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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Why is there a Q in SPQR?
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asked Nov 13 '18 at 20:33
Nathaniel is protesting
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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.
answered Nov 13 '18 at 20:34
Joonas Ilmavirta
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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.
answered Nov 13 '18 at 20:35
Cerberus
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Why is there a Q in SPQR?
up vote
14
down vote
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?
asked Nov 13 '18 at 20:33
Nathaniel is protesting
10.4k3 gold badges29 silver badges94 bronze badges
10.4k3 gold badges29 silver badges94 bronze badges
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up vote
9
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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.
answered Nov 13 '18 at 20:34
Joonas Ilmavirta
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90.4k15 gold badges122 silver badges411 bronze badges
For a concrete example, consider Metamorphoses V.414: "adgnovitque deam 'ne' c 'longius ibitis!' inquit" which uses -c instead of -que. - Nathaniel is protesting Nov 13 '18 at 20:35
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