Talk:List of the 72 names on the Eiffel Tower

Le Chatelier (engineer)

- Is this name for Henri Louis le Chatelier? He was chemist, not eng. Mikkalai 19:54, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

This article could use a picture. Michael Hardy 22:29, 24 Jun 2005 (UTC)

She was a publicly known individual for many decades before the Tower was built, so it hardly seems likely her male pseudonym would be added, and then removed in haste. The edit appears to be a misunderstanding of some sentiment to add her name in the present day [1] [2], but I'm not sure if there are is any organized movement supporting this.--Pharos 19:42, 6 June 2007 (UTC) There is nothing to be gained by speculating on the secret intentions of those omitting Miss Germain's name. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.141.122.96 (talk) 14:06, 23 May 2009 (UTC) Robert Hooke, who also wrote about elasticity, is not mentioned. The names seem to have been selected on national lines, as well as those of gender. <span style="font-size: smaller;" unsigned comment added by 86.177.171.194 (talk) 11:49, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Images used

Can someone re-submit them in a slightly smaller sizer? They're blocking some of the text! SunsetFlare 05:45, 29 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I've "de-floated" the images. It doesn't look great, but at least it doesn't block the text. Making them smaller is an option, but then the text in the photo might become illegible... --Itub 09:01, 29 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I added a link to a Google map annotated with locations of streets in Paris also named for the 72 scientists. I am owner of this map. Contact me at epr09@gmail.com if any questions. Epfr (talk) 01:29, 24 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Fixes to be done

Hi all !

I have fixed the french page, which contained many errors.

It can now be used as a valid source to fix all the names in this page —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.57.248.133 (talk) 08:04, 21 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I changed the names I saw that were different (I may have missed some). It would be nice to have a source that confirmed these; the official site only lists last names. I imagine the best is the book listed on the French site, Georges et Jacques Barral, Histoire populaire des 72 savants dont les noms sont inscrits sur la grande frise de la Tour Eiffel, J.Mersch éditeur, 1889. Is that what was used to correct the French page? Rigadoun (talk) 20:45, 6 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Location of the names

It would also be helpful if there was an indication of where on the tower the names are inscribed. -Willmcw June 28, 2005 19:28 (UTC)

They're on the side of the tower [3]. :-) bogdan ʤjuʃkə | ^Talk 28 June 2005 20:31 (UTC)

Exactly! That's why a picture would help. Michael Hardy 28 June 2005 20:15 (UTC)

How about User:Bogdangiusca's great diagram? It couldn't be clearer! Thanks, B. Cheers, -Willmcw June 28, 2005 20:58 (UTC)

I've added a couple of pictures showing the location of some of the names. I hope this helps. Not the clearest, maybe, so feel free to update if you have something better. Itub 13:43, 10 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have added pictures of the four sides and the names on each side. I have also added the names to the table. Is this adequate? --JHvW (talk) 22:14, 29 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Sauvage

There is uncertainty about the name Sauvage. It is generally accepted that Sauvage was meant to indicate François Clément Sauvage but it may be that Frédéric Sauvage, a French mechanical engineer was intended. It may be of trivial interest but Polonceau is probably Camille Polonceau a French railway engineer. JHvW 19:50, 12 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Carnot

Which Carnot is the one commemorated on the Eiffel Tower? The picture caption links to Sadi of Carnot engine fame, but the chart and note say it's his father Lazare. Based on their dates, it could be either of them. 24.252.205.85 (talk) 20:38, 20 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]

According to the people who run the Eiffel tower, Lazare Carnot was meant. In a way this makes sense, because besides being an excellent engineer and mathematician, he was alo an important political figure. JHvW 19:54, 21 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]

The Sophie Germain issue again

Since September an IP editor has been taking the Woman section out of the Criticism section. Lets discuss this here. It is criticism. It was published in 1914. There is a reference for it in the article on Sophie Germain, so lets add the reference here and stop erasing it. StarryGrandma (talk) 18:05, 28 October 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Legendre: geometer or mathematician?

I corrected the description of Legendre as a "geometer". He was certainly a geometer. But it is very restrictive to call him a geometer: geometry is only a part of mathematics. Besides, Legendre is mainly known for achievements or conjectures in mathematics which have little to do with geometry. Sapphorain (talk) 13:51, 18 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

The occupation column (specialty, from métier in the French) is originally from the portrait captions of the 72 "savants" in Georges Barral's book: Barral, Georges (1892). Le Panthéon scientifique de la tour Eiffel: histoire des origines de la construction de la Tour. Savine.. I will agree the descriptions of some of the mathematicians can be confusing and should be changed. No reader today, in French or English, thinks analytic geometry when they see "geometer". I think it is very interesting that six of the mathematicians on the list were described as such, but I guess it would be better mentioned in a paragraph of text than keeping that description in the table. Barral describes Legendre as having a life "totally consecrated to the cult of pure geometry". They may have been celebrating the centennial of analytic geometry as well as the centennial of the republic.

In this spirit I propose changing "mechanic" in the list too. It refers to people working in physics and engineering in what we today would call classical mechanics and mechanical engineering. StarryGrandma (talk) 22:53, 20 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

The Barral who wrote that Legendre's life was "totally consecrated to the cult of pure geometry" (this is not the physicist whose name is also on the Eiffel tower) knew probably very little mathematics. I changed Legendre occupation from "geometer" to "mathematician" because I know rather well his works. He did some geometry, and it is true he is known for a textbook in geometry, but regarding research he is mainly known for works in analysis and number theory. On the other hand it is perfectly correct to describe Poncelet as a "geometer". So I would not linearly change all "geometer" to "mathematician", as I would not change all "mechanic" to something else: let contributors familiar with the work of each of these personalities do the changes if necessary. Sapphorain (talk) 06:24, 21 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Additional names on the tower

Historianexpert, I am moving your addition of "There are also more names of engineers who helped build the tower and design it's brilliant architecture on the top of the tower on a plaque, where a laboratory was also built." Wikipedia requires references for material in articles. This is very interesting information and belongs in the article in its own section, not just in the first paragraph. Can you provide a published reference for this information? In my opinion a picture of the plaque would also do. StarryGrandma (talk) 16:07, 4 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Names of scientists not on the tower

An editor is adding the name of Pierre Curie to the list of people not on the tower. I am removing it. Pierre was not well-enough known at the time to have been considered. A list of scientists not on the tower could be very large. The editor said Ironically, his student and wife was more famous than him: Marie Curie. However Marie was not Pierre's student. They met when she needed lab space, and he later joined her in her experimental work. StarryGrandma (talk) 04:38, 11 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]