From The Great:
The title "the Great" at first seems to be a simplification/colloquialism of the Persian title "Great King". This title was first used by the conqueror Cyrus II of Persia.[1]
The Persian title was inherited by Alexander III of Macedon (336–323 BC) when he conquered the Persian Empire, and the epithet "Great" eventually became personally associated with him. The first reference (in a comedy by Plautus)[2] assumes that everyone knew who "Alexander the Great" was. However, there is no earlier evidence that Alexander III of Macedon was called "the Great".
The early Seleucid kings, who succeeded Alexander in Persia, used "Great King" in local documents, but the title was most notably used for Antiochus the Great (223–187 BC); probably since he was the only Seleucid king to fight the Romans.
Later rulers and commanders began to use the epithet "the Great" as a personal name, like the Roman general Pompey. Others received the surname retrospectively, like the Carthaginian Hanno and the Indian emperor Ashoka the Great and the Hindu king Shivaji the Great. Once the surname gained currency, it was also used as an honorific surname for people without political careers, like the philosopher Albert the Great.
The highest tribute that I can pay to someone who has so greatly improved a Wikimedia project, it is hard to imagine that project without their work, insight and help. The reason why a subject, portrait or image is chosen for the person can be seemingly arbitrary, but usually is not. All dedications are equal, and the image is a public acknowledgment of thanks to that person.
Contents
Nominations accepted
Do you remember User:RickK's legendary vandal fighting? Should User:Essjay be included as one of The Greats? Given the rate of Wiki attrition, it's possible the vast majority of current editors have no idea why Essjay is one of the most famous--or infamous--Wikipedians ever, nor laid eyes upon a RickK anti-Vandalism barnstar.
This Hall of Greats is a small attempt to acknowledge some of the hardest workers, brightest minds, talented writers, prolific gnomes, indispensable techies, obsessive-compulsives, programmers, artists, professionals, insomniacs, mediators, arbiters and oddballs whose work on a Wikimedia project unquestionably shaped or improved it for either their fellow editors or the project's end users. I welcome community input and suggestions.
Inspiration
My inspiration for The Hall of the Greats was Phaedriel's Today's Wikipedian (continued by Rlevse) and Tony Santiago's Wall of Honor, as well as the Barnstar program and individual user awards.
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The Hall of the Greats
-
David Mamet
to SlimVirgin T.G.
of Wikipedia
September 7, 2008 -
Alice Sebold
to Daniel Case T.G.
of Wikipedia
December 27, 2008 -
Crystle Stewart to
PageantUpdater T.G.
of Wikipedia
December 30, 2008 -
Ronald Dworkin
to Cool Hand Luke T.G.
of Wikipedia
December 30, 2008 -
Stephen Colbert
to Pete Forsyth T.G.
of Wikipedia
December 30, 2008 -
Ray Mancini
to Seicer T.G.
of Wikipedia
December 30, 2008 -
Randy Couture
to David Goodman T.G.
of Wikipedia
December 30, 2008 -
Larry Kramer
to Benjiboi T.G.
of Wikipedia
December 30, 2008 -
Salman Rushdie
to Mark Pellegrini T.G.
of Wikimedia
December 30, 2008 -
Sharin Foo
to Ohnoitsjamie T.G.
of Wikipedia
December 31, 2008 -
Madonna
to Jimbo Wales T.G.
of Wikimedia
December 31, 2008 -
Donald Trump to
Tony Santiago T.G.
of Wikipedia
December 31, 2008 -
Milagros Schmoll to
Phaedriel T.G.
of Wikipedia
December 31, 2008 -
Erin Heatherton to
Rlevse T.G.
of Wikipedia
December 31, 2008 -
Mariah Carey to
Henrik T.G.
of Wikimedia
December 31, 2008 -
Michael Bloomberg to
Pharos T.G.
of Wikimedia
January 2, 2009 -
Tom Brokaw to
Brian McNeil T.G.
of Wikinews
January 2, 2009 -
Chrysler Building to
Mongo T.G.
of Wikipedia
January 2, 2009 -
Billy Name to
Durova T.G.
of Wikimedia
January 2, 2009 -
Tina Fey to
Cary Bass T.G.
of Wikimedia
January 2, 2009 -
Robert De Niro to
William M. Connolley T.G.
of Wikipedia
January 2, 2009 -
Enson Inoue to
Can't sleep, clown will eat me T.G.
of Wikipedia
January 2, 2009 -
Arthur R. Miller to
Newyorkbrad T.G.
of Wikipedia
January 2, 2009 -
Melvin Van Peebles to
Malik Shabazz T.G.
of Wikipedia
January 4, 2009 -
Faye Dunaway to
SatyrTN T.G.
of Wikipedia
January 5, 2009 -
Alec Baldwin to
Casliber T.G.
of Wikipedia
January 5, 2009 -
Julianne Moore to
Alison T.G.
of Wikimedia
January 13, 2009 -
Jonathan Lethem to
Erik Möller T.G.
of Wikimedia
January 14, 2009 -
Frank McCourt to
Jkelly T.G.
of Wikimedia
January 27, 2009 -
Justin Theroux to
NonvocalScream T.G.
of Wikimedia
January 29, 2009 -
Matthew Modine to
Jfdwolff T.G.
of Wikipedia
January 29, 2009 -
Martin Scorsese to
EVula T.G.
of Wikimedia
February 1, 2009 -
Brian Williams to
Jason Safoutin T.G.
of Wikinews
February 2, 2009 -
John Goodman to
The Fat Man Who Never Came Back T.G.
of Wikipedia
February 6, 2009 -
Woody Allen to
Alansohn T.G.
of Wikipedia
May 21, 2009 -
Bradley Cooper to
Will Beback T.G.
of Wikipedia
June 25, 2009 -
Michael Jackson impersonator to
Realist2 T.G.
of Wikipedia
June 25, 2009 -
Cynthia Nixon to
Moni3 T.G.
of Wikipedia
June 27, 2009 -
Olive oil, similar to Crisco, to
MuZemike T.G.
of Wikipedia
January 06, 2012 (alternative uses only, see the Crisco page for information)
Notes
- ^ In a clay cylinder (online). Note that the expression was used in a propagandistic context: the conqueror wants to show he is a normal Babylonian ruler. The first Persian ruler to use the title in an Iranian context was Darius I of Persia (Darius the Great), in the Behistun Inscription (online).
- ^ Plautus, Mostellaria 775.