What does it mean SPQR

[Belisarivs]

Hi.

I was googling hard to find what does SPQR mean. Answers differ quite much.

I don't mean those cheerful things like "Sentiment Prevents Queens' Removal" and so.

I've found ideas like:

Senatus Populusque Romanum (but what does Q stand for? I'm not likely to believe it that it is in word PopulusQue)

which means Senate of Roman People (I think)

Senatus Populus Que Roma

Senate, People and Rome (which fits me best)

and other I don't recall.

What do you think it is?

Just curious.

[Klaas]

It's indeed Senatus Populusque Romanum. The Q is for the que after populus. Que means "and" and is put after a noun in Latin, attached to it.

So the meaning is the senate and people of Rome.

[Belisarivs]

So the meaning is the senate and people of Rome.

Thanks for explanation. But "Romanum" sounds like adjective. "Roma" sounds like objective.

[CodeOptimist]

Wikipedia has a page about this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spqr

Edited May 28, 2006 by CodeOptimist

[ZeZar]

I can explain

Ok, in Norwegian we have 3 letters like THIS:

Æ Ø Å

Ø is written as Q in games where you cant write Ø, so when you write "SPQR", it means SPØR, which means "ask" in norwegian.

[Klaas]

Thanks for explanation. But "Romanum" sounds like adjective. "Roma" sounds like objective.

Nah, Romanum is a genetive, so it means "of Rome".

[Morgan]

The inscription on the Arch of Titus, southeast of the Forum in Rome.

Senatus Populusque Romanus means, in English, "The Senate and People of Rome".

"SPQR" emblazoned on Rome's manhole covers.

In Res Gestae Divi Augusti (English: The Deeds of the Divine Augustus) Augustus mentions the senate and the Roman people several times. "SPQR" simply represents how people thought of their city-states back in the day.

Latin: Res Gestae Divi Augusti I & II

English: The Deeds of the Divine Augustus

"SPQR" is also an acronym for Securitised Portfolio of Quality Receivables Funding, which is the first Italian collateralized debt obligation.

[Uppy]

Oh! I learned this when I was learning latin but I forgot it. I remember seeing it in "Gladiator".

[Belisarivs]

Thank you all. Now it is perfectly clear.

Edited May 29, 2006 by Belisarivs