Editing Vitruvius (section)

===Lists of names given in Book VII Introduction===
In the introduction to book seven, Vitruvius goes to great lengths to present why he is qualified to write {{lang|la|De Architectura}}. This is the only location in the work where Vitruvius specifically addresses his personal breadth of knowledge. Similar to a modern reference section, the author's position as one who is knowledgeable and educated is established. The topics range across many fields of expertise reflecting that in Roman times as today construction is a diverse field. Vitruvius is clearly a well-read man.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}

In addition to providing his qualification, Vitruvius summarizes a recurring theme throughout the 10 books, a non-trivial and core contribution of his treatise beyond simply being a construction book. Vitruvius makes the point that the work of some of the most talented is unknown, while many of those of lesser talent but greater political position are famous.<ref name="Vitruvius, Pollio 1960"/> This theme runs through Vitruvius's ten books repeatedly – echoing an implicit prediction that he and his works will also be forgotten.

Vitruvius illustrates this point by naming what he considers the most talented individuals in history.<ref name="Vitruvius, Pollio 1960"/> Implicitly challenging the reader that they have never heard of some of these people, Vitruvius goes on and predicts that some of these individuals will be forgotten and their works [[Lost literary work|lost]], while other, less deserving political characters of history will be forever remembered with pageantry.

<!--Italicized names below, which show as red links as of 29 July 2015 (and perhaps others which were red links when this sentence was first written) do not have a Wikipedia page as of 29 July 2015 and, outside of inclusion on Vitruvius's list under a categorization, nothing is known of them. Ironically, they may be unknown because the ancient [[Library of Alexandria]] was accidentally burned in 48 BC during a siege by Julius Caesar. Vitruvius does not mention the architecture of Egypt so was probably not involved in this siege.  Further, some of the non-italicized names which show as blue links as of 29 July 2015 have articles in Wikipedia that are Wikipedia "stubs" based on Vitruvius's list and short narratives.  Also, as of 29 July 2015, five of the following non-italicized names have links going to Wikipedia disambiguation pages;<ref>The five links that go to disambiguation pages as of 29 July 2015 are [[Attalus (disambiguation)|Attalus]], [[Pythis (disambiguation)|Pytheos]], [[Timotheos (disambiguation)|Timotheos]], [[Demophilus (disambiguation)|Demophilus]], and [[Leonidas (disambiguation)|Leonidas]].</ref> for these ones it is not clear whether the Wikipedia collective of authors have information about the persons meant by Vitruvius or not.-->
*''List of physicists:'' [[Thales]], [[Democritus]], [[Anaxagoras]], [[Xenophanes]]
*''List of philosophers:'' [[Socrates]], [[Plato]], [[Aristotle]], [[Zeno of Elea|Zeno]], [[Epicurus]]
*''List of kings:'' [[Croesus]], [[Alexander the Great]], [[Darius the Great|Darius]]
*''On plagiarism:'' [[Aristophanes]], [[Ptolemy I Soter]], a person named [[Attalus (disambiguation)|Attalus]]
*''On abusing dead authors:'' [[Zoilus|Zoilus Homeromastix]], [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]]
*''On divergence of the visual rays:'' [[Agatharchus]], [[Aeschylus]], [[Democritus]], [[Anaxagoras]]
*''List of writers on temples:'' Silenus, ''Theodorus''<!-- [[Theodorus of Samos]]? -->, [[Chersiphron]] and [[Metagenes]], [[Ictinus]] and [[Carpion]], ''Theodorus the Phocian'', [[Hermogenes of Priene|Hermogenes]], [[Arcesius]], [[Satyros|Satyrus]] and a person named [[Pythis (disambiguation)|Pytheos]]
*''List of artists:'' [[Leochares]], [[Bryaxis]], [[Scopas]], [[Praxiteles]], Timotheos
*''List of writers on laws of symmetry:'' ''Nexaris'', ''Theocydes'', a person named [[Demophilus (disambiguation)|Demophilus]], ''Pollis'', a person named [[Leonidas (disambiguation)|Leonidas]], [[Silanion]], [[Melampus]], ''Sarnacus'', [[Euphranor]]
*''List of writers on machinery:'' [[Diades of Pella]], [[Archytas]], [[Archimedes]], [[Ctesibius]], ''[[Nymphodorus (physician)|Nymphodorus]]'', [[Philo of Byzantium]], [[Diphilus]], [[Democles]], ''Charias'', [[Polyidus of Thessaly]], [[Pyrrus]], ''[[Agesistratus]]''
*''List of writers on architecture:'' ''Fuficius'', [[Marcus Terentius Varro|Terentius Varro]], ''Publius Septimius (writer)''
*''List of architects:'' ''Antistates'', ''Callaeschrus'', ''Antimachides'', ''Pormus'', ''Cossutius''
*''List of greatest temple architects:'' ''Chersiphron of Gnosus'', [[Metagenes]], [[Demetrius]], ''Paeonius the Milesian'', ''Ephesian Daphnis'', [[Ictinus]], [[Philon|Philo]], ''Cossutius'', ''Gaius Mucianus''