# What is the object these Romans are carrying?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-object-these-romans-are-carrying/477691>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 18, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-object-these-romans-are-carrying/477691 "2008-12-18T03:07:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-object-these-romans-are-carrying/477691/1 "2008-12-18T03:07:07Z")

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In this engraving in the Arch of Titus, the Romans are depicted carrying a menorah from the Temple of Jerusalem in the year 70, but what is the other object being carried? It looks like an ancient movie camera. What is it?

[http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/a/images/arch\_titus.relief.lg.jpg](http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/a/images/arch_titus.relief.lg.jpg)

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-object-these-romans-are-carrying/477691/2 "2008-12-18T03:12:18Z")

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Romans sometimes carried a rigid “banner” with company symbol or “SPQR” (“Senatus PopulusQue Romanus” – “The Senate and People of Rome”). This looks like one of those.  
Here are some modern copies:

[http://www.legionxxiv.org/signum/](http://www.legionxxiv.org/signum/)

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-object-these-romans-are-carrying/477691/3 "2008-12-18T03:13:15Z")

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An [SPQR](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPQR) guidon?

EDIT: Or, what **CalMeacham** said.