Why is there a Q in SPQR?










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The abbreviation SPQR stands for Senatus PopulusQue Romanus. Why is the Q included, as there are only three words? Why isn't it just SPR? Or does SPQR stand for something else?









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up vote
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The abbreviation SPQR stands for Senatus PopulusQue Romanus. Why is the Q included, as there are only three words? Why isn't it just SPR? Or does SPQR stand for something else?









share













locked by Nathaniel Nov 13 at 21:07


This question exists because it has historical significance, but it is not considered a good, on-topic question for this site, so please do not use it as evidence that you can ask similar questions here. This question and its answers are frozen and cannot be changed. More info: help center.















  • MODERATOR NOTICE: This is not a real question! It is a place-holder for the example question on the tour page. As such the question and both answers are entirely contrived to fit the limited space and formatting restrictions. Please don't answer or edit this question and its answers directly. If you have any input please participate in this meta post.
    – Nathaniel
    Nov 13 at 20:40










  • Note that this content is heavily trimmed from Why is the Roman acronym SPQR and not SPR?.
    – Nathaniel
    Nov 13 at 20:40













up vote
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up vote
5
down vote

favorite











The abbreviation SPQR stands for Senatus PopulusQue Romanus. Why is the Q included, as there are only three words? Why isn't it just SPR? Or does SPQR stand for something else?









share













The abbreviation SPQR stands for Senatus PopulusQue Romanus. Why is the Q included, as there are only three words? Why isn't it just SPR? Or does SPQR stand for something else?







conjunction abbreviations





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asked Nov 13 at 20:33









Nathaniel

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locked by Nathaniel Nov 13 at 21:07


This question exists because it has historical significance, but it is not considered a good, on-topic question for this site, so please do not use it as evidence that you can ask similar questions here. This question and its answers are frozen and cannot be changed. More info: help center.






locked by Nathaniel Nov 13 at 21:07


This question exists because it has historical significance, but it is not considered a good, on-topic question for this site, so please do not use it as evidence that you can ask similar questions here. This question and its answers are frozen and cannot be changed. More info: help center.














  • MODERATOR NOTICE: This is not a real question! It is a place-holder for the example question on the tour page. As such the question and both answers are entirely contrived to fit the limited space and formatting restrictions. Please don't answer or edit this question and its answers directly. If you have any input please participate in this meta post.
    – Nathaniel
    Nov 13 at 20:40










  • Note that this content is heavily trimmed from Why is the Roman acronym SPQR and not SPR?.
    – Nathaniel
    Nov 13 at 20:40


















  • MODERATOR NOTICE: This is not a real question! It is a place-holder for the example question on the tour page. As such the question and both answers are entirely contrived to fit the limited space and formatting restrictions. Please don't answer or edit this question and its answers directly. If you have any input please participate in this meta post.
    – Nathaniel
    Nov 13 at 20:40










  • Note that this content is heavily trimmed from Why is the Roman acronym SPQR and not SPR?.
    – Nathaniel
    Nov 13 at 20:40
















MODERATOR NOTICE: This is not a real question! It is a place-holder for the example question on the tour page. As such the question and both answers are entirely contrived to fit the limited space and formatting restrictions. Please don't answer or edit this question and its answers directly. If you have any input please participate in this meta post.
– Nathaniel
Nov 13 at 20:40




MODERATOR NOTICE: This is not a real question! It is a place-holder for the example question on the tour page. As such the question and both answers are entirely contrived to fit the limited space and formatting restrictions. Please don't answer or edit this question and its answers directly. If you have any input please participate in this meta post.
– Nathaniel
Nov 13 at 20:40












Note that this content is heavily trimmed from Why is the Roman acronym SPQR and not SPR?.
– Nathaniel
Nov 13 at 20:40




Note that this content is heavily trimmed from Why is the Roman acronym SPQR and not SPR?.
– Nathaniel
Nov 13 at 20:40










2 Answers
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The enclitic -que was treated much like a word. This is most evident in the way Ovid handles quotes, where -que is outside a quote but the word it's attached to is inside. There are few other ancient abbreviations with -que, if any, so it's difficult to compare.





