Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2017 April 10

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April 10

costs to build vessels

I'm doing a research project. It involves figuring out how much some certain vessels cost (in US dollars) to build at their times. The vessels are the SS Nomadic, the SS Traffic (1911), the RMS Olympic, the HMHS Britannic, the RMS Carpathia and the RMS Lusitania. If anybody out there could help me please, that would be wonderful. Thank you so much.2604:2000:7113:9D00:B81E:C008:E611:FADF (talk) 07:13, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

One useful Wikipedia source will be Tables of historical exchange rates to the United States dollar. 174.88.10.107 (talk) 11:03, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

The whole idea of a research project is to learn how to conduct research. To learn how to find which archives may contain this information and to search them, in a orderly manner. Not to leave these skills to others, to do the hard-graft for you. You will not learn anything by doing such. So we don't do your homework for you.--Aspro (talk) 11:07, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Let me jump in here. I wasn't asking for help with homework. I was asking for help with other things, that's all.2604:2000:7113:9D00:B81E:C008:E611:FADF (talk) 22:24, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

The answer above yours gave the OP a useful hint, but not the whole answer. They will have to find the cost figure and convert it still. Obviously, we can not discard that someone reported the converted figure somewhere, and that the OP only has to find this. --Hofhof (talk) 11:13, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Here is an estimate of construction cost per ton at £63 with a £12 margin in 1911, but this concerns military vessels. In the US MV Anton Dohrn (wooden) had its price tag at $25,000. --Askedonty (talk) 11:18, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

The construction cost of the Olympic and Brittanic is given in our article for the former, or at least the contracted price (in GBP). Alansplodge (talk) 12:53, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

What would've been the construction costs of the Nomadic, Traffic, Carpathia and Lusitania?2604:2000:7113:9D00:B81E:C008:E611:FADF (talk) 15:32, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

If you've already tried google without results, may I suggest some ways to keep looking.

• Search contemporary newspapers at https://news.google.com/newspapers
• Search in books: after doing a google search, choose the "books" tab at the top of the page. You can then use the "tools" tab to specify books you can read online (choose "preview available")
• Search in academic articles at https://scholar.google.com

You can also narrow your search results by using quotation marks. For example, you could specify "total construction cost" or "cost overrun". Using full ship names such as "RMS Carpathia" instead of just Carpathia will also help you get more relevant results, or include the name of the shipyard as mentioned in the wikipedia articles. 174.88.10.107 (talk) 17:36, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

I tried those suggestions, nothing worked.2604:2000:7113:9D00:B81E:C008:E611:FADF (talk) 22:24, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Would have though that a better project, would be one which yielded currently useful understandings and focus on modern vessel construction like the International Space Station. Sure, understanding how to build a dug-out canoe may be very satisfying from an historical academic sense but we need more technologists that can contribute and help to construct our tomorrow -rather than wax-lyrical about yesteryears. Mankind didn't get to the moon by studying how the Neolithic people became so skilled at fashioning stone tools.--Aspro (talk) 14:47, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Bromance, Womance . . . other?

I read the articles on Bromance and Womance. I am wondering if there is a word that describes this kind of relationship between to people of opposite genders . . . two people of opposite gender who are "best friends" (but do not have a sexual component to the relationship. 198.72.29.37 (talk) 15:50, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Platonic relationship. The term has been around a LOT longer than the more recent portmanteau words of the last decade. --Jayron32 16:00, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Apparently "Nomance" is also a thing. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:02, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

A girlfriend who looks too much like your mother, sister or daughter or isn't your type physically. A boyfriend who looks like your dad, brother or son or isn't muscular enough for you. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 00:10, 12 April 2017 (UTC)

Well, d-uh! I should have thought of that! Thanks. 198.72.29.37 (talk) 16:04, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Was Isis the Egyptian version of Aphrodite?

I'm studying Cleopatra and it says that Cleopatra claimed to be related to/is Isis, but then it begins to mention Aphrodite. What is up with this? Also, if someone couldn't answer me in a simple way, that would be much appreciated. Who was Isis? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aeb1818 (talk • contribs) 17:42, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Hi there, a good place to start is to read our article Isis. In the section called "Greco-Roman world", you will see that Greek, Roman and Arabian peoples compared Isis to several different goddesses in their own traditions. Aphrodite was one of these goddesses. 174.88.10.107 (talk) 18:17, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

It's also important for context here that Cleopatra was really Greco-Egyptian and not native Egyptian. Her dynasty, the Ptolemaic dynasty, was descended from a Greek-Macedonian family that took over Egypt following the conquests of Alexander the Great. While they adopted some culture of their conquered land, the Ptolemaic rulers also maintained many connections to the Greek and later Roman worlds. --Jayron32 12:21, 11 April 2017 (UTC)

Indeed most of her family spoke only Greek. —Tamfang (talk) 07:18, 15 April 2017 (UTC)

If Cleopatra were to apply for a job nowadays, what would she be best at? Why?

Why? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aeb1818 (talk • contribs) 17:50, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Sugar daughter? Maybe as a stepping stone? Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 18:13, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

As a Ptolemy, more like "sister-wife". Maybe she could get her own reality show. Happy Siblings Day! - Nunh-huh 05:31, 11 April 2017 (UTC)

Your teacher probably wants you to figure out what skills and experience Cleopatra might have had, then think about what modern jobs use those skills and experience. For example, our article says she could speak both Greek and Egyptian. You could think about how speaking those languages could be useful today. Then keep looking through her article for other things she did and see if you can come up with more. 174.88.10.107 (talk) 18:21, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

One job we can probably rule out is herpetologist. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:05, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Don't asp, don't tell. Ad adder per astra. Add adder, subtract her. Per aspera, aspis. Per aspis, pungere. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 03:28, 11 April 2017 (UTC)

What is an example of when Cleopatra was able to lead and inspire a team?

? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aeb1818 (talk • contribs) 18:27, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Question does not apply. Cleopatra was brought up to be an autocrat. That means she would not have been suited to any other occupation where she was not top-dog. --Aspro (talk) 18:31, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Your teacher probably wants you to read a biography of Cleopatra looking for a time when other people felt inspired by her. As Aspro says, this is not the same as people following her orders. So look for mentions of people being impressed by her, or of other kings/leaders making an alliance with her for a successful outcome. If you can't find an example in our article on Cleopatra, you need to find another biography. Your school librarian can help you. 174.88.10.107 (talk) 20:23, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

She was able to get the Romans to do her bidding, for a while, but her method (sleeping with Roman leaders) is looked down upon these days. StuRat (talk) 00:33, 11 April 2017 (UTC)

Don't forget the time she was coaching the national soccer team and exhorted them to win one for the Viper. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 03:03, 11 April 2017 (UTC)

Asp and you will receive. Then you're doing what you adder. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 00:16, 12 April 2017 (UTC)

Are there any times that Cleopatra led an army/battalion/fleet?

If so, when? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aeb1818 (talk • contribs) 18:41, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Uhmm. Wikipedia probably has an article about that. Reference Desk is not here to answer questions that you can't be bothered to google for yourself...--Aspro (talk) 18:58, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

P.S. It might help if you told us if these are some kind of homework questions. If so, we can rapidly give you some advice.--Aspro (talk) 19:13, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

It is for a school project. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aeb1818 (talk • contribs) 19:30, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Same thing - your teacher probably wants you to read a biography of Cleopatra looking for a mention of her commanding an army or navy. Start by reading our article Cleopatra. Good luck on your project. 174.88.10.107 (talk) 20:23, 10 April 2017 (UTC)