From the article: What Does SPQR Stand For?
SPQR translates into English as "the Senate and the Roman people" but what exactly do the individual letters S, P, Q, and R stand for? Do they stand for, for instance, Senatus Populusque Quiritum Romanorum or Senatus Populusque Romanorum or something else? Please post your understanding of these initials and why you think your version is better than the others. What Is It and Why
Proper english
- In proper English, it should be "Senate of Roman People."
- —Guest Lucas
Something completely different
- I have always believed it stood for something totally different. Forgive my Latin but I was taught as a child in England and remember from my earliest acquaintance with Roman history that spqr stood for Senators Praetors Quaestors Romani. This seems to be unique among the responses here but does not on the face of it seem completely absurd. Has anyone else heard this one?
- —Monovian
SPQR
- Actually que is added to a Latin noun to mean "and". In addition, I was always taught in Latin class that it is correctly written in Latin as Senatus Populusque Romani, not Romanus. This is because as a second declension noun the possessive of Romanus is Romani. It is not an adjective but a noun. If it wee Senatus Populusque Romanus it would be translated Roman Senate and People.
- —Guest CEM
SPQR - “Senatus Populusque Romanus“,
- In my opinion the "abreviation" of SPQR simply means the Senate & people of Rome - The Q stems from "Que" in this instance meaning "OF" - Latin Grammer will hold up this theory and it is the only logical transcription feasable - Quirites can be disgarded as the Q in favour of Que meaning of Rome
- —Guest Logicas Maximus
thank you
- always wanted to know what SPQR meant. i love to learn about this period, tis my passion. thank you everybody.
- —Guest learning history
Perche no?
- My Italian professor once suggested it meant Sono Porchi Questi Romani (They are pigs, these Romans)
- —Guest Smart291
S.P.Q.R
- It means "Senatus Populusque Romanus" or in english "The Senate and the people of Rome"
- —Guest 6TR
The Meaning Of S.P.Q.R.
- The Government and the People together in a common synergy of interests.
- —Guest Carlo Bari
I agree
- I also think it means senate for the roman people.
- —Guest guest2
Internet of Disinformation
- Que AND ffs. simple latin. Pueris puellīsque. Boys "AND" Girls. SPQR = Exact English.... Senate and People of Rome. Does not say ..Senate and the Roman people. Senate, People-and Roman. In English, Senate and People of Rome. Augeri amplificarique, Literally Increased and Englarged. que, AND. Inclusive.
- —Guest fenir
S.P.Q.R.
- On the remaining columns of the Temple of Saturn in the forum is the inscription: "Senatus Popularus Que Romanus" which I believe can be translated as "the Senate and the People that are Rome"
- —Guest Ron visiting Rome
of vs Of
- It is strange to us to read, because we are customed to saying things like, "The United States of America." We say, USA. not USOA, or TUSOA. Perhaps the ancient Romans did?
- —Guest Cpt. Slightly Obvious
S.P.Q.R.
- Senatus Populusque Romanus stands for "Il Senato e il popolo romano", in english "The Senate and the Roman people". However, in Italy we also said in a wider sense that SPQR means: The Senate for the Roman people. You can see that a lot of items in Rome are still marked SPQR, most notably the water retention gutters. The senate built the gutter system for the people of Rome and therefore many modern day Romans think, that SPQR stands for "The Senate for the Roman people". Actually I like this version over all the others.
- —Guest Patricia
SPQR
- ....usage began after some terrifying emperors had ruled. SPQR may not be literal but meant to define the spirit of the new political reality; i.e., The Senate and The People is Rome - as opposed to only the elite and wealthy.
- —Carml
An SPQR alternative translation
- Is not "Roman Senate and People" also a possible (more likely?) translation. To me it seems much more likely that "Roman" would have been intended to apply to both subjects.
- —Guest Richard Harrison
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