Romans

[alb0679]

In the film Gladiator, the soldiers greeted each other with the phrase "strength and honour" before going into battle.
Is this factually correct, and if so, does anyone know the latin for strength and honour ?
Thanks

[dundurn]

There were two gods who loooked after soldiers - lots of other personal ones, but two who were part of the fabric of military life - Honos, the god of military honour and Virtus, the god of military might - so the phrase (which might be accurate) would be more like a request to the gods by naming them, so "Virtus et Honos".

[Clanad]

It seems to be possibly historical, depending on the era and context. The saying seems to have changed over the years and was different from Legion to Legion. another possibility suggested is Fortitudo et Honor, as is Vires et decus, with vires having more forcefulness and decus emphasizing the dignity inherent in the honor... as suggested by one discussion site...

[Octavius]

Also possibly fictional, but you never know. The motto of all Roman legions as well as of Rome was the acronym SPQR, Senatus Populus Que Romanus, meaning "The Senate and the People of Rome�, i.e. �In the name of the senate and the people of Rome�.

This acronym was carried on battle standards by the Roman Legions. Each legion had a name and a symbol, but not a motto. For example the name of the �legio II� was: �Legio II Adiutrix Pia Fidelis �(helper faithful and loyal), while its symbols were a Capricorn and Pegasus. The men of that legion may well have said �faithful and loyal� to each other just before going into a battle.

As for �Strength and honour� (Latin, �Vires et Honor� or other variants) it was not the motto, or battle talk of the legions in the strict sense of the word, but certainly the ideals the Romans fought for.

[mycats]

aaaaaaaah so THATS why I saw SPQR carved on loads of buildings in Rome?

[jno]

may also have been the motto of a small business, mycats: Small Profits, Quick Returns.