Lesson 4: Roman Square Capitals

Serifs

 Trajan Revisted
 Trajan Alphabet
 Basic Anatomy of Majuscules
 Bracket Serifs
 Beaked Serifs
 Barbs
 Dedications
 Roman Numerals and Years

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 TRAJAN COLUMN, ROME

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 Basic Anatomy of Majuscules
Match the words with the meanings and then label
the diagrams below.

ARM BOWL COUNTER CROSSBAR LEG

STEM STROKE SPINE TAIL

A. This is the main part of the letter, which supports the letter and
acts like a trunk as on a tree.
B. This is the main part of a letter which is not a stem.
C. This is the main part of a letter which forms its backbone.
D. Also known as bars, there are horizontal or diagonal lines of a
letter that stretch out and try to balance the letter.
E. This is a horizontal stroke that connects two parts of the letter
together.
F. This is the bottom stroke of a letter and acts as a support.
G. This is a descending stroke, often decorative.
H. This is the space within a letter.
I. This is an open or closed circular line.

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 Bracket Serifs
Which letters have the following bracket serifs?

On upper and lower stems

On arms that are central

On diagonal arms or legs

On upright arms or legs

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 Beak Serifs
Which letters have the following beak serifs?

Where the stem meets an arm or leg

Or a bowl or circular letter

To finish an arm

To finish a leg (usually longer)

Barbs/Sharp Pointed Serifs

Which letters have the following barbs?

On circular letters

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 Dedications
Roman Square Capitals were used by the Romans as
engravings on stone, commemorating events, people and
their achievements.

You are going to do something similar but for fun!!!!!

You can do ONE of the following.

1. Dedication

Think of how you, your friend, your pet would like to be

remembered and what you would leave behind.

Structure:

I, (NAME), (LIST OF ACHIEVEMENTS) DEDICATE THIS (WHAT YOU WANT TO

LEAVE BEHIND) TO ALL (PEOPLE) TO ENJOY….

Example:

I, JOHN BROWN, MASTER OF SCRIBES AND GURU OF THE FEATHERED QUILL,

DEDICATE THIS OSTRICH FEATHER TO ALL FELLOW CALLIGRAPHERS TO ENJOY
FOR ETERNITY

2. Remembering a place

Think of a memorable place you visited. Make your mark!

I WAS HERE

Structure:

I, (NAME), (LIST OF ACHIEVEMENTS, WAS IN THE YEAR (YEAR IN ROMAN

NUMERALS) IN THE TOWN/CITY OF…., HERE.

Example:

I, JOSEPH BROWN, MASTER OF SCRIBES & OF THE RSC, WAS IN THE YEAR
MMXIV, HERE IN THE HAT TOWN OF STOCKPORT.
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 Roman Numerals and Years

Roman numerals were based on an Etruscan-Roman

tally system that developed over a period of time
where numbers of greater value came before
numbers of lesser value. But there were exceptions:

I=1 I

V=5 II
X = 10 III

L = 50 IV Subtract 1 from 5

C = 100 V
D = 500 VI
M = 1,000 VII
VIII
XL Subtract 10 from 50
IX
Subtract 1 from 10

XC Subtract 10 from 100

X
CD
Subtract 100 from 500

CM Subtract 100 from 1000 There were no zeros!

MCM = 1900 (one thousand, nine hundred)

MCMXC = 1990 (one thousand, nine hundred and ninety)

MM = 2000 (two thousand)

MMXIV = 2014 (two thousand and fourteen)

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