Talk:Porte d'Aix

It may be worth discussing the architecture and its models later, when the article is less thoroughly "owned" Wetman (talk) 07:47, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Complete rewrite required

Despite the claimed sources, this article is just an attempted translation of the French WP article with the same title. The translation is appalling: many contradictions, inaccuracies and misunderstandings have been introduced into the article. A lot of work is required and I doubt that an article of this length is merited by the monument: only half of the eight planned caryatids were completed. Why does the article say that two different triumphal arches were taken as the model? Why is the architect listed as Pinchaud when he was called Penchaud? Why is Louis XIV mentioned and not Louis XVI? This is extremely careless editing and I would like to see a better source provided. The worst complaint is that this is a "royal arch", whose erection was delayed by the French revolution and Napoleonic rule. This is not at all what the first version of the lead said. Mathsci (talk) 08:47, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

I have retranslated the French WP article (where appropriate). However, it would be nice to find a source text on the architecture of Marseille as a reference (probably in French). The originator of the article claimed various travel guides as sources; however his/her text was quite clearly a word-for-word translation/mistranslation of the corresponding French WP article, and not one of these travel texts (it is impossible to assume good faith when an editor makes absurd errors like this - just like a bad thief). I was able to check some details in my own source documents on Marseille and I have read the sign put up by the City of Marseille explaining the history of the monument (one of my most often used bus stops). However, there must be a good French book on the monuments of Marseille. Mathsci (talk) 11:36, 6 April 2008 (UTC)