. The hook is a good one, but to use it the article needs to have a sentence or sentences containing the same claims, with a footnote on that exact sentence or sentences. —David Eppstein (talk) 06:22, 7 September 2018 (UTC)
- I would like to pursue the nomination. Векочел (talk) 16:29, 13 October 2018 (UTC)

Векочел, that's great. You'll need to address the issues that David Eppstein has raised, then. Any idea how soon you might be able to do so? BlueMoonset (talk) 02:38, 15 October 2018 (UTC)

I added a citation to the lead that states he was the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Векочел (talk) 02:39, 15 October 2018 (UTC)

You did this a while back, right? The reason I haven't responded is that we are still missing a citation that he was a general and in fact the citation you added contradicts this: "Although his role is unclear, most historical accounts are in agreement that Ptolemy was with Alexander" — unclear role ≠ general. Also, I thought the connection to Cleopatra added interest to the hook (otherwise: king was founder of his own family: ho hum, isn't that what everyone does?) so I think it would be better to source and keep rather than just removing. —David Eppstein (talk) 04:39, 15 October 2018 (UTC)

I do not see any section of the article that claims Ptolemy was a general. As for Cleopatra, I can add a citation showing that she was a member of Ptolemy's dynasty. Векочел (talk) 22:08, 16 October 2018 (UTC)
@David Eppstein: I see that you are referring to the hook. The word "general" can be changed to "companion". Векочел (talk) 22:37, 16 October 2018 (UTC)

I am also referring to the article. It uses the word "general" in the first sentence, once again in the lead, and twice later, none with adequate sourcing. —David Eppstein (talk) 22:47, 16 October 2018 (UTC)

I have also done some rewording here. It is uncertain that he was a general, but it is certain that he was a companion of Alexander. Векочел (talk) 11:56, 17 October 2018 (UTC)

@David Eppstein: I think I would like to add a picture of Ptolemy to this article. Векочел (talk) 01:40, 25 October 2018 (UTC)

Good to go with ALT2, the one that uses "companion" rather than "general", since after that rewording nothing in the hook is in any doubt or poorly sourced. The image is a good one at this size and looks properly licensed, so it can also be included. —David Eppstein (talk) 06:47, 29 October 2018 (UTC)