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    For a concrete example, consider Metamorphoses V.414: "adgnovitque deam 'ne' c 'longius ibitis!' inquit" which uses -c instead of -que.
    – Nathaniel
    Nov 13 at 20:35


















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3
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We definitely know that SPQR refers to senatus populusque Romanus and not something else. This text is inscribed in full in the temple of Saturn and arch of Titus in Rome. It's hard to say whether the abbreviation is systematic or an arbitrary choice that happened to stick.





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    2 Answers
    2






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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    3
    down vote













    The enclitic -que was treated much like a word. This is most evident in the way Ovid handles quotes, where -que is outside a quote but the word it's attached to is inside. There are few other ancient abbreviations with -que, if any, so it's difficult to compare.





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    • 2




      For a concrete example, consider Metamorphoses V.414: "adgnovitque deam 'ne' c 'longius ibitis!' inquit" which uses -c instead of -que.
      – Nathaniel
      Nov 13 at 20:35















    up vote
    3
    down vote













    The enclitic -que was treated much like a word. This is most evident in the way Ovid handles quotes, where -que is outside a quote but the word it's attached to is inside. There are few other ancient abbreviations with -que, if any, so it's difficult to compare.





    share

















    • 2




      For a concrete example, consider Metamorphoses V.414: "adgnovitque deam 'ne' c 'longius ibitis!' inquit" which uses -c instead of -que.
      – Nathaniel
      Nov 13 at 20:35













    up vote
    3
    down vote










    up vote
    3
    down vote









    The enclitic -que was treated much like a word. This is most evident in the way Ovid handles quotes, where -que is outside a quote but the word it's attached to is inside. There are few other ancient abbreviations with -que, if any, so it's difficult to compare.





    share












    The enclitic -que was treated much like a word. This is most evident in the way Ovid handles quotes, where -que is outside a quote but the word it's attached to is inside. There are few other ancient abbreviations with -que, if any, so it's difficult to compare.






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    answered Nov 13 at 20:34









    Joonas Ilmavirta

    44.3k1056257




    44.3k1056257








    • 2




      For a concrete example, consider Metamorphoses V.414: "adgnovitque deam 'ne' c 'longius ibitis!' inquit" which uses -c instead of -que.
      – Nathaniel
      Nov 13 at 20:35














    • 2




      For a concrete example, consider Metamorphoses V.414: "adgnovitque deam 'ne' c 'longius ibitis!' inquit" which uses -c instead of -que.
      – Nathaniel
      Nov 13 at 20:35








    2




    2




    For a concrete example, consider Metamorphoses V.414: "adgnovitque deam 'ne' c 'longius ibitis!' inquit" which uses -c instead of -que.
    – Nathaniel
    Nov 13 at 20:35




    For a concrete example, consider Metamorphoses V.414: "adgnovitque deam 'ne' c 'longius ibitis!' inquit" which uses -c instead of -que.
    – Nathaniel
    Nov 13 at 20:35










    up vote
    3
    down vote













    We definitely know that SPQR refers to senatus populusque Romanus and not something else. This text is inscribed in full in the temple of Saturn and arch of Titus in Rome. It's hard to say whether the abbreviation is systematic or an arbitrary choice that happened to stick.





    share

























      up vote
      3
      down vote













      We definitely know that SPQR refers to senatus populusque Romanus and not something else. This text is inscribed in full in the temple of Saturn and arch of Titus in Rome. It's hard to say whether the abbreviation is systematic or an arbitrary choice that happened to stick.





      share























        up vote
        3
        down vote










        up vote
        3
        down vote









        We definitely know that SPQR refers to senatus populusque Romanus and not something else. This text is inscribed in full in the temple of Saturn and arch of Titus in Rome. It's hard to say whether the abbreviation is systematic or an arbitrary choice that happened to stick.





        share












        We definitely know that SPQR refers to senatus populusque Romanus and not something else. This text is inscribed in full in the temple of Saturn and arch of Titus in Rome. It's hard to say whether the abbreviation is systematic or an arbitrary choice that happened to stick.






        share











        share


        share










        answered Nov 13 at 20:35









        Cerberus

        11.3k23275




        11.3k23275















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