Wikipedia:Main Page history/2019 March 17

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

West facade of Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral

Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral is a Gothic revival cathedral in Cork, Ireland, whose modern building was completed in 1879, and today belongs to the Church of Ireland. The cathedral is dedicated to Finbarr of Cork, patron saint of the city, who may have founded a monastery on the grounds in the seventh century. During the medieval period, the site underwent successive wars and repeated construction and damage. Fin Barre's rebuilding was commissioned in the mid-19th century as the first major project for the Victorian architect William Burges, who designed most of its architecture, interior sculpture, stained glass, mosaics and interior furniture. Many of the external sculptures, including the gargoyles, were modeled by Thomas Nicholls. The exterior is capped by three spires, and is mostly built from local stone. The main entrance contains representations of over a dozen biblical figures, capped by a tympanum showing a Resurrection scene. (Full article...)

Recently featured:

Did you know...

Yacare caiman

... that although the yacare caiman (pictured) was "heading for oblivion" in the 1980s due to hunting, its current population in the Pantanal wetlands alone is about 10 million?
... that Marcello Costa spent his career researching the links between the nervous system and the gut?
... that the British submarine HMS Stratagem sank only one ship in its 13-month-long career—only three days before it was itself sunk?
... that Venezuelan journalist Luz Mely Reyes was one of the "Guardians" spotlighted for the 2018 Time Person of the Year?
... that leading black and white artists responded to the 1926 symposium The Negro in Art: How Shall He Be Portrayed? with their views on the extent to which black artists could avoid racial stereotypes?
... that Ian Eaves has catalogued the arms and armour of Queen Elizabeth II, and written about those of King Henry VIII?
... that a U.S. presidential candidate making a campaign announcement is said to "throw one's hat in the ring", after a boxing metaphor popularized by the Theodore Roosevelt 1912 presidential campaign?
... that in India, a postal officer became a spymaster?

In the news

Cyclone Idai

Flash floods and winds caused by Cyclone Idai (satellite image shown) kill at least 205 people in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
At least 50 people are killed in shootings at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre, in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Following the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 with the loss of all 157 people on board, Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are grounded worldwide.
Two gunmen invade a school in Suzano, São Paulo, Brazil, killing at least 8 people.

On this day

March 17: Saint Patrick's Day

Golda Meir

455 – After arranging for the assassination of Valentinian III, Petronius Maximus secured the throne of the Western Roman Empire, only to be killed 11 weeks later during the sack of Rome.
1677 – Franco-Dutch War: France captured the town of Valenciennes in the Spanish Netherlands.
1860 – The First Taranaki War began at Waitara, marking an important phase of the New Zealand Wars.
1969 – Golda Meir (pictured) became the first female Prime Minister of Israel.
1979 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the Scottish Borders region of Scotland collapsed during refurbishing construction, killing two workers, and leading to the abandonment of the tunnel.

Edith New (b. 1877) · Toni Preckwinkle (b. 1947) · Shu Xiuwen (d. 1969)

More anniversaries:

Today's featured picture

MS Marina is a cruise ship which was constructed at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente yards in Italy for Oceania Cruises. Launched in 2011, Marina is the first in a duo of cruise ships, the other being MS Riviera, which launched the following year. Marina was designed by Norwegian architectural firm Yran & Storbraaten and has a diesel-electric powerplant with a pair of fixed pitch propellers. As part of its construction, a U.S. silver dollar coin and a pre-Castro Cuban peso coin were welded into the keel; according to shipbuilding tradition, it is believed to bring fortune to the ship, its passengers and crew.

Photograph: Christian Ferrer

Recently featured:

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.