Task 1.1 - Roman scripts (14/16)

Roman Scripts

Inscription in square capitals on a Roman

 altar in the museum at Chesters Fort on

 Hadrian's Wall.

The Roman alphabet evolved by the ancient Romans and was originated from the Greeks. It consists of Old Roman scripts (around the 1st century AD) and New Roman scripts (from the 2nd to the 4th centuries).  They were both used for different purposes. The Old Roman scripts - square capitals was written without breaks between words or with dots between words. It was mainly used for carved inscriptions.

Square capitals were not used in manuscripts although in early middle ages (c. 1001-1300) it was used for headings in scripts.

Square capitals used in a manuscript of Virgil's Aeneid from the 
Library of St Gall (Cod.1394,p.12).

The Old Roman cursive  (cursive capitals) was used for documents and personal handwriting. Cursive scripts were rapidly written since the letters were joined together.

Between the 2nd and 4th centuries they started using parchment instead of papyrus. Parchment had the form of a book (codex) and was made of animal skin, while papyrus was a form of manuscript in the shape of a roll made from stem fibers.

New Roman cursive from a 5th century letter on papyrus, found in Egypt (Strassburg, Pap. lat. Argent.1). 

Medieval Writing, 2014. Roman Scripts. [ONLINE] Available at: http://medievalwriting.50megs.com/scripts/history2.htm. [Accessed 03 March 2014].

Medieval Writing, 2014. Glossary. [ONLINE] Available at:http://medievalwriting.50megs.com/glossary.htm. [Accessed 03 March 2014].