I found it very intresting, speaking of the Cloaca Maxima, that especially as you walk around the Forum, you can see sewer covers set around the ground as if they were put in Yesterday. They all (at least the ones I saw) had SPQR inlayed in them. I did not though think of bending down and really studying them at all. They are very much, from what I saw, a lot like todays sewer covers that you find, except square in shape.
Does anyone know what metal these were made out of?
From what I remember when visiting Rome, those ARE modern manhole covers. Apparently, Mussolini (re?)started the practice of putting the SPQR insignia on the covers in the city of Rome.
Yes that is correct, but, many cities use SPQ.... for example Liverpool in the UK. To the original , try Ancient Rome on 5 denari a day