One of the most infamous decorative elements of the Cook County Criminal Courthouse is its S.P.Q.C. inscription on the top corners of the building’s front-facing facade, noted by architectural consultant on the project Ralph Hammett to be the “seal of Chicago,” (Hammett 157). The abbreviation stands for “Senatus Populusque Chicago,” or the Senate and People of Chicago (Baer). This is an adaptation of S.P.Q.R. or “Senatus Populusque Romanus,” the Senate and People of Rome (Bond).
Some of the first uses of S.P.Q.R. can be traced back to Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BCE), a Roman writer, scholar and statesman who saw the term as capturing the “essential compromise of power within the constitution of the republic: two groups that checked each other’s authority,”—that being, the governing body and its people. (Baldson)(Bond). During Rome’s imperial period, under the helm of Augustus, the S.P.Q.R. shorthand began appearing more frequently, notably on currency and later on military standards (Bond). For Augustus, this term was not representative of checks and balances, but rather, a ploy to legitimize his attempts to restore the Roman republic (Bond).
Yet as evidenced by Augustus’ reappropriation of the term, and in that of the Cook County Courthouse, S.P.Q.R. is as “a word or image with a meaning beyond itself,” (Bond). In other words, throughout centuries, this Roman creed has been manipulated to such a high degree that one must research local context and history to provide any sense of concrete meaning to its use (Bond). Yet even in its many uses, from white nationalism and video games to the courthouse, a throughline is a desire to “channel and lay claim to the authority of ancient Rome,” (Bond).
When considering this notion of desire, one could easily see how S.P.Q.R. was a necessary element for the courthouse planning commission to include. As aforementioned in the "History" section of this portfolio, the architects and commissioners behind the building believed that this new structure could reinvigorate the criminal justice system, solve the rampant crime issue and destigmatize the court process (Noel). Thus, by invoking the S.P.Q.R. creed, the commissioners could not only harken back to Roman ideals of democracy and justice, but of large-scale restoration.
Eagles
Above the S.P.Q.C. inscription is an eagle figure, which although noted by Hammett as being an American eagle, is nevertheless also influenced by ancient Rome. The eagle or Aquila is one of the most famous Roman symbols, finding prominence most notably as a standard for the Roman legion (Rhys). The Aquila was used to convey power, authority and glory—certainly traits of interest to the commissioners of the new courthouse who were brought together in the wake of a failing criminal justice system and decrepit courthouse on West Hubbard Street. (UNRV).
Ornament with Eagle, 100-200 AD, Roman, gold - Cleveland Museum of Art - DSC08277 Links to an external site. by Daderot Links to an external site./Public Domain
icons at the top right corner of the subsection.