Lesson 3: Roman Square Capitals

Spacing

 Leptis Magna Inscription

 Spacing-
-Inter-letter Spacing
-Inter-Word Spacing
 Latin Note
 Latin Phrases
 Alphabet (Italian Renaissance)

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 Inscription on the Theatre at Lepsis
Magna, Libya, 1-2 AD.

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Inter-Letter Spacing

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Two straight-sided letters should occupy the same visual
space between them to achieve an optimum balance. Usually
it is almost half the x-height and corresponds roughly to the
area of ¾ the size of the square.

A circular letter next to a straight sided letter will come

slightly closer together.

Two circular letters next to each other come even closer.

The size of the letter and the visual space

around it should be relatively equal.
The main problem is with open letters:

C which is not a full circle and occupies 1 square of open

visual space.

E L R K which have extended tails that come out now

occupies ¾ of the square of open visual space.

T Y which are outstretched letters that occupy 1 square of

open visual space.

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 Inter-Word Spacing
The letter O is used as the space between words.

Latin Note
The letters J U and W were not Roman letters and were
added much later.

I was used instead of J.

V was used instead of U.

W was added in the Middle Ages.

The letters K X Y and Z were used only for writing words of

Greek origin.

Latin Quotations

CARPE DIEM (Seize the day)

EX LIBRIS (From the library)

VENI VIDI VICI (I came, I saw, I conquered)

AMOR VINCIT OMNIA (Love conquers all)

SILENTIUM EST AUREUM (Silence is golden)

SERO VENIENIBUS OSSA (The bones for those that come late)

ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS (Art is long, life is short)

NON UT EDAM VIVO SED UT VIVAM EDO (I do not live to eat,

but I eat to live)

BONUM VINUM LAETIFICAT COR HOMINIS (Good wine

gladdens a person’s heart)
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Alphabet (Italian Renaissance)