This article is within the scope of WikiProject Lebanon, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Lebanon-related articles on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.LebanonWikipedia:WikiProject LebanonTemplate:WikiProject LebanonLebanon articles
This article is within the scope of the WikiProject Assyria, which aims to improve Wikipedia's coverage of Assyrian-related topics. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page.AssyriaWikipedia:WikiProject AssyriaTemplate:WikiProject AssyriaAssyrian articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Ancient Near East, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Ancient Near East related articles on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Ancient Near EastWikipedia:WikiProject Ancient Near EastTemplate:WikiProject Ancient Near EastAncient Near East articles
A fact from Stelae of Nahr el-Kalb appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 8 October 2014 (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:
Herodotus: "The pillars which Sesostris of Egypt set up in the various countries are for the most part no longer to be seen extant; but in Syria Palestine I myself saw them existing with the inscription upon them which I have mentioned and the emblem." Herodotus, The Histories, Book II, 106
Latest comment: 10 years ago6 comments2 people in discussion
The Latin plural of stela is stelae, or if we decide the word has been adopted into English, it would take an s, stelas. "Stela are … ", mixing singular and plural, grates for me like chalk on a blackboard. Awien (talk) 12:38, 8 October 2014 (UTC)
(adds) I personally would favour stelae. Awien (talk) 12:40, 8 October 2014 (UTC)Reply
So unless anyone objects, I propose to move the article to Commemorative stelae of Nahr el-Kalb, since the article deals with not just one stela, but a number of stelae. Awien (talk) 16:23, 8 October 2014 (UTC)Reply
Hi User:Awien, the "stela" version is an exact representation of the UNESCO usage (see [8]).
I am inclined to agree with you, but that would mean UNESCO need some grammar lessons. Are you 100% sure that "stela" is always singular in English? Oncenawhile (talk) 09:55, 9 October 2014 (UTC)Reply
Hi, User:Oncenawhile. Yes, UNESCO does indeed need a Latin lesson. The plural of stela being stelae is as sure as the plural of dog being dogs, but I just looked it up in Lewis and Short anyway (p. 1756). Also, both Oxford and Gage Canadian specify that the plural is stelae, but allow stele (directly from Greek) alongside stela as the singular. So the bottom line is that stela is singular and needs to be pluralised. Maybe UNESCO will look it up in WP and learn? Best, Awien (talk) 11:40, 9 October 2014 (UTC)Reply
.svg){kind=small}
